I think Hoyas might be pollinated by moths or other night flowering insects, I had a seed pod form on a Hoya bought as minima but now think it must have been H. serpens. It was summer time and the plant was hanging outside. Sometime down the road I noticed a long thin bean like pod forming. When it opened the seed resembled dandelion seed. I didn't plant the seed, I guess I should have.

Annette

Hi Celine,

Not so likely or easy to do. There's one grower (Cena) who comes by here sometimes (who grows everything outdoors in CA), who has has Hoyas polinated naturally & resultant seed pods too. Also someone else in GA (Lesli), but this is not easily done & the seeds are very perishable. Lesli once shared some seeds w/ me, they did well 'til I accidentally let them dry out a bit (they'd been adorable).

I wouldn't suggest this for you, esp. as you're in WA & wouldn't be able to grow outdoors. I don't believe they sell these seeds as they are so perishable.

The pollination of Asclepiads is more complex than we are used to with most of our garden plants. Plants from this family use a lock and key type mechanism to trap a pollinators leg or proboscis to transfer the pollinium and complete pollination. This process is quite difficult to do by hand and this is the main reason that this family of plants is often traded by cuttings. Some species like the milkweeds (Asclepias) will be readily pollinated by visiting bees or wasps but others like Hoya are not commonly pollinated when grown outside here but it is not unheard of.

Read through this link, it discusses the pollination of this family as a whole but there is mention of Hoya specifically. The flower structure is similar throughout the family so you should get a good understanding of how pollination occurs.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Asclepiad pollination

Geez, and I thought Ceropegia pollenation tricky!

Really, if my plants did not grow and bloom outside, I think it would be most difficult. For pollenators, I have Sphinx moths, many, MANY humming birds, ants, and butterflies of all makes and models.

One of the Weird Things is that it can be dead winter, and all of sudden a pod forms, MONTHS after active blooms have left off. So, the plant has a time delay mechanism that allows pollenation and storage to ensure a good time line for seed ripening, and warmer, spring weather.

I've hatched out seeds, but I have a mostly organic garden, and when caterpillars abound, things get chomped to the soil line. Therefore, no more kerrii seedlings...:(

They are very short lived as far as successful germination. And when you can spend a few dollars trading through the mail, well... Guess which method will be more successful, and more popular???

Good luck with your endeavors!

Thank you for all your help. I think I will growm my plant with cutting instead. It sounds more easy.
Celine