OK, need help here.....What makes a hoya get a penduncle and bloom? I know this may sound stupid, but I've had some hoyas for awhile...huge actually---with new growth and all that good stuff.....and they have never gotten a penduncle and flower! What does one have to do??? (Other than, get a hoya that already has one! LOL!)
Humidity? Fertilizer? WHAT does one need to do? Thoughts?? Thank god the leaves are interesting in their own right....but geeez!
Help! Need expert advice! To flower or not to flower?!?!
Have you paid your homage to the hoya gods? Thrown spider plants on the compost pile? Taken African violets to the old folks home? Have you densly optimized the windows in your house for hoyas and not lighting the house? Do you travel more than 50 miles for pure water and organic fertilizers? Have you dropped to your knees infront of one of the enlightened Hoya philes?
I haven't either, but maybe that's our problem.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm....OK, I see your point....I have tossed some plants to the compost pile and killed most of the african violets, my goldfish and my hamster (all from neglect due to the ridiculous amount of time I spend babysitting and tending to the hoyas...lol...not really---well, maybe a little true)---and still, no blooming! Maybe we need to excise plant demons! Is there is exorcist in the house??? =)
Out of nowhere this summer my Krinkle Kurl cutting, now about 8" pulled off two decent flowers in no time. Not that I did anything to help it. My others? Forget them. Nice leaves is all I get. But it really seems that the less I preen and care for my hoyas, I do better. Sure a shot of fertilzer every once in a while, but not the best position in the sun, they flower best for me behind the tomatoes on the deck. But seriously, I do not know anything about hoyas and their culture and am only learnings.
Mostly I was joking with my earlier comment. It just sounded like a time for some sarcasm.
ROFL at ADog's analogy. They can be stubborn sometimes ... and then when we least expect it, they surprise us with a bloom!
I do think they have "little hoya minds of their own" and want us to know that they are in charge!
OK...I have a couple of theories.....
1. One can grow two different clones and one will bloom and the other doesn't. Go figger.
2. One can grow a cutting from a non blooming plant and the cutting will bloom. Go figger.
3. A plant's energy comes from Carbs. The energy to root comes from carbohydrates...and a plant cut on frequently, runs out of carbs to the last cuttings making them difficult to root.
Bloom? connected to rooting? I doubt that a plant will bloom well when constantly being cut on for cuttings.
Plants WILL bloom when stressed, as well. Here, I put plants out in the direct sun, grow them drier than normal in order for them to think they are dying and they will bloom...survival instinct. So, if a plant isn't blooming for you (and it IS part of the life cycle)...you may want to grow it differently: drier, cooler, warmer, less light, more light... I generally find that plants will bloom more easily with a bit of neglect... don't be so nice!!!
I have a one stem plant of H odorata. It branched out, then branched out again , so 4 stems but no flowers. It was quite leggy, so I decided to cut it back to get several new cuttings to plant with the original to get a fuller basket......Within a couple of weeks, it started to throw out peduncles on the original plant at many internodes down the stems. Maybe it was just coincidence, but it hadnt flowered the 3 years I had had it, then sudenly it had about 8 peduncles after a good prune. A good few have blasted since, but I still have a few buds looking good.
If anyone tries this, just double check whay you're pruning tho. I did, rather rashly, do same to a H polyneura to get a fuller basket, then. On organizing the cuttings into pots, I realised that each end had a couple of healthy peduncles forming which I should have kept on the plant to flower out first ( so still havent seen the flower yet )
Dominic
Ok Carol....so I'll stress my plants out like they stress me out, we should get along fine! LOL! Seriously though....they are a mysterious bunch......I guess the saying is true...try and try again and find out what works for you in your particular growing situation.
Generally, most plants have a season when they bloom... Getting into a 'groove' they will chug along happily. When their growing slows down because of length of days etc., they require less water/fert. If grown under lights, they will not know the difference. I can't think of anything MORE important than airflow around them...
That "airflow" bit is the hardest part as far as I'm concerned. I've tried putting little fans on them in other rooms. Tried keeping the ceiling fan on here in the LR...much to my chagrin the fans that are moving the air are also tricking the furnace into running twice as much as usual.