Almost all seeds of Hoya UT033 germinate between layers of humid toilet paper.

Aleyagarden has a new packing option for shipping Hoya seeds : some HOYA PATELLA seeds collected during the dry season ( on 26 March ), were packed 2 days later between thick layers of humid toilet paper in a closed zip bag ( no holes ) that was not opened before 13 April ( there was no light at all until this opening ) . There were in total 17 days from harvest to opening. Almost all the seeds germinated while enclosed 15 days in the dark. http://aleyagarden-hoya-list.blogspot.com/2015/04/more-than-2-weeks-in-humid-bag-almost.html


Almost all the HOYA PATELLA seeds germinated when enclosed 15 days

In an other experiment shown below HOYA UT033 seeds were put between layers of humid paper but there was no bag this time. The paper was regularly hydrated ( the germinating seeds would have dried out if they had not been hydrated ). The result can be seen on the picture : the seeds germinated but they visibly lack water. There are no traces of contamination on the paper.

Hoya, Hoya seeds, Orchid seeds, Ferns, Fern spores and other plant collections are for sale on aleyagarden.com Plant care is available in various posts of this blog. Contact : aleyagarden@hotmail.com Find all Aleyagarden posts on http://aleyagarden-blog.blogspot.com

More than 2 weeks in the dark of a closed humid bag, almost all Hoya patella seeds germinate

Some Hoya patella seeds were collected during the dry season on 26 March, packed 2 days later between thick layers of humid toilet paper and put in a closed bag ( no holes were done ) that was opened on 13 April. They had spent 17 days from harvest to the opening.

Almost all the seeds germinated while enclosed 15 days in the humid plastic bag, all this time in the dark


A zip bag, closed

The layers of paper are still humid despite the relatively dry air ( we are in the dry season, it is hot and there is no rain )

The first seed to appear ..

More germinated seeds appear but the dark spot would indicate a harmful contamination..

The condensation inside the zip bag is clearly visible

Almost all Hoya patella seeds had germinated, they could fight contamination and rot


In an other experiment the conditions of time were about similar, the Hoya seeds ( Hoya UT033 ) were sown between layers of paper that maintained them in the dark about 2 weeks but they were not enclosed in a bag : they were hydrated regularly through the watering of the paper.

As a result the seeds seem to need water, however on a positive note we can't see any contamination induced by humidity and lack of aeration. 


These seeds of Hoya UT033 germinated in the dark between the layers of paper, without a bag

Enclosing Hoya seeds between layers of paper in humid closed zip bags could be an interesting method of shipping as Hoya seeds can dry out before arrival when they are not sown soon after harvest.

 

Hoya and other plant collections are for sale on aleyagarden.com Plant care is available in various posts of this blog. Contact : aleyagarden@hotmail.com

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Are all types of black spots on Hoya signs of diseases by fungal infections ?

What are these black spots on the Hoya leaves ?
Botrytis and Rhizoctonia are commonly cited as fungal infections of Hoya.

On the picture to the left these small pots on the leaves may be caused by fungi that are not Botrytis ( Botrytis are typified by large grayish areas on leaf margins or centers ).

It doesn't seem that such spots are associated with weakness or death, stem or root rot (Phytophthora, Pythium and Rhizoctonia spp.).

We might also conjecture that these tiny dark spots have a neutral or positive role regarding the immune system of the plant. Overuse of pesticides and other artificial conditions of growing may impart Hoya plants a nice look, green leaves without defects but in reality they are weakened because their immunity is not boosted as in a natural environment.

Black spots can also be anthocyanins that protect against light exposure after leaf cell damage.

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Hoya krohniana : does light shape the heart of this formely called lacunosa ?

 

Not all leaves are " really heart shaped ", some have a narrower V on top. Possibly the V is wider under more light. Also less light would make the leaves wider.

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The date of germination of Hoya seeds is uncertain

Watch your pods for change in color and germination. They are unpredictable and can germinate after a few days or several weeks.

Below is a pod Hoya lacunosa  ready to germinate .

 

 

In the pictures below are seeds that have already germinated around the pod or are very close to do. ( The pod burst before we were ready to surround it with a metal thread. )

 

 

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Hoya erythrina Nara, Hoya erythrina Bajo

Hoya erythrina Nara ( December 2014 )

Narathiwat is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Yala and Pattani. To the south it borders the Malaysian state of Kelantan.

The Hoya below is called Hoya erythrina Bajo or Hoya sp. Aff. erythrina ( December 2014 )

 

Labuan Bajo is a fishing town located at the western end of Flores in the Nusa Tenggara region of east Indonesia. However Bajo can stand for the name of a location in Narathiwat.

In the picture below : the one on the left is Nara, Bajo is on the right.

 

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True to type Hoya seeds, pure breeds and hybrids

I was given a Hoya cut from the wild and I have propagated it, always by cuttings. If I get seeds from the plants propagagated this way, will they be true to type ?

 

If this first Hoya from the wild was initially a seed resulting from self pollination and was of a pure line ( many Hoya with the same traits growing in the area ) your propagation gave you a breed with an homozygous genotype and the seeds from your cuttings will be true to type.
If the initial seed was produced by self pollination but the population of Hoya was genetically diverse then the seed could have been produced by a natural hybrid.
As long as a Hoya plant has not produced true to type seeds we can't say for sure if it is a species or an hybrid.
Fortunately Hoya in the trade are propagated by cuttings, not by sexual reproduction so preserving the integrity of a Hoya breed ( species or hybrid ) is not an issue : there is no reason why a grower would mix true to type seeds with hybrids as they don't use seeds for the propagation of a breed.
However seeds are very useful : whether they result from cross pollination or from self pollinated hybrids, originally all breeds are hybrids.

Herbs and Spices, Hoya, Hoya seeds, Orchid seeds, Ferns, Fern spores are for sale on aleyagarden.com Plant care is available in various posts of this blog. Contact : aleyagarden@hotmail.com