As Mike says, you can buy GENUINE mature plants, at a hefty price (mostly because of the shipping, tbh). If that's really what you're after, then you might try ebay and check out the plants of greenthumb3000 or other such vendors. What I would be more wary of is judging a Hoya's maturity by the pot size specified. You can get EA Hoyas in a large 8" pot, but they really are a bunch of rooted starts (as pointed out in this thread) not in the same league as the photos you shared with us. (But they'll get there, someday!) Joni @ SRQ just recently changed her pot size, but the plants are equally well established as what she'd previously been selling in 4" pots. I tend to find that the health quality and selection of these plants outweighs getting a greater number of starts. She has been holding monthly $10 sales recently, with different plants featured every time. You can really get some good deals and these plants tend to be on the fuller side versus some of her rarer plants, which she offers as soon as they are well enough established to travel. She used to also sell bigger pots of some plants and they'd go into the $10 sale section, too, but I can't find them on her site atm. You might inquire with her about it, though. Don't be afraid to talk to Hoya vendors directly. They are a good bunch. Because it's a smaller community, it's often easier for them to connect with us. Your final option is to get big cuttings! I know this sounds crazy, but some of the cuttings I've received in the past amount to a pretty darn big plant. The typical size of a Hoya cutting is, of course, 3-4 nodes, but there are some vendors who will ship larger sections, at their discretion. And you can always stick around here, make some good friends, and before you know it, there will be some sweetheart from a southern clime, who thinks you're worthy of a big hunk of a Hoya that grows like gangbusters for them. Everyone here is astonishingly generous once they get to know you. It's all about putting in the time. Also, Hoyas do not have to be huge to flower (in case this is not self evident). Because Hoyas are usually propagated via cuttings, they benefit quite directly from the maturity of their parent. You will be astonished how many cuttings and plants you receive with peduncles already there, in which case you could have blooms on your hands a month later even if it's in a 2" pot, or freshly rooted with your own two hands. Whew! I think I'm about halfway to a book. Sorry about that!

David Liddle did have a new eriostemma he claimed to be the real gigas. Of course this is like finding the rare sasquatch or abomidable snowman. Original botanists described this most unique hoya with flowers large like saucers. The one listed in most catalogs is not the true gigas, but at the time I threw the towel in, there have been two collections which did possess a plant they claim to be the real deal. I was just curious if anyone has ever seen or touched this plant. Not that anyone would want this in their home, but it does pose special potentials for breeding with it.

The LED lights are from Ebay from a company called LED wholesalers INC. This will be the first time I use the lights for an application other than supplemental light. The lights come in varying wattages but I use the least expensive panels because I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars and I really don't need lights that are that powerful. A 90W LED light is the equivalent of 400-600W HPS light. A mix of red and blue LED's is the best for growth and flowering while white just adds extra brightness. The colour of the light is not very noticeable unless it's in a dark room and the lights run cool/warm instead of hot and are very slim and light which makes them easy to install. I also found some really cool LED aquarium lights that are a strip of lights sealed (water tight) in a tube and are used to simulate moon light at night. I may add two small strips to the inside of the tank to boost the blue portion of the light spectrum under the white panels. I want to see how things grow first but if they look like they need some more light I will invest in some aquarium lights. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380108250821&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT I think people could be upset with what they get if they don't do some research. If you want an extremely bright grow light you will have to spend the money. There are 1000W equivalent daylight panels out there but they are really expensive although prices are starting to come down slowly. So far I am pleased with my single red/blue panel and my Hoyas have been growing very well under it although they do get some light from a south facing window that is about five feet away. You do need to keep the plants as close to the panel as possible to maximize it's effect. My panel is quite high above my plants but I only wanted it to provide light to the taller plants as they climb their supports. What exactly were the negative comments about LED grow lights? I can always post my experience with these lights after a few months or some time during the winter. If my plants don't bloom or grow well we will know that they are not bright enough. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: LED Wholesalers INC on Ebay

Great shots!! It looks like they are both posing for you. And speaking of posing ,,, how's Max? I would think he would want to "play" with that cute little frog?!?! I brought my hoyas in the house a week ago. And this poor guy keeps lurking around where "his" hanging plants hung ,,, it's like he's looking for his home!! I feel a bit guilty whenever I see him ,,, he looks so sad and depressed. Jennifer