skip to main content

Curtisii leaf thickness

popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)

2 years ago

I have two curtisii. One that I received as a cutting from my friend who owns a nursery.

And this one that I purchased from Lowe's (grown by Costa Farms).

I've always noted that the leaves on the one from my friend are much thicker than the other one. I saw some in his nursery yesterday that had very thick leaves. So I decided to mention this to him. I know his is from older stock so that may contribute to the difference. But he had another theory and I thought it was of interest. His theory is what he called "push fertilization". He said growers sometimes over-fertilize to get big growth on plants for sale. So these plants grow quickly but may not have quite the same characteristics of a plant that grows on its own timeframe.

I thought you all might find this as interesting as I did. I always learn so much from him! He's full of plant wisdom.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Tika Land
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this!!! I have been wondering why my two are so different. I love your garden fairy trellis and pots.

this one from Logees has really thick leaves (2.5 in pot)

this one from Gardino’s has very thin leaves and the splashing is not as pretty (4 in pot)
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks for sharing, Tika! I think it's really interesting. Yours do look very different.

That fairy arbor came from Big Lots. I think they still have them if there is a Big Lots near you. It was really inexpensive. I got some other fairy garden trellises and arbors last year on a clearance sale at a local nursery, paid 10 cents each for them. I bought them with the full intention of using them for hoyas!
Related Discussions
Hoya curtisii
Q
Comments (10)
/PG If you get a chance to ask your society member what conditions she provided it, I'd love to know. I actually think it has a pretty cool bloom. /David I have to agree there must be a trick, and it must also be pretty simple, because the people who post blooms of it act like it's no big deal and they didn't really do anything special. If it's not blooming for you, there are a lot of possibilities we can eliminate. You are already giving it high light, high humidity, and contrasting winter temperatures. Simone suggests that curtisii likes to be grown dry and cool in the winter, enjoys a little lime added, and should be potted very shallow. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in there. Here is a link that might be useful: Simone on curtsii
...See More
Hoya Curtisii
Q
Comments (5)
I think the differences may be cultural or just some quirk. I don't recall ever hearing of multiple kinds of Curtisii, or a variegate for that matter. It happens that some of my Curtisii had some of those leaves like in the first pic, those leaves which are mostly lightly colored, not dark as is the more usual. I remember wondering abt it & showing it to another Hoya friend. I really liked them & the contrast btwn the two. I wondered abt trying to take cuttings of those lighter leaves, but never tried to.
...See More
What's up with curtisii?
Q
Comments (12)
I'd like to say that I knew what it needed all along, but you all have met me and would see right through that. However, I have been growing it in very loose and chunky 'soil'. Bit o' this, and a bit o' that ( remember I use up opened bags of whatever LOL). Then I plunked her in a South window (cuz I frankly didn't care what happened to it) and watered it a fair bit (cuz I have short term memory loss-is there an approaching-middle-age forum around here?). Voila! Still don't like the look of the little Mother. Balding in spots, and not very nicely shaped (where is that forum?). Googled the flowers, and I'm not sure if I like the looks of that. Maybe nicer in real life? Well I won't get too excited, there is still time to blast off LOL. Thanks for listening hoya people. Don't feel like such a hoya-loser when I hear of troubles elsewhere. I'll see if I can tighten up on the conditions RFG.
...See More
Branching and Trunk Thickness in Fiddle Leaf Fig
Q
Comments (1)
How fast your plant's trunk thickens is directly related to the amount of photosynthesizing (leaf) surface the plant has, which determines the number of files of cells laid down in the cambium, which in turn is what determines the rate at which branches and trunks thicken. From this, we can see that pruning is actually a counterproductive act when thickening is desired. If you only tip-prune (remove the stems apex), however, the impact on thickening is insignificant. Ideally, you would wait to terminate the main stem until the plant is about 2/3 the ht (measured from the top of the soil) at which you'd like to maintain the plant. This allows for a bare trunk that is 2/3 of the tree's ht and then 1/3 of the tree's ht in foliage. You'll get the most enthusiastic response from healthy trees grown outdoors for at least a month before you terminate the main stem, and later from terminated branches. Also, if branches occur on the lower part of the tree, allow them to grow for a year or two - they provide additional additive growth (thickening) the plant would otherwise not have put on, absent the additional source of food (photosynthate) they contribute. Al
...See More
Tika Land
2 years ago
Thank you!! I have the exact one in cream that I got from Hobby Lobby :) I will have to check out Big Lots. I love the fairy garden trellis!
Tika Land
2 years ago
I am going to save your pic of the way you trellised your curtisii for when mine gets bigger...goals!
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Original Author
2 years ago
I was just looking through some old threads and found one where you posted a curtisii that needed some love. What happened with this one?

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6018208/curtisii-rescue-story#n=31

And here are some pics of mine when I got it. I'm glad I posted this because I can really see how much it has grown!

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5975138/anyone-growing-hoya-curtisii-epiphyticly#n=7
Tika Land
2 years ago
Oh wow!!!! Its grown so much. Unfortunately, that one did not make it. So now I have three...lol
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
2 years ago
Thank you!! He needs to be a part of this forum. Convince him, will you? Ha
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Original Author
2 years ago
I gave what was left of my rescue one to a friend after growing it in leca for a while. She still has it and it's doing well for her.

Meyermike, I'd love to convince him to join but he's not a computer nerd. His specialty is rare cacti and succulents. Most of the stuff he tells me about, I don't understand at all. I posted a picture of one of his orchids in the orchid forum. He showed me this when I was there the other day. I didn't even know orchids could be this small!

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6137145/miniature-more-like-tiny-orchids#n=0

He is a super interesting guy!

Related Stories

CRAFTS DIY: Jewelry Tray Takes the Form of a Leaf

By María Vázquez · Dr. Livinghome

Make a home for earrings, keys and other small items out of tropical foliage and easy-to-mold clay

PATIOS Patio Details: A Custom Aluminum Arbor Cools Things Down in Texas

By Annie Thornton

Panels in the roof have leaf pattern cutouts that create dappled shade and a calm, relaxed ambience

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Things to Know About Weeding and Mulching Your Native Garden

By Oakley Gardens

What’s the best time to pull weeds? How thick should the mulch be? Here’s the scoop for a healthy landscape

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Native Ground Covers for Tough, Dry Spots

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Sun beating down on your sandy gravel? Thick shade darkening your clay soil? There’s a ground cover here for you

THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Laser-Cut Focus: The Future of Design Is Here

By Jess McBride

Discover how this laser technology can make almost any pattern a reality

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD 9 Houses That Show Why Wood Is the Material of the Future

By Junko Kawakami

Most people may associate wood with traditional homes, but in these innovative, modern structures, its uses are really branching out

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

GARDENING GUIDES Decorate the Landscape With Versatile Agave

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Beautiful, succulent leaves reach toward the sky, adding texture and beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape

Sponsored

Trish Takacs Design

36 Reviews

Award Winning & Highly Skilled Kitchen & Bath Designer in Columbus