Sounds like a perfect spot to me. I think they would love it there. If worried about bugs, use some of those Bayer Houseplant spikes in their pots, or just keep an eye out for aphids and mealies. Spraying with the hose usually keeps them at bay. I also sometimes use the Shultz "Houseplant and Garden" spray on them if I see aphids, etc. They seem to do fine with it.
Mine love it outside in dappled sun or shade. Even some morning sun seems fine. (May want to introduce any sun gradually). Just make sure you check the pots for water as things tend to dry out faster out there, and don't forget to get them back in before any cold snaps in the fall. You will probably see lots of new growth and maybe even blooms if they get real happy. :-)
Marcy

This is the first year I've put my hoyas outside and must say they seem to really like it. I don't want 'em to get direct sun, tho!

JoyGarden:Just wanted to say that I love your user name!!!

My hoyas have mostly all lived outside, but in varying states of light and comfort. A year ago I moved and acquired a large tree which has an umbrella shape, and numerous branches just perfect for hanging plants. I brought all the hoyas over here, and hung them in the tree. They did sunburn in Fall, from changing sun angles, and some sunburned when hung in the tree. That was really strange as they had been growing on a West facing balcony wiht no relief from sun, wind or anything else. Makes my brain hurt that they could get burnt hanging in a tree, getting less sun then they ever did.

Two of my hoyas bloomed for the first time ever, after receiving the more generous light under that tree. At this moment, I have two hoyas blooming their fool heads off, and two hoyas setting buds. I fully attribute this to more light, more water, and Elanors VF-11 fertilizer.

My carnosa KQ is now putting on fresh growth that looks better than any it has grown in the five years I've had it. As soon as all 7 peduncles bloom, its getting chopped up, and the fresh growth cultivated on. It scarred and has many deformed leaves from sunburn, and not-great care.

Since my hoyas hang in a tree, there are not many pests that move in. I did have a huge hatch of caterpillar eggs, but I caught them, and sprayed. Mealies will be a fight to the death (theirs or mine, whichever comes first) as it is the State Insect...

I highly recommend it to anyone who can provide good care, and some shade. Misting is great 'out there' also.

I agree-- lots of light meant more blooms for mine, too. Some sunshine seems to be a good thing (the little creeper types like curtisii & serpens excepted). Hanging out in the morning sun, afternoon dappled sun/shade gave my carnosa more blooms than ever before, and made my compact bloom for the first time.

LOL, Cena...are mealies really the State Insect of CA?

GH

What can you do when the deck is hot, hot and hotter all day? My birds,and squirrels occupy the trees here as well as the bird feeders on many of the tree branches. The front porch does have diffused light but it is still very hot here for the better part of this week anyway. Last year, I diligently watched the H. Carnosas placed on the table with umbrella overhead which casts some shade but it wasn't this hot. Any advice?

In the morning, I leave the sliders open where the hoyas are kept, perhaps that helps with humidity part of the time.

Vicki

The warmth and humidity of the summer outdoors just seems to perform miracles on any/all of my plants!

I just hang mine in the trees, Vicki. We have plenty of birds/squirrels, etc... too (our yard borders a woods) but they don't bother the plants at all...the most the birds do is perch on the pots a bit here and there! Pests aren't much of a problem while they're hanging...which is more than I can say for plants whose pots are sitting directly on the ground!

Our deck gets quite hot too with direct south and west sun...I put Brugmansias and other plants on the deck and water in the morning, filling the saucers underneath...but I wouldn't dare put my hoyas on the deck.

Thanks everyone for your ideas! I have had my hoyas outside for almost two weeks now and already there is a bunch of new growth on almost all of them! It must be a combination of heat and humidity (we've had plenty of both lately...whew!) that they love. My hoya kerrii is putting out a ton of new growth when it normally just SITS there year round. Maybe I'll even get some blooms out of a couple of my hoya plants. Bella is a doll as always, setting blooms almost constantly. I have peducles on my sherpherdii but no signs of buds yet...*sigh*.

Yes, I have elected Mealies as the State Insect. Who cares what Sacramento thinks!!!

When considering climates, always go back to where most Hoyas are found... and just think about the temps there. I bet the deck wouldn't seem nearly as hot then. When confronted with heat, you just have to add more water (and make sure not to steam anything!).

Thanks for the good advice re the deck area; finally, yesterday the rain came down in buckets literally which makes for much humidity today and we expect more rain later on in the p.m. hopefully, I can bring my plants outside to enjoy this weather.

Vicki

Oh...hoyas just LOVE the humidity that a good rain brings. Not to mention all those ions that are in the air. I think they just spring to life in those conditions. I would get them out there TODAY!
If your deck is really hot and dry most of the time, you have to be careful not to "cook" the roots. Anything in black pots or sitting right on hot surfaces is in danger. One way I have found that helps is to put the pot inside another pot. Also try to locate them where there is some breeze or at least good air circulation.
Most hoyas can stand quite hot conditions as long as the sun isn't beating down on them and there is some air movment around.
Marcy