Pollinating Calico Hearts Plant:
A Guide to Boosting Yield

Calico Hearts plant, also known as “String of Hearts,” is a popular houseplant known for its long, trailing vines with small, heart-shaped leaves. This plant is native to South Africa and is typically grown as a hanging plant or on a trellis. One of the challenges growers face is low yield due to poor pollination. This guide will provide tips on how to pollinate your Calico Hearts plant to boost its yield.

Why Pollination Matters

Pollination is essential for plants to produce fruit or seeds. Without pollination, plants cannot reproduce and will eventually die out. In the case of Calico Hearts plant, pollination ensures that the flowers develop into seedpods, which contain the plant’s genetic material. The seeds can then be used for propagation or to grow new plants. Pollination also increases the yield of the plant, resulting in more flowers and seedpods.

How Calico Hearts Plant is Pollinated

Calico Hearts plant is pollinated by insects, particularly bees and ants. However, these pollinators are not always present indoors, where most Calico Hearts plants are grown. This means that growers need to take on the responsibility of pollinating their plants manually.

Manual Pollination Techniques

There are two main manual pollination techniques that growers can use for their Calico Hearts plants:

Brush Pollination

Brush pollination involves using a soft-bristled brush or cotton swab to transfer pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. Male flowers have pollen-covered stamens while female flowers have a stigma that receives the pollen. To brush pollinate your Calico Hearts plant, follow these steps:

1. Identify the male and female flowers. Male flowers are smaller and have a longer stem than female flowers.
2. Gently touch the bristles of the brush or cotton swab to the stamens of the male flower.
3. Transfer the pollen to the stigma of the female flower by gently touching it with the bristles of the brush.

Hand Pollination

Hand pollination involves removing the male flower from the plant and manually transferring its pollen to the stigma of the female flower. To hand pollinate your Calico Hearts plant, follow these steps:

1. Identify a male flower and gently remove it from the plant.
2. Peel back the petals of the male flower to reveal its stamens.
3. Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove some pollen from the stamens.
4. Transfer the pollen to the stigma of a female flower by gently touching it with your fingers or tweezers.

Tips for Successful Pollination

To ensure successful pollination of your Calico Hearts plant, follow these tips:

• Choose healthy plants with plenty of flowers
• Pollinate in the morning when humidity levels are high
• Use a soft-bristled brush or cotton swab for brush pollination
• Use clean hands or tools for hand pollination
• Pollinate regularly throughout the growing season

FAQ

Q: Can I use a paintbrush for brush pollination?

A: Yes, you can use a small paintbrush as long as it has soft bristles.

Q: How do I know if my Calico Hearts plant has been successfully pollinated?

A: The female flowers will start to develop into seedpods within a few weeks if they have been successfully pollinated.

Q: How often should I pollinate my Calico Hearts plant?

A: You should pollinate your Calico Hearts plant regularly throughout its growing season, which is typically from spring to fall.

Q: Can I use pollen from another Calico Hearts plant for pollination?

A: Yes, you can use pollen from another Calico Hearts plant as long as it is from a male flower.

Q: What should I do if my Calico Hearts plant does not produce seedpods after pollination?

A: If your Calico Hearts plant does not produce seedpods after pollination, it may be because it is not getting enough light or nutrients. Make sure your plant is receiving adequate sunlight and fertilizer, and consider adjusting its watering schedule if necessary.