I have a H. Lacunosa that has a few visable roots trailing out of the bottom holes on a standard green 4" pot....i can also see them quite clearly from the top of the plant....How do you know when the right time to repot them?..... I understand most like to be rootbound but they seem to have such a fine root system...How many roots have to be coming out the bottom before you make them a new home?...i am watering the Lacunosa once per week at least.....Its had a fair bit of new growth since I received it....probably sounds like a newbie question which it is...decisions, decisions!.....thanks
Sandra
transplanting hoyas
Sandy...if you see roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it may be pot bound OR (being H. lacunosa) it may be looking for more water!! Pinch the sides of the pot and gently turn it over in your hand, the plant should come free of the pot. If the roots look like there is NO dirt in them, then pot it up...to a 5" pot...just one step up. It it doesnt look potcramped...just give it lots of water.
H. lacunosa really like A LOT of water...by a lot...I mean that watering it once a week may not be enough. I water mine at least everyother day. Is your soil nice and lose...does it drain well? I had a H. lacunosa that had a tray under the pot and the pot got clogged...meaning the water swashed around in the tray...well...the roots must have been 5' long growing out of the pot...and that plant was a happy camper...bloomed non stop.
Sandy when I turn my pot upside down, I tap the top rim on a bench, it will them drop out, so be ready to catch it. If it is really hard to get out, I use a rubber mallet and gently tap the sides to loosen it. It will do just fine. I've had no problems repotting them at all, they love the new fresh soil, and often it will jump start them, especially in early spring.
Norma
HI Norma and Carol,
I have to say like you said Carol, it is probably looking for more water......the soil is fast draining when i water it but I wouldn't say its overly loose though.....I did tap on the side and gently pulled it out to see what things were looking like and i seen a lot of roots but there was soil definately mixed too.....so maybe i shall leave it and just keep watering the heck out of it....I guess these rules for being rootbound and water hogs would definately go with the other plants such as Multiflora, Bella etc eh? Thanks to both of you for your suggestions....
Sandy
Sandy,
I am not near as anxious to repot as I used to be and have found several of my hoya developing root rot after I up-potted them. Lesli Cordle, a hoya buddy and friend, told me that many folks in Sweeden rinse all the soil from the roots and put them back in the same pot with fresh soil. This seem like a great plan if space is limited, however, I have not had the nerve to do that to my plants. As my plants are growing bigger and my space is growing smaller, I am considering this method!
Yeah, its tempting to repot, especially when you see roots coming out the bottom but i guess i must squelch the temptation and listen to good advice given here....the only time i have seen roots so thick and tuberous and no soil was in a few spider plants i have had....i hear you about them growing bigger though...thank goodness most of mine are small at the moment!
Sandy