Hoya serpens

[rcb]

I've mentioned that Hoyas are my other love. My Hoya serpens is in bloom right now, and I'm so pleased, this is the best blooming I've ever gotten on any Hoya. Also, the fragrance is spectacular, a spicy floral, that starts in late afternoon and gets stronger as night comes.

First I'm going to start with a picture from last year, so you can see how much it has progressed in one year.



Now this year, starting with the bud progression, and moving on to this morning.











Hope you enjoy!

[Daethen]

Wow, what a beauty. Gonna have to look for one of these.

[jessicalee]

well grown!
i love Hoyas... i have had one for a year that has doubled in size and another that is about 6 months old and is showing impressive growth. how long after good growth did your buds appear? or is it a simultaneous sort of thing? i have heard that Hoyas take even more patience than orchids and that here in northern Ohio flowering inside is very difficult. i appreciate any advise and thank you for sharing your beautiful buds and blossoms.

[rcb]

JessicaLee, I actually find Hoyas in general more tolerant than orchids. Apparently some are pickier than others, but the easily found ones are usually not. And like orchids, the individual species have different requirements concerning light, whether to dry out or not, temps etc. I know there are many Hoya growers that grow and bloom their plants on windowsills.

Most of mine are about 2 years old, started from cuttings, and this year I am finally starting to see a good percentage of them budding up right now. I also, last summer I bought about 5 rooted small plants, and 2 of them are budding right now.

Here is a good website for the individual species and their requirements.

growinghoyas.com

This person is from Sweden, and grows on the windowsill.

[jessicalee]

Thank you so much, and for the super neat link too.
I have had good luck with new leaves and have no trouble getting them to grow, just impatiently awaiting a flowering and thought i would ask
One was a small rooted carnosa last summer/fall, and the other, a serpens like yours, was a good sized plant hanging very sadly before christmas at a local grocery, i had to take it home ($5), it has rewarded me with spectacular growth, i cannot wait to smell the flowers.
I am fortunate to have a very high ceiling and many, many, large windows on both the west and east side of my apartment, so my pretties get to hang, for now, over my bed.
Thank you again, you all are so kind and helpful. It is very refreshing.

[syndywindy]

Lots of blooms this year, it's beautiful. We'll have to see how I do with the ones you sent me as I know so little about them. The website you posted helps a lot.

[mayres]

Wonderful plants and good pics too! I think I now have a new favorite? WOW! The presentation of blooms with the hanging is super.....

[psyc1210]

I love the serpens! I have serpens as well, and it did nothing for me for two years. I moved it to an ESE facing window, and it has begun to take off! Lots of growth, faster growth, and I even see a peduncle on it now! I can only hope mine looks like yours one day. Do you have that in a hanging pot, or do you sit it on a shelf with the stems hanging down?

[orchids4me]

Wow big dofference from last year!
Its beautiful Renee!
Lynne had given me some cuttings last year but I didn't know how to get them to root. They went to heaven
Thanks for sharing it.
Good growing !
Emmaye

[-k-]

I def remember this one from last year and my what a difference a year makes!
It's a lovely one!

[katrina]

It's beautiful!! And, I must leave now...leave this thread very fast! I have successfully avoided these guys for a couple of years but my will power is getting weaker...especially after seeing your pics.

[hera]

Nice Hoya, I've been tempted to try these.

[rcb]

Thanks everyone!

JoBeth, its in a 4 inch net pot that just sets on the edge of the bench so the stems can hang down. I wasn't able to bloom it until I started giving it cool bright winters.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by rcb

Thanks everyone!

JoBeth, its in a 4 inch net pot that just sets on the edge of the bench so the stems can hang down. I wasn't able to bloom it until I started giving it cool bright winters.

Well maybe now that I've moved mine to an ESE facing window, and right near the window, it will get the bright light, and from being close to the window, some of the coolness. I hope so! I am going to have to figure something out shortly as it's getting longer and I don't want to break any stems since they are hanging so low.

[rcb]

JoBeth, can you wind the stems up and around and clip them to the the pot, then let them grow and cascade again? That might help.