Hello everyone, I have been reading all the wonderful posts everyone makes for quite some time now. I think this is my favorite forum on the site. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else watered their hoyas with the old diluted coffee. I have been doing this over the summer, and so far the ones I have seem to love it. Especially the one that I think is a pubicalyx. Hasn't bloomed yet, so I'm not sure which one it is. I also have a carnosa, I think it is Krimson Princess. Just yesterday I received three more from Carol, which are wonderful. They are imperialis, h. cv. Christine, and h. cv Sunrise. I especially like the cute little leaves on Sunrise. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to murder them with all that caffeine. :P I will post pictures as soon as I can round up that blasted USB cable. Technology, gotta love it.
Jeremiah
Just wondering does anyone else water with coffee??
Jeremiah...I throw coffee grounds and teabags on my gardenias...as they like acidity. Be careful with hoyas as they really prefer a balanced pH a tad to the side of acidic...but not much...say 5.5-6.5. If your mix is very alkaline it may work better... You might just murder them!!!! LOL When I make my mix I throw in a handfull of Dolomite and test the pH. Continuous waterings with a pH balanced fertilizer maintains that balance.....
Carol
What method do you use to test your pH? I just use miracle gro potting soil. And then when I water with coffee I dilute it 50/50 with rain water. I will have to be careful of that. I just like it because I have read etc. that it is a gentle source of NPK and won't cause salt build up.
I use a pH meter that I got from an instrument company...about 100.00$. The strips don't give good readings here as it is very humid here. I think there are enough salts in the fertilizer contained in your potting soil to make up for no salt in the coffee. I have never heard of anyone watering with coffee, in any strength...