Any ideas as to who this pretty NOID is?

This is the Hoya that I was given at the entry gate to the Icheon Rice Festival last weekend in Seoul. Hoya's were always something that I had admired from afar and thought that I might own one day. Well... that happened before I knew it and I haven't had any education on the different types and how to grow them. I just sort'a know that some can not dry out, and that there are some that must dry out or they will rot. This one is planted in a sand/grit mix along with a bit of dirt and a smidgen of organic matter. It is much richer looking soil than the jacob's ladder and false aralia that I bought last week are in. I did not see any American style potting soil at any of the places that sell plants in my town or at the truck they were pulling all different kinds of plants from at the festival. As it is real humid here - over 50% 11 months of the year, I guess that plants need real sharp drainage to keep from rotting. Can you help me figure out how to care for this?

Another look:
edited to LOL! I can't tell what these thumbnails are!
I'll try again...

This message was edited Oct 27, 2009 7:05 PM

2

That is so lovely Juney! Your hoya is carnosa 'Rubra' aka 'Krimson Queen'. It has very pretty pale pink flowers.


Christine

Thanks! Now I need to figure out how to care for it. Is it OK for it to have bottom heat for the winter? Korean's have had radiant heating in their floors for thousands of years and it feels wonderfully comfortable to me, I just don't know about the plants...

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57703/ This says average water needs.... what does that mean? Don't water until the top inch is dry? Thanks for your help!

I wouldn't give any carnosa bottom heat, they tend to like it a bit cooler - room temp is okay, so sit it on a shelf, but not on the floor. Your take on watering is good.


Christine

Actually, H. carnosa (the original hoya that cultivar came from) is from China...does not pout in the cold, can take lower light than most and really enjoys growing a bit drier. ....

Well there you go - grow it a bit dryer - that means if you dig down and feel any moisture don't water it yet.

Carol is right. I grow mine quite happily to the side of a North window. Water it maybe twice a month if it's lucky.

A friend of mine was taking over an old building in Taos, NM for her offices. There was a H. carnosa in the empty office...it had been there for years, it was GORGEous. It was dry as a bone. It was also mid winter, no heat in the building, snow on the ground outdoors and it was in back of the room with no light. One of the healthiest plants I have ever seen.

Sometimes....?

Great! Thank you all for the info! I'll put it on a table or shelf. It sure is pretty!

JuneyBug it is very pretty and healthy looking; you got a great hoya.

Blessings,
Awanda

Mine likes it dry in it's little container and has even bloomed.
They are nice little hoyas.
Charleen

I have another tiny one in a container of MIL's tounges, they should be OK on the water, though I do not have them in a *bright* place in the LR. Should I move them?

Here is where they are in the room. The glass wall 10+ feet to the right faces WNW.
edited for clarity

This message was edited Oct 31, 2009 11:55 AM