new to hoyas - i love em! sory and a few questions...

17 years ago

Hey Everyone! Im new to the hoya forum, but not to gardening. Ive been a long time poster, maily on the balcony gardening forums back in 01,02, adn 03. I have not posted much since then for varying reasons. I also hung out on the Vines, and Container gardening forums. I was kinda of known as the "vine guy" because all of my Moonflowers and Morning glories grew much faster than Kudzu, and got absoultely HUGE! Im talkin 25' + of those vines comeing out of those big, long rectangular 10" deep green continers you can get for 4 bucks at HD or Lowes.

Anyway...

About 8 months ago I found this very cool looking, but very small plant in like a 4" pot at Giant. ( a local grocery store chain here) I had no idea what it was, but it was just so cool looking I had to buy it. It was only 3.99. It has waxy, pointy, flat, oval shaped leaves. The are verigated white , mostly around the edges of the leaves, but some have bigger splotches. There were even a couple almost all white leaves on this plant. So I brought it home and set it in the window of my old place. it got bright in direct light in summer, but as the trees lost thier leaves it got more direct light of a southern exposure. I moved last december, and now have and east and west exposure. Over the months of dec thru april I had it at work in a southern exposre where it got some sun. To my amazement, it finally started GROWING! It grew a new branch about 6" long!

I brought it home in april, and have had it by the east facing window, but out of the line of most direct sun. It stopped growing before I brought it home. It has not done much since. Since then, I purchased two more Hoyas. One looks almost just like the little one, but has less white verigation, and some of the verigation is not "white", but more cream/ tan. The other has long, very skinny pointy leaves with deep dark red around the edge.

I know one of them is called "ruby red" I think?

None of them are the curly leaved "compacta" I know for sure

Anyway, I generally under water them, and they have all done fine. The two big ones get lots of direct sun from about 7:30 or 8AM until about 11am to maybe around 12PM.

The small one did not get much in the way of direct sun.. maybe a little but nothing like the others.

SO, that brings me to my question. They were all moved outside this week. The small one, I repotted because the soil just looked awful. Its now in nice new miracle grow potting mix. I noticed on the two big ones something odd... The leaves on the side that was facing the window were very deep dark green and vibrant, the ones on the side facing away from the window were pale in comparison. They werent unhealthy looking, just a much lighter shade of green.

They are all in a location in thier hanging baskets where they get full sun from about 8 or 9am until about 12 or so PM. (well, the small one wasnt in a hanging basket, but I made a pot hanger out of jute twine for it!)

The question I have is will this be TOO MUCH sun for them? Will they burn?

I placed a pothos in a spot outside in the garden where it got full direct sun from about 10am until about 330 PM, and it burned. I lost about 15 leaves on it. Is it possible that same thing could happen to my hoyas?

I will post pictures in the next few days so I can get a positive ID on all 3 of them.

Thanks very much for your help! I LOVE this forum, and I love these plants!!!

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Comments (12)

Denise
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
NPG - Welcome to the Hoya forum! If you like vining plants, you'll like a couple of those Hoyas you got. Sounds like you have some variegated carnosas (there are several varieties...) and the other sounds like a kentiana or wayetti (I think mine is actually kentiana ssp. wayetti, but who knows?) Does it look like this...?
{{gwi:954206}}

Anyway, I wouldn't put my Hoyas out in direct sun unless it was just a couple of hours of morning sun. What few I put outside (I have to fight aphids, so I keep most of mine inside year round...) I keep under my front porch, which faces south - one gets a little morning sun, the other gets no direct sun at all. I have one on my back deck, which faces north, against the house so it one gets an hour or so of sun just before it goes down. Otherwise, it sits in the shade all day. Hoyas do very well outside if they're kept in a shaded spot because in habitat, they grow in jungle conditions, protected by the canopy of leaves above.

Indoors is a different story, of course, since the windows block the sun's intensity. But I still don't grow any of mine in a south window because it's intense enough to turn the leaves pale or yellow. I like the look of the dark green, glossy leaves. East and west windows seem ideal for growing them.

Good luck with your new Hoyas!

Denise in Omaha
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Denise! thanks very much that response! That photo is EXACTLY what I have!!! Yes, the other two are Carnosa. That I did not, but forgot to say in my last post.

Well, I have to take back the times I said they get sun. They will be getting full sun from about 9:30 -10 am, until about 12 or 1 PM.

IF they start to react, I have more shady areas I can move them to. Thanks for the help! Anyone else feel free to post your advice or pics! =o)

I have to run for a job interview this morning, wish me luck!
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canttype
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Welcome aboard Plantguy and good luck on your interview:-)

There are a few things that you mentioned that concern me a bit so I thought I'd add my 2 bits worth.

You said that you repotted the small one into straight MG potting soil. I personally would have put some extra perilite into the mix to lighten it up. Hoyas don't like their feet too stay wet, so take it easy on how often you water it as MG stays quite wet. (Keep an eye out for the odd yellow leaf which will be telling you it's feet are too wet.)

Too help keep the Hoya nice all the way around, is it possible for you to turn the plant every month or so? That might help keep the plant more evenly showing it's new lush growth!

Also I did an experiment with 2 small varigated Hoyas that I bought at the same time. I posted this blog a few months ago but the differences in the 2 is still drastic but the other one is catching up:-) My point?.... Please pick all the ALL White leaves off your plant as they will slow down the growth!

Check it out!
Diane

Here is a link that might be useful: White or no white?
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey Canttype! LOL! great name!

Well, about the MG potting mix I use, I have used it for years with great success. The plans indoors are the ones I have to adjust watering alittle but not that much really. My hoyas, I let em really dry out between waterings. The gardern in me is very wary of overwatering, so I tend to err on the side of too dry/ underwatering. Fortunatly, hoyas seem to like that.

IF some how a plant gets to wet and stays wet for more than a few days, ill set it in the sun to "dry out". I havnt had any problems with overwatering, but then again, im anal like that and pay very close attention to almost everything about the plants I have, both indoors and out. =o)

Thanks for posting that site!! (yours?) I had wondered about that very thing, being that white or pink colored leaves generally do not produce more energy than they use (from lack of chlorophyl correct?) resulting in a net loss of energy for the entire plant. The almost completely white leave itself did come off on its own though. it was just old and finally died off.

I think I too will try your experiment and remove white/ pink leaves from the young one. The one i repotted into MG potting mix has to be very young. It looks liek the small ones on your blog. Although it did have a nice growth spurt last winter for a nice 6" long new branch.

I guess well see. I will get some pics of it and post them later today or tomrrow.

Thanks again for all the help and well wishes!

NPG
susancarol
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You're in trouble now! LOL! Happy hunting hoyas...

I see you're kinda close to Merrifield Gardens located between Centreville and Fairfax on Route 29. I haven't been there this year but they usually have a couple of the rarer hoyas. They have 2 locations so check both locations.

This can be an exciting but expensive hobby! Enjoy yourself.
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Susancarol: Oh ive LONG discovered both Merrifield garden centers! LOL! I usually raid them a few times a year. I was just out at the one in FFX/Centreville last weekend. The only thing I can think of hoya wise that I might want that I dont have is one with fuzzy/ furry leaves. =o)

I keep my plants / gardening varied. IM a plan / garden addict in general, so hopefully for me 4 hoyas will be enough! Knowing me though.. I wouldnt be surprised if a few more jumped into my wagon / cart. Plants are known to do that when im around. LOL!
canttype
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
", so hopefully for me 4 hoyas will be enough!" (HAHAHAHA!)

I think that should be a ? behind that statement!!! Lol
Once you start seeing all the different beautiful leaves and flowers that the 100's of Hoya varieties offer.... 4 will not be enough;-) Check them out on this fantastic site below.

Yes that is my blog. It's easier to share photo's and comments with a blog vs a web site. Glad you liked it and well.... you explained the reasoning for removing white leaves better than I did! It does make sense for small plants.

Good luck keeping it to 4!
Diane

BTW how did the job interveiw go? Can you afford your Hoya habbit? LOL

Here is a link that might be useful: myhoyas.com
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Canttype: yeah, probably should be a ? LOL!

I know I know.. I have 3, and I want a fuzzy one, that makes four, but knowing me.. ill see others I want too!

Very nice blog! I enjoyed it!

OMG!!! Is that site yours????? That site has more hoyas on it then I have total PLANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!

Interview went very well! I should be once again gainfully employed so I can support my sports and garden addictions once again, fully! =o)

Ok.. here are the pics of my Hoyas! Finally!!! :

First pic of the "baby", and my very FIRST ever Hoya!

Second pic of the baby -

Third Pic of the baby -

Forth Pic of the baby -

Hoya Carnosa BIG:

Hoya Kenetia (SP?)

So what ya think? Nice ones? hehehe. Im kinda proud of them myself!

Thanks for lookin!

NPG
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
BTW.. Who ever's site that is... myhoyas.com...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! GEMINI's ROCK!

Mine was June the 8th, this past thursday! WAHOO!
canttype
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks NPG for the nice comments on me blog:-)

I can't take credit for myhoya's! That is a site in Sweden, written by (what I believe to be)a crazy lady who collects 100's of Hoyas and Egg Cups!(and lots of them) I love her and her site though.... great hands on growing info!

Btw.. Did you know you have royalty staying at your home? lol Your baby is a Carnosa krimson queen and the 2nd one is Carnosa krimson princess. (could be Carnosa rubra or C. exotica...can't tell till it blooms though) All of them are great starts to a healthy addiction:-) Beautiful plants.

Congrats on the job.... I've got my fingers crossed for ya!

Diane
NoVaPlantGuy_Z7b_8a
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
WOW! I thought they were both Krimson Queens!! I didnt know there was a "queen" and a "princess"!!!! COOL!

Now that you mention it, I think the big carnosa is the Rubra. Is it still a "princess"?? LOL!

Oh lord, a man on a gardening website talking about "queens and princesses!!!" OH MY! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah, I loved your blog, esp the fact you keep it UPDATED!!!! Good on you!

Thanks for the good wishes... I gotta have some way to support this plant ( and now maybe hoya) addiction ya know. =p

Im just curious.. are my plants healthy looking for you hoya experts?

Thanks!

NPG
canttype
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
ROFLMAO! Queens and Princesses OH MY!! You could be the Hoya Bella of the ball;-)
(Or... can I?)

Yes, although I am no expert, I'd have to say they are very healthy! They look great!

Diane

Actually Bella is one Hoya I haven't had much luck with but she's a favourite of many here.... and I still like it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bella

new to hoyas - i love em! sory and a few questions...

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Denise

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Denise

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