Hoya in flower

[johnstephen29]

Hi Tony yes it does & you get lovely scented flowers as well.

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Hi,
I would like to see my 2 HOYA in flower ( HOYA carnosa tricolor & HOYA pubicalyx )...but every year I'm disappointed! I've had  these plants in baskets indoors for years. The foliage is really nice but there's something missing. I water them every fortnight. I change the upper part of the compost each year ( as for all my plants ) but  give no fertilisation ( as for most of my plants ). They are close to windows with a southwest exposure, so some good light is offered.
What is wrong with me?
I've seen plants in bloom in a glass house with very humid conditions. Conditions which I'm unable to offer in my flat.
This is impossible to place the plants outside as I've found HOYA are susceptible to mealy bugs and scale insects...and my balcony is invaded by all kind of pests.
Can anyone help with advice?
Thanks
JP
Maggi: what a stunning picture!!!

[Maggi Young]

It is quite an amazing picture - I just had to share it- even though I was jealous!

Have you though about trying the Hoya plants in your bathroom, where the humidity  is likely to be more to their liking ?

[Matt T]

The RHS suggest that failure to flower may be due to insufficient light, but I'd imagine your SW-facing window should be bright enough.

Perhaps try keeping them a bit drier at the roots in winter when they are 'dormant', then increasing watering in the spring?

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

It is quite an amazing picture - I just had to share it- even though I was jealous!

Have you though about trying the Hoya plants in your bathroom, where the humidity  is likely to be more to their liking ?

Maggi,
This would be an excellent idea...unfortunately there's no window in my bathroom!

[Maggi Young]

Oh dear, then I must think again........

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

The RHS suggest that failure to flower may be due to insufficient light, but I'd imagine your SW-facing window should be bright enough.

Perhaps try keeping them a bit drier at the roots in winter when they are 'dormant', then increasing watering in the spring?

Hi Matt,
Thanks for the advice. Maybe I don't water enough in spring & summer?
Do HOYA benefit from any feeding? ( I give none and the HOYA Pubicalyx send several whip-like shoots every season ).
I keep the plants in relatively small pots having read somewhere that they would flower better if kept pot bound...
JP

[Matt T]

Hi JP, it sounds like your plants are growing fine but just need a bit of a kick to get them flowering.

I do feed my Hoya during the growing season with a high potash feed (something like tomato food) and don't let them dry out too much, then stop feeding and give less water in the winter.

I believe that being pot bound is probably helpful for flowering and avoids ending up with a huge plant that outgrows your home! Mine are in quite small pots, about 4-5"/10-12cm, having been potted on as young plants from cuttings, then kept in the same containers with just an occasional topdressing if required.

We also have quite a large seasonal change in temperature in our poorly insulated house. I think these seasonal differences help give them a cue to bloom.

I hope you can get coax some flowers out of them soon.

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Thanks Matt!
JP

[meanie]

Hi,
I would like to see my 2 HOYA in flower ( HOYA carnosa tricolor & HOYA pubicalyx )...but every year I'm disappointed! I've had  these plants in baskets indoors for years. The foliage is really nice but there's something missing. I water them every fortnight. I change the upper part of the compost each year ( as for all my plants ) but  give no fertilisation ( as for most of my plants ). They are close to windows with a southwest exposure, so some good light is offered.
What is wrong with me?

Can anyone help with advice?

A couple of other things spring to mind;

1] growing medium. In the wild the majority of Hoya are Epiphytes given the choice so mine are in a 50/50 MPC and grit mix.
2] is the window open? Drying draughts and all that.

Mine are producing their second or third flushes on their spurs this year. They live in a SE facing window (shut), get watered once every two or three weeks (even in summer) and never get fed. Watering is done by soaking overnight. No real humidity to speak of either.

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Hello,
Many thanks for all your answers!
My plants are grown in a mix of a multipurpose compost and sand which I use for all the plants that I think prefer a good drainage ( Dracaenas, monstera, Sansevieria,... ) and not too much humidity on the roots. The window is opened during the "good" season ( late spring, summer, and early autumn ) when I'm at home. The autumn sun can bake the plants at the end of the day but doesn't scorch the leaves.
Here's a pic of my HOYA Pubicalyx. It is much too huge for being brought to the bathroom for any spray.
JP

[johnstephen29]

Hi Jean Patrick my hoya's carnosa & bella are in a gritty compost, & I admit get neglected a bit, I water once or twice a week, are pot bound, kept in a bright light, early morning sun for carnosa & no sun for bella. They flower every year & carnosa is starting it' second flush of flowers. I wonder if you might be making it a bit too comfortable for them so they think they don't have to flower?

[Jean-Patrick AGIER]

Yes, I've been considering these HOYA as ( beautiful ) foliage plants for years...
But as they produce a lot of leaves ( too many ) I'll consider changing the making of the compost for a more gritty one.
...and see what happens!
JP

[Maggi Young]

"Hoya hanhiae from Central Vietnam has flowers of different colorations."





Hoya hanhiae sp. nov. (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from central Vietnam

    Van The Pham1,2,
    Tuan Anh Le3 and
    Leonid V. Averyanov4

"A new species, Hoya hanhiae V. T. Pham et Aver. discovered in central Vietnam is described, illustrated and compared with the related species H. macrophylla Bl. and H. verticillata (Vahl) G. Don."


© 2014 The Authors

http://www.nordicjbotany.org/article/hoya-hanhiae-sp-nov-apocynaceae-asclepiadoideae-central-vietnam

[johnstephen29]

Hi Maggi really nice flowers on your picture, these plants have beautiful flowers. I counted six new flower clumps in the second flush on my carnosa, it's going to look really great in a week or so.