Hi, I am new to this forum but wanted to show you all what I found yesterday at our little local greenhouse. Who knew: I've never seen them with pink before! And the pink is quite pink too! What a surprise they were. Has anyone else seen these in their area? And what a great price, so I bought 2 (they only had 3). ChuLin
Ahhh ChuLin ~ I see I have met you on the path to self destruction. LOL
Your plants are very pretty. The pink is on the new growth but I don't believe it will stay. The leaves will become variegated like the rest.
Those are delightful plants as are all the Hoyas. Beware! 8 )) pod
Podster, you are probably right as they are young plants yet. BooHoo. But one can hope and dream...haha! ChuLin
And I might be wrong too! Been there before ~ LOL The stems on your pretty may stay pink. I have one that the stems remain pink, a H. carnosa Krimson Princess. Either way, you have a treasure. Enjoy it!
Very pretty indeed! I love the pink color. I think I see a price of $2.99 on one of those little pots too ... really great buy!
I never see the H. compacta (solid green or the variegated) for sale around here. I bought my large green compacta from an on line friend who was getting rid of her plants. A compacta with lots of pink like yours would be very popular, if they would stay pink!
Yes, they were 2.99 each...I thought that was a great deal, myself! The color in the pictures is a little paler that it really is, and the stems are quite red down to the soil line. I may be lucky and, if it gets proper light, it will stay pink. I really like the H compacta; they are so different looking from the other plants I have. As usual around here, there was no name label, no instructions, no sticker (except the price). I find that very odd, but it seems to be the normal thing. I'm wondering if I will ever see blooms on either of my hoyas....probably not for a long time! ChuLin
how fun!! We don't have many places here in Miami that sell hoyas...at least none that I can find!!
I am quite envious :)
Alison
Actually, these are the only kind of Hoya plants that I like...simply because they are so bizarre looking. ChuLin
Unless that's a new cultivar they've come out with, I doubt the foliage will stay pink. As Podster stated above, new foliage is sometimes pink but as the plant ages the foliage darkens to green, and maybe a little cream to white variegation.
I have one of the Hoya carnosa's that sometimes sprouts new growth with a pretty pink color, but it never lasts. :(
Hi ChuLin. What a lovely plant you have!
This plant is called Hoya compacta 'Regalis'. For me its a very slow grower, but I tend to not do well with variegated hoyas. It does like a chunky pot mix and to be nearly dried out between waterings (mine is now growing well since I figured this out).
As with Hoya carnosa 'Tricolor' (aka'Krimson Queen'), if it gets any all pink or white foliage, I would remove it, as it is believed that this either robs the plant of chlorophyl, or is redundant because it does not produce any chlorophyl. I know its pretty cool looking, but if mine ever grows enough ... I'd remove the white/pink growth.
I made an experiment a few years ago with Krimson Queen and took only white cuttings. They rotted, no matter what method I tried; others have confirmed this as well.
The bottom line is that, the new pink growth will not turn green, it will fade to white and stay that way. I agree though, it sure is pretty.
Christine
Christine, Thanks so much for your input on this ... I thought the foliage would turn green! Had no idea it would fade to white and stay that way. I am going to pinch off the pink leaves on my plant.
If I remember correctly, the new green/white leaves of this plant will be a very dark red (given enough light), and they will "fade" to green with white borders as they age. I do know there's new growth on mine but haven't looked at it closely in ages, as its on a bottom shelf and behind a bunch of others so I have to reach over them to water it.
Christine
Boy, its sure going to be interesting to see what this one does for me. I water both my hoyas good, then let them dry out. Seems to be OK for them as I have had the solid green one for a couple years now. I water my pony tail palms exactly the same way. Thanks for your input. I will not take any of the white or pink leaves off as I want to see what it does. Too bad they don't grow a little faster! ChuLin
Very interesting information Christine and valuable too. Thanks much.
Like Lin, I just expected the leaves would turn variegated.
I wonder if there is any way of stimulating the plant to produce variegated growth (rather than the white) by water, fertilizer or lighting.
Well ~ I better go look at my variegated Hoyas closer... lol
Hi all, thanks for your input. Some of the pink leaves (and the white ones) on my plant have green speckles on the main central vein...whatever that means. The very bottom leaves of the white/pink "stalks" have some solid green on them, but not much. So probably they will eventually turn green and white. I find the pink so pretty with the green and white curly leaves. Does anybody know what causes the pink color...that probably gets into genetics, which I DO NOT understand at all! HA. ChuLin
I would think that a varigated plant would do better in bright sunlight, as it would recieve more energy from the sunlight it gets. I am assuming that white areas do not engage in energy production.
Or, am I misguided, that the plant does not care does not have energy to make up?
Bright sunlight will burn most hoyas and at the very least will bleach the leaves (I speak from far too much experience here). Variegated hoyas are no different (again, personal experience), and possibly is the reason they would produce more white growth. Don't forget that hoyas are rain forest plants for the most part - only a little bit of sun gets through where they flourish in their natural habitat.
Christine
I was not saying full sun, just brighter light to make up for the difference.
Ah, again, I'm not too sure. I have a Krimson Queen located in the same location as a rabbits foot fern and its doing really well (about a foot back from a north-facing window behind other plants). My compacta regalis has a far brighter location and its not growing at all (I was wrong). I'm going to move it to the same location as the KQ and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes less light is the answer.
