Does anyone here grow hoyas on a topiary?

I just received this Hoya vitiensis today, from a collector who is reducing the volume of their collection. I thought I would attempt to grow it on a topiary, as it came in the form of one very, very, long vine.

I thought momentarily about chopping it up, but currently have more cuttings rooting than I know what to do with, and more on the way. I decided to wrap it on a topiary. Research showed that the leaves should be pinched from the vines wound on the "stem" of the topiary, but allowed to bush on the globe. Does anyone pinch the leaves on hoyas? I wasn't comfortable with this on a hoya, but still want it to look nice, and may give it a try. Most of the pictures I saw were of ivy topiaries, though a member of the hoya forum on Garden Web has beautiful pictures of their hoyas, one of which is on a topiary frame.

If anyone has pictures, would you please share them with me. Here is my attempt so far.

Thanks in advance,
Sara

Hi Sara :)
I have no experience in this and no pics, but just wanted to say it looks awesome. And will look even MORE awesome when it fills all the way in.

Jen

Hi Sara: That is very cool! I used to do the ivy topiaries but never thought about a Hoya topiary. I would not want to pinch leaves though. I would just let it continue to grow and vine it around the ball. Or maybe do three or four in the same pot and wind them all over the topiary ball ... How neat that would be with a few different hoya on the topiary all blooming at the same time! hmm ... I have a wire topiary ball somewhere in the shed - I should go look for it tomorrow!

Very cool Sara! I don't see any reason why this won't become in time an amazing specimen. Thanks for a great idea. Hope you don't mind if I steal it:)

Doug

Steal away Doug!! I am sure that I stole the idea from the lady at Garden Web.

I went back and looked at her pictures last night, and she does pinch the leaves off the vines that are wrapped on the topiary stem, but leaves them to grow in the ball area. I received a D-mail from a member here, and she has a super nice looking fungii topiary, and she doesn't pinch the leaves, and even has a double ball topiary with a carnosa on it! I guess I will play it by ear, and see how things look as I go.

Thanks Jen and Lin, I am thinking it will look cool too, especially as it fills in. It is something that I may experiment a bit further with, I need to see what other shapes are out there.

S

http://webpages.charter.net/mrtopiary/

Sara try this link. I saw a few on there that I wouldn't mind trying myself.

David, thank you for the link. Those are really neat, and not too expensive either. I wonder if I can find one in a dragonfly shape...Hmmmm.

Definitely something to think about.

S

http://www.simplegardens.com/browseproducts/Index1.html

heres your dragonfly!

Hmmmm, that is pretty cool. I imagine that this is one that holds moss, and you grow stuff all over it huh? I wonder what Bryan would think of one of those hoovering over his new hard wood floors? Hee Hee.

S

I want the monkey!!!
I love the balls and cones - I might try one. Sara, can I see a pic of your whole plant (with the pot and all) if you get a chance?

Love this idea,
Gabi

Gabi there is a nursery about an hour and a half south of here that almost always has at least a monkey or two for sale either stuffed and planted or just stuffed with moss but they are so ridiculously high priced that all you can do is look at them!!!!! Like yourself the monkey is my favorite though.

O.K. Sara, here is the double ball topiary. Sorry it takes me forever and a day to get to this computer, plus the batteries were dead in the camera and the charger took a dirt nap. Lets see what else can I use for an excuse :) Anyways here it is, I plan on putting some starts of other hoya's into the pot when I re-pot, I think it will look really nice with a mixture of different hoya's.

Tami, yay, I love the double ball topiary!! You should share the picture of your fungii too, they are both really super. I can't wait for mine to fill in a little more. Your entire set up is really lush and beautiful, I love the ladder shelves. Hooray for more good ideas.

I bow to your hoyaness Tami,

S