Happy Birthday Sandy!

May your day be a special as you are. Happy Birthday, Sandy. :)

Thank you so much for the Birthday wishes Donna. I didn't do anything too exciting. It's been raining most of the day but there was a bit of a break this afternoon so I was able to get out and walk the dog.

Sandy

Raining!!??!!
We're on our way up there tomorrow for 3 weeks, don't tell me it's raining. I guess we'll have to bring some of our wonderful sunshine we've been having.

Sandy, you'll have to take a 'rain cheque' for your birthday, so you can do something wonderful.

Happy Birthday Sandy.

Many Happy Returns, Sandy ! I can't believe it was rainy in Campbell River - it was incrediably hot and dry down in Victoria. Glad you managed to get out for a walk with Harley.
Heather

Thanks Linda and Heather. I didn't realize it was only rainy up my way. I figured it was the whole island. don't worry Linda, I think the weather is supposed to improve in the next day or two. It's been lovely here for the last two weeks. It figures that it has to get nasty just for the long weekend.

Oh well, luckily I heard the weather report and knew that today we could get some heavy downpours. I went to the Filberg Festival yesterday. I always enjoy looking around at all the arts and crafts. I had a great day. Have either of you ever been? This is what I bought for the garden.

Oh that's so cool, yes, have gone many times. It used to be known as the Courtenay music festival, then moved to the Filberg house. I remember listening to Long John Baldry, must be about 20 years ago now. If we get into town early enough we'll head that way. I hear they have fireworks tomorrow night for closing. I love fireworks, especially the big ones and the ones that have loud BANGS!

Linda

I don't remember it ever being called the Courtenay music festival. I think that originally it was called the Renaissance Fair. I used to go every year but that was about 25 years ago. I hope you manage to catch a bit of it. It ends at 6:00 pm on Monday.

Sandy

Happy Birthday Sandy, from the rainy island on the other side of Canada (although it is sunny here today!)

Belated Birthday Wishes Sandy. Have a great year.

Hope it was a good one Sandy.

Regards, Joan

Thanks, I did have a nice day. It's beautiful and sunny here today too Todd.

Happy Belated Birthday Sandy!.......How is the bella and pink silver doing? have they rooted for you yet?

Sandy

Thanks Sandy.

I don't think anything has started growing yet. There were some small roots on the pink silver cuttings when I got them. I put them in soil and they seem to be fine.

I'm a bit worried about the bella cuttings. I hope I haven't tried to start them the wrong way. I read on a hoya website that you're supposed to take off the bottom leaves and put the cuttings in soil with the part where the leaves were (I'm not sure what that's called) in the soil. I did that and I'm keeping the soil moist. One of the cuttings was going limp so last night I took it out, rinsed it off, cut a tiny bit off the bottom of the stem and put it in water. Do you think that was the right thing to do or do you have any suggestions of the best way to start them? I will be very upset with myself if I kill them. The information from the website was just general. How do you start your cuttings?

Sandy

HI Sandy.....

yes the Pink Silver seems it could root in cement its so hardy...lol....what i do with the bella cuttings (no pro here but found with them, this works the best for me) is to put Stimroot on the bottom with the leaves off the last 3 or 4 nodes like you did and then throw them into a little pot of perlite (instead of soil) maybe 3-4 inch diameter plastic pot....once they are in there, water the perlite so the water runs through the holes then i put a small, thinner-type baggy over the whole pot with a few holes slit into the top of that to keep the humidity up.....i just secure it with an elastic band and put it on a bright windowsill...usualy takes about 2 weeks or so depending on the time of year..just make sure the perlite doesnt go dry...it shouldnt be too bad if you have the plastic baggy over everything......once they have sufficient roots then i pop them into soil, again not overpotted....I have also rooted them in water and usually works also...I just find they are a bit prone to rotting quickly especially just putting them into soil right away .....the perlite is a lot lighter and looser and the roots grow without rotting......i find this works good for Lacunosa cuttings too or any of the smaller hoyas i would imagine....if they die on you, i have more cuttings or even a little plant started if you wanted to do another trade....i know i have had many a bella cuttings rot on me until i tried the perlite....rooting in water might do the trick for you though.....let me know how it works......

Sandy

Happy Belated Birthday Sandy.

It rained on Denman Island yesterday too, which was badly needed.

Belated Happy Birthday Sandy!

from Pam in tropical Saskatchewan (was 41C now 39).

Happy Belated Birthday Sandy! I hope your day was wonderful and happy.
Christine.

Thanks for the lesson, Sandy130. Every little bit of info helps us newbie Hoya growers. :)

Hi Donna,

hope your hoya cuttings are doing good from the secret trade......what did you get in your trade?.....i am still a newbie myself.....i am trying to root some compacta cuttings in water and they are slowwwww!!...or i am impatient...lol

Sandy

Thanks for the birthday wishes Jeanne, Pam and Christine.

I really appreciate the information on rooting the hoyas Sandy. I'll put the bellas into some perlite tomorrow. I hope it's not too late for them. The leaves on that one still feel like they lack substance. I think they got dehydrated.

Sandy

Sandy, I wish you good luck with your Bellas. Such pretty Hoyas, I do hope they pull through.

Sandy 130, I was very pleased with my Secret Hoya Trade. I got a couple of very nice Hoya Kerrii. As well, I received a lovely Hoya DS-70, such a pretty little Hoya and rooted too. And a little added surprise was some Bryophyllum delagoense seeds. It was fun, and Christine did a wonderful job of organizing it. :)

Hi Sandy...

well if the bella cuttings bleed white, they they are still salvagable....The little cutting of compacta that Jeanne sent was crinkly when i received it but lo and hehold, its plumped out in water and looking green as anything......i recut it too to make sure it had some life there and it had....even if you get one rooted, they will grow like a weed once they are established.....now i wont hijack your bday greeting any longer talking about hoyas..lol....

Hey Donna, you Got your Kerrii cutting then, thats great..sounds like you received some nice cuttings too and seeds too....Yes, Christine did a wonderful job organizing the secret trade....it was fun for sure.....Shes Hired! lol

Sandy

This message was edited Aug 2, 2005 6:45 AM

Thanks Sandy, it sure was fun, and profitable at the same time!
Christine

Hey Sandy, don't worry about changing the topic. I'm really enjoying this discussion about the hoyas. I've learned a lot and it's helped me out. I was worrying about the bella cuttings.

I really enjoyed the Secret Hoya Trade too Christine. You did a great job of organizing it. I'm taking note of what people got for the next one. LOL