This doesn't look like the Bella in my Stemma V1#3. Can anyone ID it for me. It was labeled H. Bella Suswalie(sp).
Jeri
P.S. I found this plant at Winn Dixie. Amazing!!!
This message was edited Aug 4, 2007 10:34 AM
Is this Bella?
I also need an ID for this hoya? It's not labeled at all.
Jeri
The first one is an Exotic Angel plant, it's correct name is
Hoya brevialata but they have it mislabeled as sulawesi, I think. The second one is carnosa Tricolor (aka Krimson Queen)
Be careful with the exotic angel plants, they use a "stay wet" agent in their potting soil, which is not good for most hoyas. I have lost a few of their hoyas, sometimes due to overwatering that was done at the store I bought it at.
When watering, go easy, just enough to maybe soak the top few inches of the soil, and that is it! Their plants are basically nothing but alot of single cuttings crowded into one pot, the root systems are shallow and if you soak the entire pot, you are going to have problems with root rot, all those cuttings cannot possibly use up the water, so they just sit there in it, never a good thing!
When the pot gets lighter as far as weight goes, and you feel that most of the moisture is gone from the soil, water lightly. Believe me, thru trial and error with this grower's plants, this is what I have found to work the best for them until the plants are a bit older and the roots start filling up the pot. Some people repot them instead, but that can be a hassle, cause they tend to fall apart as soon as you take them out of the pot....but if you are careful with the water, you should be able to just leave them the way they are.
Jeri...NEVER EVER believe a label on EA plants. 99% of the time they are wrong.
I've heard yall talk about them so that is exactly why I asked the experts.
Jeri
another thing about that brevialata, I have mine outside and recently moved it to a very bright spot where it would get direct afternoon sun for about two hours - a very big No-No! Within two days I had to remove about 20 scorched leaves. It was right next to a linearis that isn't burnt at all, so go figure - you would think the linearis would be the delicate one and shrivel up from the sun!
I don't think that EA should be blamed for ALL of the mislabellings. think of the labels that pop-off at the retailer.....you think a clerk is going to know one plant from another?
No, I don't think the greenhouse workers or the clerks know all the names, but ideally someone working in the garden centers or plant areas of the stores should try to become familiar with the names of the plants....i have had I think 3 plant related jobs over the years, and I made a point of learning what I was working with, that was actually the fun part of the job! Also, it is helpful to know enough to tell customers how to care for their plants - try asking for how to care for something in Home Depot today - you either get a blank stare or they make something up to try not to appear clueless - I'm not sure which is worse! The above plant actually had the correct Exotic Angel label on it, the problem is that Exotic Angel is calling the plant something it is not...and we all know that is pretty common with their hoyas!!
Unfortunately it is not just the big box stores that have inexperienced garden center people. I recently made a trek to an "upscale" greenhouse that claimed to have a large selection of hoyas. When I arrived I was disappointed to find that they were all regular old EA plants, priced at 22 - 29 each. I asked about an unlabeled one that I thought might be picta, but their expert told me no, it was a "non-variegated curtisii."
Thank yall for the quick ID!!! I got the brevialata for $9.99. I'll be careful with the watering.
Jeri
wow, what a bargain - $22 to $29!!! Did you tell them the same plants sell at the box stores for $9.99 to $14.99??
EA doesn't have a non-variegated curtisii.. in fact, I don't even know if such a thing exists, but if it did, I would imagine you would be able to tell it was a curtisii, variegated or not. So much for expert opinions!
Sofi, you should take a little hike down south to go to Meadowbrook or Asiatica in the fall with us, I live in Burlington County, but Eddie from Epiforums and Gabi from this forum will be driving down from NYC, maybe you could hitch a ride? No EA hoyas at those places!
I don't think curtissi is actually "variegated", is it? I think it's just the coloring of the leaves (sort of like a speckled pattern), but I wouldn't say it's variegated. Just a guess though.
Gabi
you are probably right Gabi - there is just a curtisii, the word variegated isn't used. I don't know if there is a solid one or not, maybe someone will.
I dont think there is a such a curtisii either. Most likely the greenhouse expert was getting weary of saying "I dont know" and hoping I would just go away.
I would love to join you for the Asiatica trip! I could even borrow the SUV that day, all the better to schlep everyone's purchases.
That's great, we would love to have you come along - so far it should be me, Gabi, and Eddie, I am not sure if there is anyone else in the NY, Pa, NJ or Delaware area that might join in...the tentative plan was to go sometime early fall, probably September or October, we have to schedule it with the nursery because they are not open to the public, so we will check with everyone going for the date we can all agree on, and then decide, so there should be at least a months warning...
Hoya Junkies!
While you are on the EA subject, I just picked one up with an incorrect label too.... I was at my local Home Despot (no typo...) and found a hoya that resembles H obscura but is pubescent (fuzzy). The label said Hoya bella, AND Hoya kentiana. They have H kentiana listed on their website. Does anyone know if this is actually the ID for my new little find?
Thanks so much!
-Eric
Eric...it would be pretty hard to ID your plant without a picture. Kentiana does not resemble obscura at all, and kentiana is not pubescent. So I doubt it's that. Do you have a pic?
Gabi