Beginner's Error

19 years ago

I am a beginner Hoya enthusiast , and like all of you , I am continuously admiring the plants , examining peduncles etc. Here's my big mistake :O H. compacta hangs in the screened in porch. It's up fairly high , because it's thick glossy ropes are 2' to 5' long. Although I am always poking and feeling soil , I haven't climbed up on a chair or stool , in a couple of months. What a shock when I did that today. Poor compacta is a 'mess' with mealies and sooty mould. Several leaves at soil level were yellow , so I threw them into the garbage. I have isolated this plant from the others , ( which seem to be okay ). My problem is that I don't know how to effectively 'clean up ' this Hoya , because of the shape of the leaves. Flat leaves can be gently picked at , washed with mild soap ( not detergent ) then easily hosed . Please post information about which insecticides to use . Other beginners , please take note, that when you hang up a large plant with the inside of the pot above eye level, you can't make the same mistake that I have done , and deem the plant to be okay , just because the hanging parts look great and the soil 'feels' right.

Thank you ,

Florajilly

(Gillian)

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Comments (4)

nazanine
19 years ago
eeeeeeeeew! this means that each time you were poking the soil, you were actually poking the mealies ???? Sorry I couldnt help!
Now aside from joking , I would give hte plant a bath in the same soap you usually use..should help in getting rid of the "@Â£Â¤Â¢@Â±
florajilly
Original Author
19 years ago
Poking at mealies...that is a nasty thought , isn't it !!
When you say to give the plant a bath , in the same soap that I usually use , are you indicating that I should put the bath in the bathtub ? Do Hoya enthusiasts bathe with their plants , ( at the same time ) ....or do I go outside , fill a tank and instead of sheep dip .......
' plant dip ' ? Ha ha LOL :)

Florajilly
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nazanine
19 years ago
lol! no not in a bathtub, just bath the vines in the same soap (unless your Hoya is a monster of egoism and needs the whole bath just for itself). Make sure you rinse the soap off though (unless the box says you can leave it on).
But of course the vine bathing part will not take care of the mealies on the roots, so maybe a good systemic is worth trying.
By the soap, I was referring to the 'mild soap' you mentionned in your first post. I don't know if you're using something like a dishwashing soap or an insecticidal one?
I frankly don't like taking a bath in either one, too rough in my skin, and my Hoyas decided they didn't like to take baths with me any longer, they say the water is too hot and they can't stand it (but I'm sure that they're doing this on purpose so they can sit there in the bath gossiping about the others plants). So to answer your question, no, we don't take baths together anymore. lol!
florajilly
Original Author
19 years ago
Nazanine,
Thank you for your comments and great sense of humour.
compacta had a home 'spa' treatment today.
First I took it off the macrame hanger and removed the pot to examine the roots , ( which looked very healthy ). Then , I actually did soak the hanging parts in the bathtub with warm water. I used Biolage shampoo for colour treated hair. I splashed soapy water on the crown , where the worst problem was. After plugging in a strong desk lamp for better light , I meticulously cleaned the curly leaves with cotton ear swabs. It took about 15 minutes. The kids didn't even ask what I was doing , because they already know I'm 'over the edge' when it comes to plants !
Today was beautiful here, about 78 degrees , sunny and breezy, so I spread the plant on the lawn , and hosed all the soap off. I top dressed the potting mix and gave it a thorough watering to flush the soil of soap. Then after a re examination , I zapped it with a systemic insecticide , and hung it back up to dry off in the warm breeze.
Everything else around here got scrutinized for "@%#@?"
Thanks again , now I need the spa !

Florajilly

Beginner's Error

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