for a newbie?
Macgillivrayi
Onychoides
(may be others with similar flowers that I haven't listed so I would be happy to have others suggested).
It's been a busy winter/spring/summer here but I've tried to keep up with looking/reading the posts/threads and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone's beauties. Ü
I have also wondered which large leafed Hoya would be a great grower?
Glabra
Latifolia
(Is there a choice one that I missed?)
Thank you in advance! Ü
This message was edited Jul 5, 2006 3:32 PM
Which one is most likely to thrive and bloom
I think it's impossible to say which one of macgillivrayi and onychoides that is the easiest and most likely to bloom. I think that's rather "individual". For me, I would say macgillivrayi since than one bloomed for me when it was 1,5 year old. My onychoides of about the same age has only four leaves and flowers are far, far away. But others surely may have the opposite experience.
Here's my macgillivrayi by the way, my favourite Hoya No 1 !!.
The question about the large leafed ones I have to pass - I don't know much about those you mention.
This message was edited Jul 5, 2006 11:53 PM
Lotta your macgillivrayi is drop dead gorgeous!!!
Thank you for posting your experiences. :) I guess it will come down to hearing what the majority of posters have found with their plants (if those in perfect climes report the same findings as you it'll make my decision much easier;). I know some varieties of Hoyas can be tricky, even for experienced growers, so am just hoping to purchase the ones most likely to flourish (and maybe even bloom like your beauty) for me.
I have found that temerature really makes a big diference. My apartment always stays on the cool side even in summer, and the cold tolerant plants grow and flower readily. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, all the most readily available plants are cold tolerant ones- carnosa, kerii, lacunosa, some australis, shepherdii, pubicalyx and some others. Onchyoidies and latifolia are both warm growers, and have never done well for me. Neither has subcalva, mindorensis, or loherii, all of which are supposed to be heat lovers. Do you have a greenhouse? If not, I would say macgillivrayii over onchyoidies, and glabra over latifolia. Calycina is a good cold tolerant type as well, with large white flowers and VERY easy to grow.
Thanks, Mark. That is some good information. The temperature tolerance from David Liddle is useful, but only in so far as it tells the minimum temperature the plant can take. I think it is much more helpful (at least for a lay-person such as myself) to know what temperature conditions different hoyas thrive in
Ann
And I'd say onychoides over macgillivrayi... My onychoides blooms like a fool inside our house and I expose it to a lot of sun and very often we have that window open so it gets a lot of cool air too. My macgillivrayi has only put on two new leaves in one year so flowers are not in a near future.
Christina
Funny how Hoyas react so differently in different locales- my mac, which is also near a window with a cool draft, grows like a weed. No buds though...
Mark you so much for such an informative explanation. I have a feeling the ones you've had luck with will also prove to be winners for me. I really appreciate your suggestion of Calycina (I looked it up in the PlantFiles and it's now on my wish list).
.
Thank you for posting your experiences too Christina....I was wondering if they might be slow growers. I have a year old finlaysonii that hasn't shown any signs of new growth.
What is the average outside winter humidity level and temperatures where you live Christina?
From Mark's post I realize that when I post a ? I should really mention what the inside growing conditions are like in my particular area. Summers here can be pretty warm and usually pretty dry (90+ F here yesterday and I don't have AC) and the winters are cold to brutally cold and, other than this past weird winter, extremely dry (however inside my house I have a number of temperature zones.....the main floor East side tends to be cool to very cool (depending on which way the winter wind is blowing) whereas the 2nd floor is warm (heat rises). Hoyas I grow have to be tough enough to handle temperature swings that occur yearly inside.
Keeping the house somewhat humid in the winter is my biggest challenge (we have steam heat).......every door, piece of furniture and of course skin competes for whatever moisture is available. Then again some days the outside humidity level can go the opposite direction and then all the windows are covered with ice (if I have all my humidifiers working overtime just prior to the change outside).
This message was edited Jul 6, 2006 10:37 AM