Thanks Lourdes! I don't know why I couldn't find that post from Mark, I just went back through them again and found it ... not too far up. Wow, I am getting so old! ^_^
Spring Swap 2009
You are not alone, so am I lol.
It always happens to me; I can find thing when I'm not looking for them, but if I am I never find them.
For those who are not sure of their "meager collection" or limited hoyas - understand that we were ALL there where you are. Now...this IS about sharing and friendship and not about getting plants for free, there are alternatives...
Many years ago in a Swap, I received a beautiful "Dream Catcher" from Christine (Ceedub) in Canada. She had pulled my name and was just beginning to collect. I cherish my Dream Catcher, and it sill hangs in my bedroom by the window...catching my dreams and making them come true!
As Mark and others have mentioned - other cuttings are appropriate (within reason) such as epis, schlums, philos etc....for those who are uncertain, an email to your swapmate might reveal some other genus they collect. Substitutions are reasonable for those who are beginners....
It IS about sharing and fun and making someone's day just a little more special!!!!
Aloha
Please know that cuttings are NOT going to kill the plant you take them from!!! I continually pinch back new growth on my hoyas - it helps make a fuller plant and it stimulates new growth all over the plant. It is actually good for it!!! Cutting a piece with a peduncle is not going to deprive you of blooms, either.
Some folks put cuttings in a blown up ziplock bag. That works. Please remember that collectors in the wild come back with viable cuttings after they have been in a suitcase or collectors bag for weeks!
A good spray of alcohol, and a rinse in tempid water,extra moisture shaken off, then wrapped in newspaper (which is excellent insulation) is more than adequate. The end that is cut hardens off during the trip and the nodes are where the roots are going to come from, anyway. Some wrap the bottom of the cutting in moist kitchen towels...or moss...which is fine but it is usually dry when it arrives. Closed up with extra moisture 'can' lead to rot.
Posting this so anyone uncertain might have a bit more information -
Carol
Great information Carol, Thanks bunches!
Hello Everyone, I love Hoya's and have quite a few myself. Is there still time to get in on this swap? I have enjoyed reading all the very useful information posted here as well in the Hoya forums.
Regina
aka ladygreensleeves
Plenty of time, Regina. Just send me a D-mail with your address & name.
Thank-you Mark I will be D-mailing the info to you.
I would like to ask if anyone knows the method that is used for soaking the cuttings to rehydrate them. Is there anything added to the water,do you use tapwater,what temp. and for how long? I only ask as I have read it mentioned from the David Liddle cuttings that unfortunity I missed out on this past May :(
I often put a few drops of Superthrive in the tempid (not cold) water but often I just soak for a bit of a time in the water....leave your water out for over 24 hours so that the city/county chemicals flash off.
This is sometimes done for DL orders because they can spend alot of time in a box....cuttings from the Swap will be fresh.
Also, remember that the cuttings have been in a 'dark box' for a while, so bring them out to the light slowly....shocking them by putting them in bright light right off the bat can posssibly hurt them.
HTH,
Carol
HmmmmI think Christine Burton recommended that...but then she would add a birth control pill. Don't know where to get one of those!!!
LOL!!! Me neither! For what its worth, this advice came from an orchid expert. Since he also gave me the vitamin to use, I'm going to try it when I get the cuttings from DL the week after next. It certainly can't hurt, especially since I understand that B1 is an ingredient in SuperThrive.
Christine
It must be...it smells like vitamins!!! I would make sure the water doesn't have any chemicals in it (DL's water is from a well and is very pure, no chemicals) to not shock the cuttings.....
Thanks for the advice. I do keep SuperThrive on hand and like to use it often when sticking new cuttings as well as using in my hand mister. I also collect rainwater, would that be good for hydrating cuttings with? Or do you feel there is too much "junk" in it.
Regina
Yeah, the birth control pill was a thing in the seventies, I think. Something Mary Hartman would do.
Also good to add to the water when soaking cuttings is K-L-N from Dynagrow- it has a rooting/growth hormone and some dilute micronutrients. Good stuff.
Good information, Mark. Thanks.
Rain water has less junk in it than treated water...unless you live by a coal burning installation!!! LOL
Great information on receipt of Hoya cuttings.
On those great days when I come home from work and find a box of cuttings on my doorstep, I bring them inside and let them adjust to the room temperature , just as the soak water has, before putting them in for a soak.
I was amazed at my last order from David Liddle. The cuttings looked as if they had just been cut and I did not loose even on leaf.
Here is the list of participants so far. Help me out by making sure your name is
here, if you want to participate. I want to make sure I haven't forgotten
anybody, since the list is being drawn from three different forums as well as my
private email.
Antone
Paula
Lorna
Mark
Dawn
Kelly
Carol
Joni
Lourdes
Lin
Gabi
Mel
Mike
Christine
Alison
Eileen
Doug
Ric
Suz
Joyce
Regina
Jan
Ray
Anybody else? Still time to sign up, about one week.
Mark-
LOVE the Mary Hartman reference! That was a great show!
Kelly
Kelly, so do I. No one could stare at a no-wax floor for hours like Mary could.
Would love to participate and have various Hoya cuttings I can send.
Mark, thought I might go into the business about cleaning clippers before making cuts. I ended up with quite a bit of fungal leaf spots and lesions on a few I received. If everyone would spray their clippers with Lysol, that would hopefully keep us from passing on a fungal or viral problem. I ended up with circles on the foliage on a few of my Hoyas so have isolated them and trying to take cuttings from "clean" material.
Dipping in alcohol works too! Or passing them over a flame.
Hey Sharon, send me a d-mail with your address.
Woo Hoo, I got my swap buddy's name and will be shipping on June 1st. Let the fun begin!
Got mine too, I'm very happy!!!
Has everyone gotten their swap buddies names??? Just wondering, cause I haven't gotten anything yet....
Suz: Did you sign up for the swap here on Dave's Garden, or was it possibly another forum? I think Mark said the swap people were from a couple of different forums he is on. If you didn't get a d-mail here, you might check your mail at other places. Or, send Mark a d-mail ... I'm sure everyone will get their names before the weekend is over.
I can't believe Monday is June 1st already!
Thanks, I signed up here by sending Mark a dmail a few weeks ago. I'll send him another...
Depending on how many names he ended up with for this swap, he probably just hasn't had time to get all the e-mails, d-mails, yahoo mail etc. out.
Sorry, Sue, only got to half the names yesterday. Check your D-mail in a few minutes.
Well, my package has been sent off to my "secret Hoya swap friend." Hoping it won't disappoint and arrives safely.
Doug
My package was outta here on Saturday, to my friend...hope it arrives today!
Joni
My package left at 9:00 this morning, heading north ... then a little to the west ... then a little to the north again, then ... ^_^
I don't have a lot of the really cool Hoya's like some of y'all (I am trying to work on that!) Mine are mostly the commonly seen type in the big box stores. Mark said we could also send plants that require the same type of care as Hoya's, so I included a few extra's things. Sure hope the recipient of my goody box likes what I sent!
I sent my package out this morning! From WV the package will be travelling south west. To be honest, I'd like to be traveling with my package as I've never been to this destination!
LOL, Kelly. I think I'm in need of a vacation, never thought about traveling with my Hoya package ... could be interesting! Wouldn't it be a wonderful journey if the destination was Hawaii? Aaaah ... Paradise! My problem is I would never want to return to the mainland!
My package just left from Austin, will travel a little bit north and east ;)
I truly hope that my secret hoya friend likes it's contents.
Lourdes =)
Lin,
I'm definitely in need of a vacation!
I love these trades as well!
Kelly