I use Eleanor's and love it. I don't think you're going to get anything new here if you've already read the posts on VF-11. There are so many posts on here - if you do a search on this forum you'll find all the info you need and more! I'm not really sure what more you want to know about it (unless there is something specific you want to know?). Why don't you just try it and see if you like it? If you're worried about the money, you can get a free sample (I think you have to pay 3 bucks for shipping) if you contact Eleanor. Just google "Eleanor's VF-11" and you'll find the website. It's great stuff, and I'm sure it'll work well on your epi's...but maybe you'll hear from someone who uses it on epi's.

Gabi

Hi Bear,

It's a great product. I buy it by the gallon - actually, after my initial use of it, I bought 4 gallons, then got my sister hooked (who owns a nursery) and now I buy it 2 gallons at a time from her. It's worth every penny. It's not your typical plant food - it's more like a vitamin and mineral boost. So you can use it year round without risking forced growth during semi-dormancy. I use it both in my watering can and on the foliage.

If you live in the southwest, you might be able to find it locally. Call Eleanor and she'll be able to tell you if you can find it where you live. Otherwise, you can buy it directly from her, or there are online sources (like Charley's Greenhouse Supply...)

Denise in Omaha

Eleanor's VF-11 may not work on all plants, but my experience is that it works on hoyas.

I can't say for sure that this is the result of the VF-11, but here's another one of my hoya's where the new leaf is HUGE in comparision to the older leaves (do note that the distance between the large leaf on top and the ones underneath is less than 2 inches - in fact the top leaf is resting on the lower one). The growth I'm seeing on my hoya's right now just amazes me! I have more actively growing than those sitting dormant. Some I have only under artificial light, other's get a combo of artificial light and southern exposure, 1 gets only northern exposure. The common denominator is the VF-11 which I do use the hydrogen peroxide (thanks to a previous post of Denise's)as well and aquarium water as opposed to tap water.
I'd say VF-11 is worth it!

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful:

I've had very similar results as Kelly in terms of leaf size. Here is my H. kerrii reverse variegated that I was kindly given, and as soon as it got to my house it started growing...not only did it start growing (and the previuos owner said it did NOTHING for quite some time), but check out the huge leaf that popped out!

And here is a brand new H. fungii leaf (on the bottom right). Every single leaf that has grown on this hoya since I started using VF-11 has been that big...or bigger!

{{gwi:928146}}

I can go on and on about what else VF-11 has done for my hoyas, but I am just amazed at the size of new leaves, when none of the leaves were even CLOSE to that size before VF-11 was used on the plant. I just love the stuff...wish I could buy stock in it!

Wow Gabi!
Those are some mutant sized leaves! ;)

I use VF-11 on my epies, when I water and they love it. Some of them have given me good growth, others have come back from the dead. When my hoophouse collapsed, all my plants were goners, VF-11 brought back abot 2/3 of the ones I'd written off as dead.

Kelly and Gabi
thanks for posting the pics, awsome to see the new larger leaf growth on your hoyas. i have used vf-11 for only about a month or less now, I have not gotten any new growth yet but i am paitently waiting.
shanna

I really had dramatic changes when first using it as a spray on the leaves. Now that I've been watering it in regularly, I don't see so much chance.

It's hard for me to say now, 'cause I've suffered some Hoya losses this winter, not so sure why, other than the NYC weather's been really erratic. Unusually warm (like 65 last wk) & now a sudden cold snap dropping quickly in the 30s w/ much lower wind chills. I think the local trees are a bit confuused too, I see leaf buds on some trees (cherry & apple), seems far to early!!

Sorry to digress,

Anyway, I encourage folks to write away for the free sample (yes, $3 for shipping), it's a very generous sample (8 oz.); gives you more than a few waterings, depending on the size of yr. collection, just mix it as directed on label.

Thanks for all your help, I'm going to order a free sample and give it a try

Bear

Hi Everyone,
I am in need of some help please,I emailed a garden site mentioned in this forum to buy some Elenanor's VF-11 but they do not ship to Australia,so my question is does anyone know of a place I could buy this product who will post to Australia? I have over 110 Hoyas that I would just love to feed this magic potion to,I have read so much about this Elenanor's VF-11,so I do hope someone can help,Thankyou Karen (Australia).....

Hi Kazzy,

I don't know the answer except to suggest you contact Eleanor herself (her site has her EM address) & see if she can suggest anyone there who gets it, or info. on int'l shipping for it. Hey, w/ 110 Hoyas it'd be worth asking, don't you think?

Hi Kazzy,

Wow, I checked the USPS website and it says 34 lbs. (that would be 4 gallons) to Australia is $142!! Yikes! Do they have restrictions on what can be shipped in?

Denise in Omaha

Karen,
How much were you planning on ordering from that site? If you were only going to order a gallon, then I'm sure shipping wouldn't cost much (maybe $35?). See if another place will ship it to you, or like PG said, maybe Eleanor could help you out.

Good luck,
Gabi

Gabi,
Speaking of Eleanors VF-11, can you tell me how much you put in a gallon of water, the directions say 2 tbs but I though I remembered you posting you put maybe 3 or 4 tbs?? Also do you add the peroxide with your vf-ll and water? And if so how much do add per gallon of water. Just wanting to make sure I'm doing all this right. My hoya's thank you :-) thanks

shanna

Hi Shanna,

Just follow the directions precisely, however many capfuls as the label directs. I don't have the bottle handy, but recall it speaks of capfuls to volume of water. I followed it exactly.

I wouldn't do the peroxide at the same time (I've done the peroxide thing, maybe once every Spring). If one tries several things at once, one can't really tell which thing is working (or not).

(Oops, sorry saw this was to Gabi, hope it's OK to answer even tho' it's Karen.)

Shanna,

I use 4 capfuls of VF-11 per gallon of water...that's what is on the bottle. I have been using 1 capful of peroxide with each gallon of water (sometimes 2, but mostly 1...and sometimes I forget to add the peroxide altogether!). I recently started adding in the peroxide (and yes, I use peroxide in addition to the VF-11 + water).

Gabi

PG,
thanks for your advice. The directions on my bottle of Eleanors it says; 1 ounce per gallon of water, then it says 1 ounce = 2 tbs.

Got it, thanks Gabi.

Shanna

Hi denise,gabro,shanna and pirate girl,
Thankyou all for your help,I have emailed a few places and they won't ship to Australia so I have emailed Eleanors VF-11 site and asked them,If I cant get it I would love to know if there is anything else that I could use that might have the same results as eleanors.Anyhow thanks again everyone,I will try our Hydro shops as they may know of something....Karen.......

Kazzy,

If you can't get Eleanor's to ship it and there are no restrictions for shipping something like this to Australia, I could look into having my sister ship from her nursery. Let me know if Eleanor doesn't pan out and I'll do some research...

Denise in Omaha

kazzy,, have you tried the "beer formula". if you can't get the elenanor's,it may a good thing to try. you can find the formula at "epiforum".com. they have a lot of info. on hoyas,also.really neat people. this beer formula really works,i started using it about 3 mon, ago, all my plants are happy!!!!. hope this helps,happy gardenin,molly

Hi Everyone,
Thankyou all for your help.

Denise: So far I have not heard from Elenanors site and I am not too sure what the restrictions are for sending over the VF-11,but if you would not mind asking your sister maybe she might know of the restrictions or know of another type of suff I can use.

Sewnmon: I am not sure about using the beer formula I have heard the good and the bad so that one I'm still unsure but thanks...You all have been very helpful and I thankyou...Karen...

Come on, pls. give Eleanor time to respond, more than a day, like maybe a week?

In all her dealings that I've seen/heard of she seems efficient & reputable & I've never heard of anyone having trouble w/ their orders. This tells me she's a concerned & caring businesswoman & I ask that you pls. have some patience; I'm confident she'll have some suggestion.

After all, you can't be the ONLY person outside the continental US who's interested in her product!

Huh? Where did this attack come from? Is there something that Kazzy said negatively about Eleanor(?), cause I didn't see it. She was just stating that "so far" she hasn't heard from her site. Maybe I missed something, but that comment was so out of left field.

Hi All

Pirate girl..I don't think there was any need for you to say that as all I was saying is that I had not heard anything as yet so I think you should read my post again and see I was not being negative at all.Thanks for everyones input. Karen...

Whoa, nellie!! I didn't see any kind of "attack" in what PG said. She's just saying give Eleanor a chance to get back to you. But, in my experience, I couldn't get her to respond to e-mail, so I called her. She seems to always answer the phone or return a call if you leave a message. She's a nice lady to talk to and very helpful. However, on the down side, my sister finds her a bit difficult to "nail down" on shipping costs. It seems it changes every time she talks to her. For example, today, she might tell you shiping is $25, and tommorrow, she might say it's $40. It drives my sis batty! But the product is so good, she deals with it... If it seems too high today, she'll call her back another day to order...

I'll see what else I can find out about shipping to Australia...

Denise in Omaha

Hi.

I know I'm late on this, but if you weren't able to get any VF-11 shipped to you in Australia, try CaliforniaGoldJojoba.com I ordered my VF-11 from them and it was reasonably priced. The website says they will ship internationally, but you have to contact them for pricing.

A gallon of VF-11 is only ten pounds, so it's not so bad.

Hi amany,
Thankyou for your help,I might have found someone that is trying to import VF-11 into Australia but if that does not happen your advice will be very very helpful so thanks again..Karen..