Hi everyone, I have a multiflora, not blooming. When I got it, it was in bloom, two times this year it has produced the pendecules, but the flowers just won't open. I am fertilizing it, but they eventually drop off. Same thing happened with my lacunosa. The latter's leaves are also turning yellow and falling off. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Heather
multiflora not blooming
Heather, I ususally lose a few of the buds, but not the whole unbel on H. multiflora. They just dry up, turn yellow and drop. It seems to do better for me if I don't let the soil dry out at all. I also hardly ever fertilize the multifloras. Check for aphids or other critters. In my climate I have to keep them separate from all of my other hoya because the orange aphids love them.
I can't help you with the H. lacunosa except that everyone says not to let dry out ever! Evenly moist. Even with that advice I managed to kill mine. Are they yellow mushy or yellow and dried out?
Heather,
If you have a shady spot outside, try moving your plants outside. For some reason, my multifloras do not want to bloom until they are moved out for the summer and then, there is no stopping them.
Is this your first blooming of your lacunosa? I have noticed that most of my Hoyas will blast their first blooms. If you don't have a place for them outsdie, you might try putting them on a humidity tray and keeping a mist bottle right next to them and misting them every time you pass by. Humidity makes all the difference in the world!
From my experience multiflora needs a bright location without direct sunlight for it to bloom "well", in darker location it may even stop to grow. The bloom buds also seem to be sensitive to cold drafts so pick your location carefully.
Now lacunosa can take a less bright location but it is very sensitive to sudden environmental changes, so avoid areas where there are large temperature fluctuations and try to keep the soil consistently moist.
LOL it seems those Texas milkweed aphids have a different taste than their northern bethren. The ones here attack my carnosa, pubicalyx and lacunosa but they leave my green, variegated and speckled multiflora alone. Most likely the Texas ones are so big that branches may snap off if infected ;).
Milan
Thanks everyone, I am going to find some place for them outside. I just moved some out there last week, brave move for me. I've been contemplating moving more out there. Guess my descion has been made.
Heather