Problem with H. Lauterbechii

Hello;

Bill Maxey here in Tallahassee. I have a new Lauterbechii and have noticed that the leaves are starting to turn yellow. I have one Hoya Krinkle Kurl leaf or H. Crispum that I keep outside under my front porch most of the year. The thing has taken temps down to the low 30's over night without killing it. However, I don't know enough about the Lauterbachii to know how hardy it is or how it compares to the Krinkle Kurl. I got this plant about 3 weeks ago and hung it inside next to a north facing window where it gets indirect sun. I planted it in a hanging pot approx 6" wide and 9" deep. I gave it about a cup of water when I planted it and none since. This is the 2nd Lauterbachii I've had. The first one I got last year turned yellow and died after about a month or two. I thought that I would get one and see if I could do better but it seems I'm killing this one too. Same thing. I talked to the folks that I bought the plant from and they seem to think that it might need more sun and suggested some direct sunlight. I thought Hoyas would burn with direct light? What could I be doing to this plant to kill it? I'm attaching a pic.

Hoya lauterbachii likes it warm, even hot... I believe it can take full sun. It probably really doesn't like the same temperatures that Krinkle Kurl will tolerate, and isn't hardy at all. I would put it in the warmest place you have (I'm guessing inside given it's cold outside) and in direct sun.
I'm not sure if lauterbachii likes lots of root space - perhaps wait for others to comment.

Mine has also been getting yellow leaves recently, but I think this is because it kept being knocked when I pull the curtains past it, and it had lost a bit of soil and ended up just being a mass of roots. In the end I had to repot it in a bigger pot so that it would not be knocked so easily, but I notice since then I've had a couple of yellow leaves, but this might just be because of the rough treatment. The stem still feels firm and green, so I continue to hope it'll be OK. I have to keep mine on a heat mat throughout the year to keep it warm.

Hi Bill,
You've described my experience with H. lauterbachii exactly. My two plants did the same yellowing and then the leaves dropped. I have both 'stumps' in a hydroponic system hoping for a revival of both. They do not rot...just nothing. Maybe it is Florida?
Sorry I am not offering a solution...just company with your/our issue. I have many other Stemmas that are thriving in the same environment but not this particular one.
I expect some of the same rooted cuttings from Hawaii in a bit so...I'll see how those do for me.

My first thought was the leaf on your plant looked chlorotic but if it's been outside with temps in the low 30's at night, I think it's probably stressed from the cold. I don't know a lot about Hoya's and I don't have H. lauterbachii but I think temp's below 40º for any length of time, even a few hours over a couple of nights, would be way too cold for this plant.

There is nothing as frustrating to me as trying to do everything right and have a plant continually develop yellow leaves and drop them. That has been my experience with every australis I've ever tried tried to grow. Other offenders have been magnifica, and recently multiflora. I've traced some of my problems with some of these to root damage from over watering, but others are for no reason that I can find.

just as a comparison (even tho i live in the desert) it thrives here. when it got cold it dropped leaves. I think that it needs to stay above 40. my house never went below 60 and it still lost leaves. But it is in full southern sun. loves to go out into full desert sun in the spring, dries out regularly and it is in a 3" pot, 9-10ft long. Not the rampant rooter that other hoyas are. it has been in that 3 inch pot for 2 yrs and just keeps pushing the vine accross my dining room wall. I would agree with everyone and bring it in. they aren't fussy plants but hate the cold.

Just to be safe I don't let any of my hoyas get below 50 degrees on the front porch. If we are getting a cold front out come the heaters........

H. lauterbachii is an Eriostemma which is a class of hoyas that are rampant growers, like to climb trees, grow in full sun and like warm/hot temperatures. Mine do OK in the mid-50s and even bloom. Any Eriostemma doesn't really like being moved around - say from inside to outside...but cv. Ruthie takes just about any abuse. Not so the others. They don't like to be soaking wet either...

by the way, H. crispum is not a valid name... There is a H. cv. Krinkle Eight ... is that the one?

I have an H. lauterbachii and recently it's dropped a couple yellowing leaves - same as you guys.
Not sure what to attribute it to - haven't moved it, watering the same.......
They were older leaves on the vine, not newer ones and the rest of the plant seems fine.
The past few weeks this seems to have happened with several hoya - maybe the time of year
or the colder nights we've had ?

Duigiud - How big is your plant ? Is it possible you potted it up TOO big ?

To all "THANKS". I thought I was alone with this issue. My plant has been inside since I got it about two weeks ago. The temp in the house never gets below 68. I now have it hanging outside under the edge of my front porch in bright sunshine. The plant is actualy two plants both about two feet long. I have it planted in a pot that's about 6 inches wide and 9 inches deep with a drain hole in the bottom. I used cactus soil to plant it in. I've included another pic.

What have your daytime temp's been outside? I'm still thinking it might be a bit too cool there in the Panhandle of Florida to have hoyas outside. I live in Daytona Beach and my hoyas have been inside the house for the past month or two. I won't be moving them back outside for another couple of weeks, to be sure it stays warm. Temp's here have been fluctuating so much lately. We've had windy, cool days off and on. Today it was 79º, tomorrow is supposed to be low 80's but another cold front is coming through tomorrow night and Sunday's high is only going to be 60º with a low Sunday night of @ 40 again.

I like that pot you have your lauterbachii planted in! Very nice. Does it have drainage holes in the bottom or do you just have to water sparingly?

duigiud - If you put a big fake sunshine lamp on her she might take the hint!!!! Ms. lauterbachii, that is...

Do you mind my asking you what your user name means?

I would pop the plant out of the pot and check it's root system. Root rot will take Eriostemmas down fast. I have also found that they drop quite a few leaves in the winter as they just don't get enough light. I keep them on a high shelf in the greenhouse and they dry out completely.

Good point, Mel.

Ive just rooted 2 cuttings of this hoya with bottom heat as mine was looking a bit tired and they rooted very easily, especially for this time of year.....Always best to be on the safe side if in doubt

I also had the same problem with my 2 H. lauterbachii's. I had read they do like direct sun and don't like to dry out so I put 1 in a south window and 1 with a grow light and both of them I started watering from the bottom and it solved the problem but if I let the bottom dry out more than a day or 2 the bottom leaves start to yellow again. This has seemed to work out very well for mine

I have ahuge lauterbachii, it stay out in my screened front entry most of the year accept occasional cold spells & hurricane warnings. The leaves look kinda yellowsh but it doesn't seem to bother the plant at all so far. I let it almost dry out before watering. I am hoping for the flowers this year.

lauterbachii..middle
australis...right

Better photo of lauterbachii.

"Alohahoya", DUIGIUD is a old Maxey family name. No idea of where it came from. Perhaps an olde english term for stance, "due Guard".

Thanks everyone. My plant has lost all of it's leaves except two. I give up. NO MORE LAUTERBECHII's for me up here in the Florida Panhandle. I think I'll replace it with a "Mona Loa" Hindu Rope Hoya. I keep my other Rope plant outside almost all year. It hangs on my front porch. I've had it there in temps down to the low 30's and I haven't killed it yet.