Couldn't resist buying this pot! (I moved his "bangs" a little before the photo was taken).
(Sorry for all the (www.myhoyas.com) on all my photos, but I keep finding my photos in internet auctions and I want them to be marked.)
Christina
Anyone want to see a hairy frog?
LOL, now that's an adorable pot! And the Hoya is a beauty too. :)
Oh that's cute,heehee
Jody
I love the face on the frog. The color combination looks good with the hoya. I like the flowers in the hair too ! LOL
Karen
Love it! The pot is so cute and unusual, and the bella is so pretty!!!
Christina, I'm so glad you joined in. Your website is definitely a favorite! I appreciate all the info you give, and the variety of pics...closeups of the flowers, leaves and pictures of the whole plant which is rare on other sites and so helpful. Outstanding job!
That is sooooo cute, Christina! Just perfect!
:) Donna
Love the frog! Love the H. bella.
Who knew frogs had so much sophistication with their hairstyles!
Mr. Frog has a fabulous *do*!!
Gotta love that.
That is adorable. Christina, when you plant in planters like that, do you actually "plant" it in the pot, or do you just set a plastic pot inside the planter?
I have done it both ways, and find it much easier to just set the pot inside of the fancier one.
What about others here...do you like to plant it right in the fancy pots... or double pot??
Marcy
Hi Marcy,
All my hoyas are planted in plastic pots with about 1/2 - 1 inch of large clay pebbles (leca) at the bottom to keep air under the roots. For each time I repot the hoya I put less leca in the bottom to get more room for fresh soil. I also add small leca in the bottom of the planter and then I put the plastic pot in. The leca in the planter also helps keep air in and it also helps me keep the hoya steady. Don't know if any of this makes sense, but if it's not here's a photo to show the result of what the planter leca might be.
Christina
That is way to cool. I can't understand how people can grow H. bella to such lovely specimen plants. I have tried and failed 3 times. Not sure what I do wrong.
Ric
My WORD, it looks as if the roots escaped the bottom of that pot carrying the leca right with it. That is some healthy roots you have growing there. With them all stuck to the leca, how do you deal with roots like that when you repot?
I have not seen anything for sale here called "leca", but I have a bag of some stuff I bought that looks like it is made of tera cota (like the pot material), but it is in little round balls about the size of gum balls. I have not used it yet as I was unsure if the hoyas would do well with that in the soil. Guess I will try putting it on the bottom of pots when I replant.
Hey...gang...I think we may have the secret to her success from the looks of those roots. :-)
Marcy
Marcy you can probably find leca at a hydroponic store.
Agape,
Awanda
Perfect plant for your frog. What a hairdoo. Well I can tell ya theres gonna be a mad rush for leca now. Everyone who ran out to the store and looked for leca raise your hand.
Well, I didn't run out, but I did call around. Seems no one knows much about it. I did find a product called "Hydroton" at a hydroponic store (like Awanda suggested). However, it is not quite the same thing. It is heated and expanded clay pellets that become porus and lightweight like lava rock. Turns out, I already have a bag of it, so I am trying a little in the bottom of a few pots as I replant some things. Can't hurt anything I guess.
However, I will continue to search for leca in this country & if I hear of any source, I will post here.
If anyone else does please post it too.
Marcy
Marcy, they sell the leca at Home Harvest, just do a google search. I imagine shipping would be kind of expensive. I have the Hydrotron also. I wonder if this would do the same thing. Hopefully, Christina, or someone can tell us if this will work!
Heather
Thanks Heather. How would you compare (the texture & absorbancy, etc). of the hydroton & the leca? Do you think they are practically the same thing?
Marcy
Actually, I have no idea about the leca, I just saw it on their website. They look so similar. I should repot one of my hoyas and do a test. See if I can get the same results as using leca. You in?
Heather
Leca is burnt clay pebbles. They are full of little air holes and often used in hydroculture. When I crush them, they just become powder. The small ones are about 5 mm in diameter and the larger ones 10-15 mm. Does this help?
Christina