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klnco444

Surprise Seed Pod! What's next?

9 years ago

Okay, this is why I just love love love ordering from Susan (BeastlyFlower2012). All the plants I get from her come with some sort of cool quirk. Like the Carnosa Purple Flower I just received, plant is covered in blooms and peduncles. As I was inspecting for pests and readying for quarantine I noticed a seed pod! (Bottom center)

I obviously have some research to do, but I wanted to ask on here what the next step would be. Do I leave it until opens and then harvest the seed? Any info would be helpful. Thank you

Comments (4)

  • 9 years ago

    Wow, that's awesome! I don't have any experience with hoya seed or seed pods, but if they're anything like ceropegia or plumeria, I'd cover it (the pod) with some thin, lightweight netting to keep them from blowing away after the pod opens.

  • 9 years ago

    Use mesh and a small bread tie. Leave pod in situ on plant. Place mesh bag over entire peduncle and kind of fold the opening over the stem the peduncle is growing from, then wrap bread tie around the bag opening on the stem the peduncle is growing from, to keep the bag secured.

    Like this:

    Alternatively, you can just secure the pod itself with a twist tie or two, like this:

    It will still open, but the ties will keep the seeds from being able to disperse. Don't wrap ties too tightly, and check tightness, and adjust/re-tie, as needed, as the pod grows.


    For growing the seedlings, I suggest you get a small (9 inches by 12 inches) clear plastic container with a clear lid. A good seed starting mix is orchid bark, perlite and coconut coir (the coir itself, not chunks). Do 50% coir, 25% perlite and 25% orchid bark. Prepare the coir, if it has come in a brick form by soaking the brick in hot water until it expands fully. When it has fully expanded and is no longer too hot to touch, gather the amount you will need and place in a sperate container. Add warm water and soak overnight. Drain excess moisture.

    The easiest way to drain coir is to pour it over an old towel or t-shirt. Place t-shirt/towel in bottom of sink, pour coir/water out slowly. Wait 15-20 minutes. Then mix coir and all other ingredients together and put in clear container.

    Place seeds directly on top of mix. Do not cover/bury. Mist lightly with warm water. Place container on heat mat or other surface that stays warm. The seedlings will need to go about 5 inches under a light source. Just like other seedlings, they can get leggy.

    They germinate within a week, but be prepared for some stragglers that pop up out of nowhere a couple of MONTHS later.

    Do me a favor and reserve me about 15 of those seeds! I'm running some experiments over here, regarding seeds and germination methods! I'll share a cutting or two, as a trade, of course!

    I won't be selling the seedlings, as we only know who momma is. They will most likely be thinned out and only two or three (the best) will be kept. Just as a warning to you, if you object to destruction of any seedlings, lol.

  • 9 years ago

    Got It! Thank you for coming to my rescue lol I will use the mesh method and will definitely save and send you some of the seeds. The others I'm going to grow and I just cant wait to see what the leaves and eventually blooms look like. I've noticed with Carnosa hybrids the babies often look much like Carnosa herself in terms of bloom but who knows maybe it'll be something new and exciting!

  • 9 years ago

    I hope you take better care of yours than i have been with mine. I got kind of lazy. Some are still alive but im kinda disinterested in them. lol

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