K, so I checked all the links....

I read all the links, I read all the Hoya 101's I could find, and I am still unsure of the watering needs for some of my quickly expanding collection! In the plantfiles it nearly always state; average water, do not over water! Ok, so I have been doing that, but then I got the advice, on the H. Multiflora, water more! Which I am very happy to hear (thanx again Ann!), maybe I can actually reap the benefit of seeing the blooms before the "buds blow away"! Does anyone have a "list" of who needs what? I use a moisture meter for all my plants, and water when they are somewhat/nearly dry. But I am sure that like the H. Multiflora, there has to be some that require the extra watering and some the very much less watering! Thanx guys!

This message was edited Sep 23, 2006 11:22 PM

Bec...your plants may be failing because of a problem with light rather than water. The 2nd and 3rd shelves of the plant stand do not look as if they are getting enough light to support the plants needs that are on them. Try moving the ones giving you trouble to a higher lght or put a light on the underside of the shelf above it. Plants that are not in high light use less water .
Marcy

Marcy has a good point...they do look a bit darkish. The carnosa/pubicalyx group can take darker conditions really happily....and drier conditions too. H. sp. Tanna is one that will suffer if it ever dries out....and H. callistophylla does not like drying out completely.

Great info - and they are all going on a lighted plant rack this weekend! I bought the mother of all lighted racks just for the Hoyas! (That picture was taken at night as well)
The shelf they are on for right now is in the living room and I am moving a lot of C&S there and buying some smaller grow lights!
So tomorrow DH watches football, I play with plants! :)
Keep the good suggestions coming - BTW -Carol, the very first nodes/cuttings I got from you about 6 months ago are finally sending out leaves!!!!! So I did jump into it head first but it worked!!!

Bec,

I grow almost all of my Hoyas in windows just a few inches from the glass. A few hang maybe a foot or so in (mostly carnosas, because they're happy with a little less light.) If you don't have the window space, a light setup is probably a good alternative. I've never tried growing under lights, so I can't provide any advice there. Good luck with your babies!

Denise in Omaha

Okey - I "got 'er done"!! All Hoyas, with the exception of the Australis that is too big/tall (in window sill now with good light) and the four outside that just got sprayed for bugs to get ready for inside, are now living on a lighted plant rack in my basement - and I have so much more room for more!!!!! Woohoo! If this ain't enough light I don't know what! There are three racks, all with 2 x 40 W grow lights, room for more and I think as I go along I will figure out who likes what! Both by seeing how they react to all this lit up glory and how quickly they dry out!

The higher the light..the faster they dry out. You can slow some of that down by providing extra humidity around them. Either use little cups of water in between plants, or set them on pepple trays with water under them. I put a big rubbermaid flat-like container with water in it on the bottom shelf of mine.
Or...you can put a small humidifier in the room near them.
Marcy

Okey, sounds like a great idea! I also have a spray bottle with water ready to spray them whenever I remember! I'll post pix once I get my camera replacement!

I love the light racks as it enables you to group a whole bunch of your smaller plants together there to view all at once, and you can set the lights to come on real early while it is still dark so it just lights up the room and you can go play plants long before the rest of the world is awake. Ha.
Marcy