Hoya bella

[rcb]

Hi all, While I've been growing orchids for a while, just this year I got into growing Hoyas also. For those who don't know what they are, they are epiphytes as well, but low light growers typically, vining plants, requiring more moisture than orchids, but need to dry out slightly as well. They come from Asia, and down into the South Pacific areas.

Anyways, I had to post this, cause it is my first ever Hoya bloom. I'm so excited about this. I've been watching the buds for a week, now, praying they don't drop LOL.

Here are the flowers.




And here is the whole plant right now. For reference, the "pot" is a 3-inch plastic cup I poked drainage holes into. I got this as an unrooted cutting in Jan. It's not real big yet, so hopefully it will continue to grow and flower.



Another thing, these are easier to get than orchids, no CITES, and lots of growers sell cuttings, these may turn out to be my next love.

[benetay]

We have plenty of Hoya here and it's bloom are much nicer then orchids some says & they bloom more readily too!

Thanks for sharing it's great!

Cheers!

[dtje2000]

Thanks for sharing, Renee! I've been eyeballing the hoyas that I've seen offered at the last few shows I've attended, but they seem expensive to me. $35 was the cheapest I saw...though I admit it was a very full basket. Your blooms are exquisite!

[rcb]

dt, I had ordered. 20 cuttings back in January - they cost between $5 and $10 per piece. Stuck an end of each in rooting hormone, and put in a pot with some mix, water, and let them grow. Since then I've found that Lowes carries these, 6in pots about $10 and 8 in pots about $15. I couldn't pass them up so now I have about 30 of these LOL Like I mentioned, these will probably be my 2nd favorite type of plant. They went right under the orchids in the greenhouse.

benetay - yes the blooms are really nice, most of them tend to be small, but you get a lot at one time. And the fragrance of most of them are supposed to be great. Mine just opened this morning, so I haven't found a scent yet. Soon maybe.

[trinigirl]

Thanks for the pics! Very pretty!

I've seen forums where people talk about these, people seem to love them. But for the life of me, I had no idea what they were, They are very pretty.

I might have to get a cutting someday. But I will have a hard time paying $35!

[dtje2000]

Renee, my friend, you'd do me a huge favor if you'd tell me they are $100 each.

[tansyflower]

I was looking at some in Kmart the other day (they didn't have any orchids), but couldn't make up my mind. I didn't realise they grew from cutting tho, as a friend has a large one. What did u pot the cuttings in?

[solay]

So pretty. I got two by mistake when an e-bay seller sent the wrong items to me. He let me keep them for free.
Unfortunately my Hoya Bella fried in the greenhouse and I'm seeing if it'll revive itself. I have a Hoya sepens in buds now. Do you grow them indoors and what medium do you use? Thanks.

[rl42]

I have a Hoya plant has lot of runners but no blooms.

Ray

[rcb]

dt - sorry - yes they are really expensive!

I am not an expert on these, only been growing them since January. But here is what i've done, and it seems to have worked so far.

Tansyflower
The cuttings are potted in 3" clear cups/pots, with a 50/50 peat moss/perlite mix. I use this for the bigger ones as well, but mix in seedling orchid bark to lighten it up a little more. I like the clear cups so that I can see when the root growth starts without disturbing the plant. Some of them need to dry out more so than others, so I just check what conditions they need and modify the bark and peat moss/perlite ratio to suit them.
And yes if your friend will let you take a couple cuttings, about 4 nodes each if you can and dunk the ends in rooting hormone and place them in the watered pot. Water when almost dry. That's it. It's best if you put a couple cuttings together.

Solay - bella and serpens are two of the cooler growing Hoyas, so I have them outside right now, nights are in the 50s-60s, although it got down to 43 last night. I left them out. The warmer growing ones are either in the greenhouse on a bottom shelf or in east windows in my house. They are all growing really well. I'm hoping some others will start blooming this summer as well. My serpens is also in bud as well, I'm holding my breath with that one, as I've read that it can be touchy.

[lmartiny]

I have (had) two of the basic types you can get at the box stores. I don't know the scientific names. My Hindu rope just keeps getting longer (about 3 feet) and I see no bloom action. The other one is dead. It wasn't getting the attention it needed and it seems to need attention. And, water.... Duh.
Good job getting those cuttings to thrive and bloom.

[solay]

Thanks Renee. That's good to know. Maybe I will have to put them out since the greenhouse is getting too warm now.

[boffin76]

That's a lovely hoya you have there! Funny enough, I've been looking for the same variety here in Singapore.

I think what I have is Hoya carnosa variegata "rubra"

[rcb]

boffin - carnosa 'rubra' is a really nice one too. I have this one as well, just haven't bloomed it yet. BTW, there are two major hoya growers in Thailand, since hoyas don't fall under cites, it may be pretty easy for you to get them. If you are interested, pm me and I'll send you their sites.