Some hoyas seem to have thicker roots than others, and some are more obviously epiphytic roots... and some are green while others appear not to be......
Do you select potting mix based on the roots? (This is a fairly good way to pick a mix for orchids.)
can we talk about roots?
good question.....I have been wondering about this myself.
Personally, I modify my potting medium according to the growth preference of the hoya: roots, like leaves and flowers, can be a reflection of nutrition and environment, I feel. If the hoya likes to be drier....more perlite. If it likes more organic matter...more bark. Size and color of roots are an unknown quality when rooting a cutting.
Another roots question. Those of you who grow in humid places, do any of your hoyas send out roots in mid air, where the stem is not even touching bark or a mount?
Some do. Not all. H. latifolia IML 88 sends out lots of aerial roots. These are called advanticious roots. They DO 'bring in' moisture from the air...ergo. 'aerial roots'. Sometimes those aerial roots are really 'ugly'...but they are just part of the survival mode.
Edited to correct my spelling of 'adventicious'...goodness, what would I do without the MSN forum Moderator correcting my spelling.
Later...OMGoodness...I did it again. Thank goodness that moderator has nothing else to do but look for mistakes !!! I learned my lesson well: a d v e n t i t i o u s. Oh my. What a kind person she IS!!! I wonder if other forums on DG are as lucky as we are?
This message was edited Jan 23, 2007 7:19 AM
This message was edited Jan 23, 2007 9:27 AM
Any others come to mind? I'm actually considering mounting one, and the best candidate would be one that sends out adventitious roots very very easily.
My Hoya DS-70 (tsangii) seems to have several roots on each node. Also carnosa and publicalyx seem to have quite a few too, and I've seen carnosas trailed round walls. Lovely if you're living somewhere for a while - not sure my landlady would approve!
Keyring, I think almost any of the hoyas, except for the Eriostemmas, would mount well. I have mounted H. curtisii, and I know someone who has been very successful with H. anulata mounted. The small leafed hoyas really seem to grow well that way. I can think of many that would work well...heuschkeliana, bilobata, ruscifolia, kanyunkamariana, serpens. I understood you to ask about hoyas just throwing out aerial roots when not mounted...I think they would all work. MOST dischidia work very well mounted! Take a look here: www.dischidia.com Antone is also mounting hoyas.
The more I think about your question the clearer it gets to me. Here are the hoyas I have growing up trees which is the same, I think, to your questions about mounting them: H. carnosa, cv. Krinkle 8, 3 forms of lacunosa, glabra, 3 forms of H. pubicalyx, limoniaca, diptera, weyettii, sp. Tanna Island, sp. Philippines IML 0831, archboldiana, pentaphlebia,pimenteliana, vitellinoides, vitellina, erythrina, cv. Noelle, australis, shepherdii, pottsii, meliflua ssp. fraterna,fungii, compacta, deykei,verticillata, imbricata, HSI 037, variegated verticillata, monetteae, kerrii, obovata, walliniana and some others I have lost track of. I think if I were to mount them in a home or 'controlled area' I would mount slower growing hoyas. I think I will try H. callistophylla mounted on some treefern bark...it is a slow grower and it would stand out nicely....
okay! I was looking at DS70 the other day thinking hey, all these root nubs!
Thanks Carol, for giving this some thought. You have it right - my question was about hoyas that would put out roots even without a mount. And this is because of my growing conditions and habits. A hoya that would mount well if given both humidity and frequent watering is less likely to do well for me than one that will happily send out roots even without a mount. Some would say I really shouldn't be trying to mount anything, but I grow some orchids mounted and am now considering a couple of Gesneriads for a mount.
Good point about smaller and slower. Very good reality check :^)
I went in to work to find that my carnosa cutting in a bottle is sending out a root. I guess that would be a mounting candidate. heh.
oh, and where do I find out which hoyas are Eriostemmas? I clicked around a few websites and couldn't find one with a list..... Is there such a thing online?
Yes...look at Ted Green's catalogue on line... http://www.rare-hoyas.com/Catalog.htm. He lists them separately.
Again...I would go for small, slower growing hoyas, unless you are planning a large mount!!! H. carnosa will grow up a tree in 2 years!
Thanks for the link!
Here's the not-to-be-mounted carnosa that is rooting mid-air in a water bottle.
not so close up.... There is water in the bottom, but the cutting isn't touching the water. I'm considering growing this in a semihydro setup, but I might just stick it back in the pot with the rest of the plant.
