Hoya 911!

My hoya imperialis is suffering tremendously. Ever since it turned cold last week... the plant has started to go downhill. I have it by the window where I have the best light. I have eaves on my house though, so the light isn't that great. It can also get a little chilly over there. I try to keep it pretty humid though. I have a warm steam humidifier over by the table. I have one leaf that is now almost completely yellow. Then I have two more leaves that are turning a yellow splotchy color. There were two leaf buds or starts (sorry, don't know the correct terminology) that were green when I got the plant... and now they are brown. the two top leaves that were the healthiest are still a bright green and the leaf bud closest to the top is still green. I had put it in a rather large pot (stubborn, what can I say) because I just like those fiberglass pots. Well, I think that may have been okay, if I just didn't have so much soil in the mix. So I pulled it out of the pot and went back on the forum to find the post Carol had made on rotten roots. I did have some rotten roots, or at least i think they were. I pulled on the cuticle and it came off. The sinew underneath was still white though... don't know if that means it is rotten or not. So... in any case, I pulled it out of the 8" pot and put it in a 4" clay pot. I put it in new mix that is only bark and lots of perlite. I then soaked it in water.. a little fert. and hydrogen peroxide to get the perlite moist. I am just wondering if there is anything further I should to do to save the plant. This plant has come to be one of my favorites. I love how the stem is an almost fluorescent green when it is wet. Does anyone else have any suggestions that might help me keep this one living? I would root it, but I'm still pretty new to rooting and am not confident enough yet to just chop a whole plant to smithereens and start over! 8^( Do you think that maybe it could be suffering in the adjustment from Hawaii light to dim indoor light? Thanks guys for some info!

Jeremiah the near hoya killer

dos

tres

My imperialis dropped quite a few leaves after being outside when it got a bit chilly a few nights. Perhaps it would like a warmer spot in the house?

I don't know much about Hoya's at all ... just that I like them. I wouldn't think the yellowing in your leaves is from climate transition (Hawaii to Texas). It could be that it's too cold in the location you have it by the window. Do you have any grow lights that you could put it under? You could also enclose it in a plastic bag for humidity.

I'm sure one of the Pro's will come along soon to give you some pointers. I will be watching this thread because I am curious too. I received one labeled Imperialis from a friend recently and it had a couple of yellow leaves, but different than your photo.

I was having the same problem with my Imperialis a couple months ago. I was getting the same yellow splotchiness and leaf loss. I pulled it out of it's pot and sure enough, there was root rot. The roots weren't brown and mushy, but when i ran my fingers down them, they came apart way too easily. I had 2 small plants. On one, I cut the roots completely off and started a brand new fresh cutting. The other, I scraped off as much of the weak roots as I could and left some that looked a little healthier. I repotted them and they have since both started showing new healthier growth. Maybe you could take a cutting or 2 from your plant just so you have a back up in case something happens to the mama plant?

Jen

I'm with Jen. Take a couple of cuttings from that plant, put them in moist perlite; cover with a plastic bag, and put it under a grow light if you have one. If you don't, use the warmest spot you have with bright indirect light. I have saved many a plant by rooting new cuttings of it in this manner.

Doug

Should hoya cuttings be left out to callous over for a day or two like a lot of succulents?

I don't think so. I usually just cut them off and stick them right in the dirt. Haven't lost one yet that way :)

I thought I should take cuttings too... I'm just a little worried they won't be successful. The plant is grown on an old woody stem, with a new green stem coming out at the top point. So The only thing I could do is cut the new green stem off for rooting, but then the old stem won't have any leaves and I won't have leaf nodes for the cutting as it currently only has two leaves. Would it be okay if i waited to see if it will recover now that it has be re-potted, or do you think I will just be delaying the inevitable? Thanks so much for the feedback you guys/gals have given me so far.

Jeremiah

I have had difficulty rooting imperialis in the past, but the best way for me is to put it in damp perlite, cover to keep in humidity, and give it bottom heat. I would root a piece now, I have lost many things because I waited too long to try and propagate them.

If the new growth looks healthy and that is all you have of it...I would just wait to take any cuts. Try letting it dry out further between waterings. Mine will get yellow leaves and drop them every time I jump the gun on watering before it drys out. Make sure it is in very good light and warm.
Marcy

I think I am will try you're idea Marcy. I will just have to be careful and watch the stem closely and the newer growth to make sure no more dies. One other question I never thought to ask, do hoyas mind having their roots pulled out? I know that some plants hate that.

EDITED TO SAY that I meant "do they mind having their roots disturbed." I was wondering if the plant would respond negatively to being pulled out of the medium often. I know that some plants like my dragon palms hate it when you dump them out of the pot. They like having their roots just so I guess.

This message was edited Nov 28, 2007 7:01 PM

lol .....I'm not sure what you mean by that question, but YES...all plants HATE having their roots pulled out. Roots are what supplies them with most of their needs. Healthy roots means healthy plants. However, it does no harm to pull off dead or rotten roots as they just lead to more rot.
If you unpot a plant and the roots are rotten, then it is best to cut them off up to where they are healthy and start anew. Is that what you mean?
Marcy

:) I had the vision of teeth being pulled at that description! LOL.

I have root pruned a lot of plants over the years just to keep from having to move them up a pot size ..... mostly large ficus trees, taking them out of the pot, cutting some of the roots away and repotting in fresh soil.

Am I remembering correctly that Hoya's like being rootbound and in small pots?

Jeremiah,

My first thought was that it could be an over- or underwatering issue. I find that my imperialis does not like to dry out completely. Mine is also in a warm and sunny spot. Since your imperialis was in a chilly area in your house, maybe the soil was staying too wet? But if you keep it in a warmer spot from now on, I'd be careful not to let it dry out too much.

Good luck,
Gabi

H. imperialis wants warmth and light....high indirect light and as warm as you can get it. I grew my first one on the TOP shelf in order to get it to root when I first started. It is OK to trim away rotten roots. Sounds like you are doing the right thing. I would mist it from time to time with a 1/4 strength fert.

Carol