Gotta ask you all another question (hope you don't mind!)
I think I read somewhere in one of these threads that someone was going to "remove all the white leaves" from one of their hoyas. Why? My Krimson Queen has a little branch with 3 or 4 pure white leaves and IIII'm thinkin' they look so pretty. What's the scoop?
thanks (once again)
Betsy
Remove White Leaves?
The white leaves do not contain any chlorophyll thus do not contribute to the "energy" production of the plant but require energy to exist.
A bigger plant can support the albino leaves and they can be left on there but on a smaller plant they may weaken the plant if there are too many thus should be clipped off. Pretty doesn't necessarily equal good :)
Milan
Milan, to take this one more step - if it would be beneficial to the overall plant health to remove the white leaves, do you think that portion of the stem on which the albino leaves are located could be cut and rooted? Is chlorophyll production necessary for root formation? I know leaves are necessary for transpiration, but if there were a couple of green or partially green leaves on the stem portion, do you think that would provide the necessary energy?
(If what I'm asking doesn't make sense, tell me. Sometimes I tend to go off on a tangent when an idea pops into my head.)
And Betsy, I have to agree with you. I think the little white leaves are pretty and add a very nice contrast to the green/white of the compacta leaves. 8-)
Barb
It may root but if no shoots with green leaves grow it will just slowly but surely die.
With just a tiny bit of green in one or two leaves...the plant's whole system works slower...and you would probably fail rooting it...after waiting a year or two!!! A tiny bit of all white isn't going to hurt...but more than 1/5 of the whole plant will bring you grief.
Gotcha! Thanks, Milan and Carol, for the info. Learning bit by bit, so it's a good thing!
Barb