I find lacunosa to be a stubborn rooter. I'm not sure about the ammonia smell - I wouldn't think there would be THAT much fertilizer in the perlite. But if you left it closed up for several days, I suppose a bit might be enough to build up the smell, especially if it got any sun at all. When I use this method, I open the bag daily and let fresh air in.

Hope your lacunosa cuttings take.

Denise in Omaha

Good Luck with your lacunosa cuttings, I have trouble rooting this one.
I have several large ones and they do great but I don't try rooting them any more.

I think everyone should have this hoya, the smell is great and it blooms through the winter as well and not many do that.

If I use the bag method I also open it daily for fresh air.

Another leaf fell off the "good" cuttings this morning. I'm losing hope fast! If you pros can't get this one to root, I'm never going to be able to do it.

One problem might be that it's in a cool place. Probably around 60 to 70 degrees. Do you think I should have it on a warming pad?

Sorry to hear about your cuttings. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it makes it.

Heating pad on a 60ð-70ð temp might be helpful. Here in FL, I root my cuttings outside(shaded) in my plastic Hoya nursery since its in 90's(day) and upper 70's at night.

Good luck!

I root my lucanosa in a aquarium with a rooting mat in it. The mat sits on top of the old underground filter system so that I can keep water in the bottom for the humidity. I put grow bulbs in the cover, but only use them in the winter for additional light or heat. I've lost a few but have had good luck with most of the lucanosa cuttings this way. I root most of my Hoya cuttings in this aquarium.

Regina

I've been doing pretty well with my lacunosa cuttings. Some of them did arrive somewhat rooted, but other bits needed some help. This is what I've been doing. I set the potted cuttings (2.5 inch pot), uncovered, on a six inch saucer filled with Hydroton. Since I've heard a lot of people foliar feed their hoyas, I decided to water my cuttings twice daily, but by spraying the leaves, not the soil, with the assumption that the cutting would take in some water via the leaves. The soil only got watered when it just started drying out, to avoid root rot. The Hydroton saucer does two things. First, when I spray water on the leaves, I get the excess in the Hydroton mainly, rather than all over the place. Secondly, the moisture in the Hydroton from the excess water adds humidity to the air around the cutting. I did this until I started seeing new growth from the cutting, then I decreased the frequency of watering the leaves to about once a day or two. It is in a south window, and seems to be happy. It doesn't need to be a saucer of Hydroton exactly, I'm sure, it's just what I had on hand. I lost a stem or two before I started doing this, and only one stem since, early on. I got another batch of cuttings (different lacunosa) and did the same thing, except due to lack of room, they are in a terrarium 5 ft away from the window. I only just added a light to the terrarium, so we'll see if they grow, but I haven't lost any cuttings from this batch either. The terrarium is large, and not sealed, so the humidity in there only gets to about 60% at most, which is only 10% higher than my room on average. Oh, and the temps are around 75-80 degrees. I'm on the third floor, so it won't get much cooler than that until fall temps roll around again, even with AC.

What do you use to foliar feed hoyas? I have Eleanor's VF-11 and have been spritzing with that about every 5 or 6 days.

Sorry, I never answered this question. I don't foliar feed my hoyas. I'm considering getting Eleanor's but haven't managed to do so yet. I just mentioned foliar feeding because I know people do it, and the hoyas must be taking in both the nutrients and some moisture from that, right? So that was my justification in watering my lacunosas daily via the leaves. I figured that would help keep the leaves plump while they were trying to root. I don't know if it actually works that way, it's just my theory. I've been watering them (leaves) with distilled water to minimize marring the leaves with mineral deposits. The soil gets watered with what I have on hand mixed up: orchid fert, AV fert, or Dyna-Gro.

Regina, can you post a picture of your "heating mat" and your hoya rooting set-up. Do you have any water in the aquarium or is it dry? Just wondering if the heating mat is waterproof...THANKS!

Hope you dont mind me budding in here pug - but with my set up , anyways, I had my heating mat on the bottom of the aquarium with water IN the aquarium. That worked really well. I wouldnt think you would put the heating mat in water but who knows?

Thanks Golden, Actually, I referring to one of those aquarium heater that is completely submersible...I was looking at one on the net that might work for me. It also says it can be used to warm plant roots in a small aquarium. Thanks again!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mini Heater

Oh Im sorry pug - didnt know they had such a thing - sorry for interrupting :0) Golden

Golden...no need to apologize :o), I appreciate everyone's help and input. We need each other's advise and help on hoya growing(I know I do,lol). The more the merrier, that's why I like this forum. Everyone is very nice and willing to help one another. Thanks again!

That little heater is pretty cool. I didn't realize that existed either, until very recently :o)