Tropicals & Tender Perennials: The Best Time to Order.....?, 0 by AlohaHoya

AlohaHoya wrote:
Australia, being in the Southern Hemisphere, is in the opposite season (than we are) the N. Hemisphere: their summer is Dec-Mar, their winter is June - August etc. We all know that plants are tuned into the lengths of the daylight hours for their growth times, going semi dormant/dormant with the shorter winter days.

I have often wondered - STILL do - about the best time to order plants from DL: In OUR Spring when they will have started slightly shutting down in Australia yet arrive in the N. Hemisphere when it is time to start ramping up --------------OR----------------in our early fall when they are starting to ramp UP in Australia and still have some growing time left in the N. Hemisphere.

The difference between our summer/winter daylight hours is only about 1 hour on either end - and of course - our winter sun is not as strong as the summer sun. I don't use artificial lighting to start or to grow out my hoyas but I do know that those who DO use grow lights all winter can regulate the 'seasons' for the plants...and that they can have growing season all year long.

SO................for the sake of general information, let's talk about this. Perhaps we can come up with some interesting information we can all use. I will also ask some of the Plant Pathologists at the University ... I will also post my own experiences in the next post. I think it is important, for the sake of comparison, to mention whether you use grow lights (new cuttings or all of your plants), your 'Zone', when you notice growth the most active.... etc.