Semihydro Method for Rooting Cuttings w/o Leaves

Haven't posted in the longest, but have been reading.

Thank you again Carol, this time for the postings on semihydro growing. Checked out another website about it, but your explanation was clearer to me. Decided to try it on my variegated Hoya multiflora. Didn't have anything to lose anyway since it was so far gone the last leaves had just fallen off. This plant was a real goner. Made three cuttings from the stalk, and all three have started sprouting leaves.

The rooted part--old dead wood-- is just beginning to sprout, about two weeks later.

Truly miraculous--was ready to pitch the whole thing, looked beyond hope to me. Would recommend this method to everyone.

WOW...what a great success story!!! I find the variegated multifloras really difficult...

I, too, am really happy with the method.

Good job!

Kelly

The amazing thing is that it worked on a half dead plant. Had no problem growing the nonvariegated multiflora, so thought if I just put this in the same place under the same conditions, it would grow--didn't work that way. But then it seems to me that all variegated plants are more difficult. Finally got Brug. Miners Claim to bloom last year after losing two.

Thank you again for recommending this. Now concerned with how to fertilize without salt buildup.

What you do with semi-hydro to prevent salt build up is once a month flush out the container with fresh water. It will wash out the salts and keep mold and other nasties from growing on the medium. This is what is recommended for orchids grown in semi-hydro and has worked for my hoyas also. The semi hydro containers I use have two holes in the side about 1" above the bottom. I just run fresh water through the plant for a minute or so and let it run out the holes.

Thank you kelly and suz.

Do you use a more dilute strength of fertilizer? How often? Appreciate the help.

Making containers out of the chopped-off bottoms of two liter soda bottles, then burning holes in the sides with a phillips screwdriver heated over the gas flame (no fancy tools necessary). No expensive equipment or pots needed--good for these troubled times.

So I am gathering that the variagated Multiflora is not a 'water guzzling fool' as the common green one?
Does it seem to have the aphid issue as the common green?

Joni

Was trying to grow it like the regular green one, with lots of water. Obviously didn't work.

Here's a picture of new growth coming from the old dead stump. First sign of growth is seeing the stem start to plump up.

Was really impressed with the story of the grower who repotted a Phalaenopsis in a 3" pot into a 12" one. No worry about overpotting.

I have been using the MSU fertilizer in the same strength as I do for my plants in soil. I've just started this in the last few months with hoyas, so it is a work in progress.