I hear so many 'I likes', 'I wants'...I would love to know what is really important to evryone about hoyas:
Leaf size
Ease of growing
GOOD bloomer (not a reliable quality)
Fragrance
Kind of flower
Color of flower
New name and I don't have it """"".
Different name and I don't have it""""""
Does a new name spark any interest?...as in, is it REALLY a new name? I someone were selling H. Crazinutseae would you buy it because you didn't have it?
Just wondering,
Carol
What's important?
Hi Carol!
One of the most important things for me is leaves. Since they aren't going to bloom for me near as much, I want interesting leaves. This doesn't necessarily mean large, but different shapes, veining, colors. Also ease of growing comes into play since there are some that just don't appreciate the 100F temps in summer here or the dry cool conditions inside in winter. A good bloomer is nice, but as you have stated this is relative to the conditions the plant is in.
:) Kim
hmm.. depending on the time of year, in order of priority:
Drought tolerance
Leaf type - speckles stripes shape size fuzziness....
Compact growth (but sometimes size does matter...)
Drought tolerance
Ease of growing (but sometimes love a challenge, heh)
Kind of flower (I go through phases...)
Drought tolerance
GOOD bloomer
Fragrance (rarely a priority for me, but sometimes...)
Rarity
yah, I really tend to underwater, so a plant that can take a bit of drought will handsdown land in my cart faster than one that likes consistent watering. Doesn't have to be a dry grower although that is preferable - just so long as its likely to survive some drought instead of keel over....
Carol, for me fragrance is key. Flower color is also important, I tend to like unusually colored (for Hoyas) hoyas. Bright yellow, orange, and true red always get my attention.
I think there is one consideration you missed that Keyring mentioned- rarity. I'm sure you've noticed that even new people to the hobby will sudenly mention H. thailandica or H. megalantha. Not exactly the same as "new name and I don't have it", as new growers usually don't have a large collection right off the bat.
As i am new at collecting these,
1st is temp tolerance
2nd is color & size of flowers
3rd is color of leaves
4th is fragrance
I'm with Kim.
Interesting foliage is #1 with me.
It seems I most prefer either really large or really small leaves, but better yet...interesting leaf markings, like H. curtisii, finlaysonii, polyneura, etc....
Carol you should make a chart of this and see where we all line up...besides being hopelessly addicted bg (very big grin).
As I am new to hoyas compared to so many of you folks I'll tell you what first caught me and then where I went from there.
As a little girl it was an elderly lady who had one blooming probably a carnosa and oh how I loved the fragrance. I got a carnose because that was all you could find locally. When I heard of all the other varieties I kept looking for fragrance and bloom color (still love pink after all these years). It was later when I realized how long it would be before they would bloom, that leaves became my next choice. The more interesting the color, varigated, speckles, mottled etc the better. Today as I look at what I want for spring orders it is still the fragrance I am after most but the ohhhhh I don't have that one and look how different it is ie: retusa,imbricata. Guess you could say I am addicted just the the rest of you. We are all in good company:)
Hope that helps
Bea
Carol, a year ago when I fell off the deep end of this hoya addiction, I would have said blooms were #1 with me. Now what I look for in a hoya is:
Leaves (anything different or odd)
how well does it grow (FAST)
flowers ( I prefer the booms that arn't totaly reflexed but have learned to like them all :~)
cooler growers
bloomers!
Yea, but we all know I will take and try any and all!
God bless, -joanne
With me, the most important thing is that I don't already have one - so, different name / new name.
Leaves, flowers, temp, how fast it grows, how well it blooms, fragrance, etc., etc,. I would say are equally of second importance.
Temperature tolerance doesn't seem to be an issue because I have various microclimates in my house (northwest and southeast windows only). Erostemmas that I thought wouldn't do well at all, are growing like fiends-right up against the glass in a southeast window.
This is fun! I look forward to others' responses.
Christine
1st: Leaves - Coloration, size, shape - Love vareigated leaves and those reddish colored ones!
2nd: Flowers & Fragrance - If it smells good, I want it!
I only have a few hoya's .... my favorite still is the one an elderly friend (now deceased) gave me back in the 70's! It has vareigated leaves, and I think someone ID'd it for me as Hoya Carnosa Krimson Queen or something like that when I first joined DG a few months back. This plant blooms a lot during the summer, but I never noticed a fragrance .... but then again, I didn't know any Hoya Flowers were fragrant and the plant hangs out in my screened pool enclosure where I just admired it from a distance! I will pay attention next time it's blooming to see if I can detect any fragrance!
What a great collection of preferences!!! Leaves seem to be a good common denominator...and, I agree, they are most important to me, too. I am happier about the 'amount' of blooms as opposed to the size/shape/color....I love a plant just loaded with blooms as opposed to one or two. I love the shapes and colorations of leaves....and H. curtisii can shake my world as much as a H. coriacea....it is the whole, full, lucious growth that flips my skirt!!!
Carol
Well I'm pretty new to this so I'd have to say it's the flower that attracts me. I love flowers and a hoya flower just tops it off for me. :)
Kat
This is an interesting thread.
I too love pretty leaves. Especially since my flowering ones seem rather fickle lately. Ha.
I think interesting shapes and veins that show up are intriguing. Also I like the ones that fall nicely from the pot to make an attractive looking plant as a whole. I find most of the pottsii group look nice.
When I first started, I just wanted them ALL. However, now that I have so many, I am getting much pickier about the ones I prefer.
Of course, anything blooming quickly becomes a favorite, especially if it smells nice too. Ha Ha.
Marcy
Interesting question. When I first started searching hoya's, I noticed all the pictures were of the blooms. I am attracted to the large or unusual looking flowers. Then I started seeing pictures of the leaves posted here on DG.....sigh.....so it's a toss up for me, I like unusual blooms and different leaves, equally.
I think everyone likes a pretty flower. Especially if it is a large showy one. However, since it may be years before a cutting ever flowers, and since they are also sometimes quite picky to get to flower, I choose mine as if I may never see a flower from it. Ha. I have to like the look of the plant in between those illusive flowers.
Marcy
The leaves are a definite draw for me.I have never had one bloom in person so I'm like you Marcy.. as long as I have pretty foliage that makes up for it. But Oh Yes I always have my fingers crossed that this may be the year I see mine bloom : )
Nancy