How should I grow this one? Can it handle direct hot sun? Water? etc Thanks, Tim
Rope Hoya
No direct sun, which will definitely burn the foliage ... I learned from experience! I have taken tips from folks on this forum and I grow compacta in a bright shady area but no direct sun, and I keep it on the dry side!
Hoya compacta: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53915/
edited to add: a lot of listings in Plant Files say sun to partial shade but I pay no attention to those listings. I know for a fact the H. compacta (and other carnosa's) do not like the hot direct sun here in the south, it fries them.
This message was edited Feb 20, 2009 9:25 AM
H. compacta grows like H. carnosa and H. pubicalyx: it doesn't mind lowish light, cool temps and likes to grow drier than most... I grow a compacta out in semisun and while it blooms like crazy...the leaves look awful!!!
I'm in Canada, and endorse Lin's take on compacta as to very bright conditions but no or little direct sun. I put my 20 year old compacta outside last summer and thought it was in a spot that didn't get sun. I'm not home during the day except on weekends. It fried, but I was able to take many cuttings and save it. Now this is where I differ with Lin - I'm growing my cuttings out in semi-hydroponic medium and they're just as happy as my original plant was growing in a soil-based potting medium. And while I would let the top inch or so dry out, I didn't grow it on the dry side.
Christine
hmm ... I hadn't thought about cooler temp's, it's so hot and humid here most of the time. Glad to hear about the pubicalyx preferred conditions too - I had one in full sun last year and the leaves got bleached out and looked ugly.
I have a list on the computer with the names of all my hoya's and I keep saying I'm going to add the growing preferences, i.e. amount of light, water etc. for each, because I can never remember one from the next! I really need to get that done, maybe include a photo of each one too since my plant labels/tags always seem to fade out! and my brain doesn't remember the names!
LOL, Christine ... isn't it something how so many plants can adapt to different growing conditions and locations? We are so humid here in my area that many plants seem fine with just the amount of moisture in the air and a good soaking every couple of weeks. Of course, we have had drought conditions over the years too, where it is sooo dry - times like that I seem to have to water some things three times a week!