I just received a hoya cutting from my aunt--maybe a H. bella. It is well rooted, but still in water. (My aunt's is also still in water and is currently blooming.) The leaves were a little yellow, and it seems to me that they're yellower now than a week ago when I got it. Does anyone know what I need to be doing differently? Is it time to plant it?
Also, now it is just one branch. Will it branch out on its own, or is there something I should do to encourage a fuller plant?
Thanks,
DanaK
Yellow Leaves
If it were me, I would plant it now. But then, I have never had success rooting in water.
Have you fed it any nutrients while it has been in water?
I am told that "water" roots are different than "soil" roots and the switch over takes a bit of time.
It is not going to branch out and make a full pot if it is just one cutting. As it grows longer you can cut off pieces, make new plants and then pot them all up in the same pot. That works for making a full pot.
Are you sure it is H. bella?
Have fun!! :o}
Hi,
Thank you for your advice. I hope I can grow it into a beautiful plant, eventually! I am not sure what it is, but the flowers on my aunt's plant look like the pictures of H. bella from the Plants Database. It's at least similar. And no, I haven't fed it any nutrients. I've only had it about a week. I don't know if my aunt fed it. Would you suggest that? I can also work on transitioning the plant from water to soil.
--DanaK
Hmmm. IF it were me, I would pot it up in a very fast draining mix and give it a very week, 1/4 strength solution, of something like 5-10-10 with SuperThrive...put it in lowish light for the first week while it adjusted and then see how it does. Do you have a camera ...can you take a picture of it?
Carol
I found that H. bella actually does well with water rooting and handles the transition from water to soil well. Just remember that bella likes it wet and the roots will die if the soil is allowed to dry out and the problem is only spotted later on when bella starts to loose it's leaves and is sorry looking.
Leaves on H. bella are pretty destinct thus make it relatively easy to ID.
Here is a pic where it shows the leaves in the ID forum: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/445837
actually here is a current pic of my bella which shows leaves and flowers.
That is a good way of staking up the bella in a teepee style stake....beautiful flowers....Your bella looks great Milan.
Sandy