Hoya seeds : beneficial fungi or lethal infections

The viability of many seeds of Hoya decreases quickly after one month out of their pods. Ideally Hoya seeds should be planted not later than 15 days after harvest. Due to this fast reduction of viability, they are particularly subject in environments excessively moist and poorly aerated to a variety of fungal attacks ( but immediately planted in closed humid zip bags off light their germination ratios are very high after 15 days in these conditions ) : wet environments with light may cause weak germination and also affect the seedlings, causing slow growth and death. Signs of the diseases include withering, yellow or blotchy leaves, rot or mold at the base of the stem, root rot.

Some fungi, called endophytic fungi, may have beneficial effects on the germination of the seeds in particular when they were transmitted by the parent plants - this is why using a sterilized soiless medium should be prefered to using a fungicide.

A study http://www.fungaldiversity.org/fdp/sfdp/33-3.pdf on endophytic fungi has exhibited on Hoya carnosa plants  29 fungal species among the following taxons : Colletotrichum spp, Fusarium spp, Gliocladium sp, Micelia sterilia spp, Phomopsis spp, Xylariales spp.

Host - endophyte relationship based on plant chemistry is a promising field of studies.

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

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Hoya danumensis Hoya cystiantha and Hoya praetorii in vials

I'd love to order danumensis and cystiantha ( the travel can take 3 weeks to my South American country) do you think that they would arrive alive? What about the vials?

I will answer you after our experiment is done : on the morning of the 18 January we have filled vials with water in gel. The two cuttings of Hoya danumensis et Hoya cystanthia are put in a box, the same day we add a cutting of Hoya praetorii. The cuttings are not rooted.
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14 days have passed when on 31 January ( evening ) we open the box that was staying at room temperature ( 22 - 30 Celsius ); the result is shown below : only Hoya cystanthia lost leaves ( two leaves ).

The leaves of the three Hoya are slightly dehydrated although our environment is humid.

These species are difficult to ship, Hoya praetorii being the most fragile of the three plants.

Some importers would say that wrapping the plants in a plastic bag would have been of benefit : the cuttings would have been less dehydrated. Others would deny it, possibly arguing that shipping plants bare roots with paper only is less risky. Only large scale experiments on these hard to ship species in various situations regarding humidity and temperature could tell which method is best.

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On day 14 we are re putting the Hoya cuttings in their box having made no change in the packing : we will see their state at the end of the third week.

---------- On day 20 of the experiment Hoya pratetorii is still green, ( picture to the right ) apparently in good health and with all its leaves but the two others have dried out, leaves still on the stems. It seems that the vial is a good device for praetorii, as compared to other methods such as bare cutting.

---------- On day 31 ( 19 February ) Hoya praetorii is still good for replanting, perfectly green a small root has come in the gel.




These 3 species are among the most fragile Hoya in travel. Most Hoya species can travel 3 weeks in boxes with very good survival rates without vials.

---------- On day 60 ( 18 March ) Hoya praetorii is still alive, we take it out of the box and attach it to a piece of coconut shell on a rubber tree.

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

Hoya cv rebecca

Does a true Hoya cv rebecca has red leaves ? yes if enough light is provided : part of the leaves receiving less light will be very lightly colored.

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

Find all Aleyagarden posts on http://aleyagarden-blog.blogspot.com