I am here to ask a question of all of you Hoya experts. When I attended Master Gardener training, during the propagation session, we started many things, one which I chose was a Hoya. It took a long time before it put up a plant, but now it's gorgeous. Here's my question, at that time, they told me you need a tiny bit of the stem, or at least a heel to start a plant.
About 6 months ago, a friend at work brought me leaves from hers, just leaves. Well, I planted them anyway, and they are rooted, and nice and green and plump, but no shoots arising from them yet. Am I impatient, or will they never be able to start a plant because there was no stem material attached??? Thanks for your experiences! Legit
Rooting Hoyas
Hi, I have had a few Hoyas put up vines from only a leaf start. kerrii, littoralis, and vitellinoides are the first to come to mind. It takes a long time to get vines this way....
Even Hoya experts have divided opinions in regards to "leaf only" propagation. Some say it will never grow a shoots as long as no stem tissue had been attached others say that it will grow shoots even without stem tissue but that it may take a long time.
Personally I have tried leaf only starts and I have one carnosa which after 3 Years is a nicely rooted thick leaf but that's about it others grew shoots within a Year.
IMHO it is not reliable to propagate via leaf only method and would recommend a minimum of two leaf nodes for propagation.
Milan
Edited for spelling error
This message was edited Jan 13, 2004 3:38 PM
WE have recently started Hoya from just the vine set in pumice in small rose pots 1"x 4" I couldn't believe it would work. But now they have 2 to 9 leaves per 8" cut of vine. I am experimenting with Eleanor's VF-11 which is working, even setting flower stems. I don't believe it's on the East coast yet. But is available in Calif. and most nursery centers and not expensive. Norma
Stem only propagation is possible and I had done it with my H. australis ssp. tenuipes. I believe the stem still is required to have a node on it though. Question is what the success ratio is with this method? For now, until proven to me otherwise, I'll go with 3 node leaved stem propagation. Less nodes, leaf only or leafless stem propagation will be my last resorts if I can't get 3 nodes out of a Hoya or if I feel like experimenting.
I have two Hoyas, one is variegated and one is green. Got both at HD. They are about 6 months old and have been growing. Can I root some cuttings in water and is this the best time to root some?
What is Eleanor's VF-11 and where do they sell it? This is great, I can hardly wait to expand and get a few more varieties. I saw one with a heart shaped (kerri) I think, I just love that one.