Anyway, my quetion is, how is everyone's Hoyas doing since winter, give or take a few months..

Are they dormant? Flowering? Growing? Getting fertilizer?

My Hoyas are on stand-still. Not growing, and for the most part, not dying..well, except for two.

For Christmas, my dh asked what I wanted. I told him another plant fixture/bulbs..lol..one that would brighten up the hoya shelf..this winter has been sunless. Bad. Except for two weeks when it snowed, the days have been and are still cloudy..it's rained the last three or four days.
Instead of a fixture he got me something I really didn't need, in fact, haven't even used, but I don't want to hurt his feelings..but I still want a light. lol.

So, how is everyone's hoyas doing? Especially those who grow indoors...Toni

I started a "log" to document when my Hoyas start growing, which I plan to do each year soon after the winter solstice. A lot of mine are putting on new growth already, and some have grown through the winter, though slowly. New growth has started on these:

australis ssp. australis
carnosa 'KP' & 'KQ'
carnosa ssp. carnosa (and has a first bud forming!)
caudata (as mentioned in my excited post!)
diptera (budding up, too)
incurvula (budding up, too)
kerrii variegated & reverse variegated
limoniaca (putting on lots of new growth)
lobbii (also has a first peduncle)
macrophylla variegata
magnifica
cv. 'Mathilde'
naumanii
obscura (also budding up)
onychoides
polyneura
pubicalyx 'Bright One' (also first buds)
pub. 'Red Buttons'
pub. 'Royal Hawaiian Purple'
rigida
thompsonii
verticillata

And there are several that never stopped growing, like...

australis ssp. australis (it's all over the place!)
carnosa cv. Krinkle 8
'Iris Marie'
lacunosa
obovata
obovata x. carnosa
and wayetii

I think the bright days after the snow probably gave them a "boost" but, like you, we've had nothing but gloomy days for over a week now. The sun peeked out for a couple of hours yesterday, but other than that, we woke to heavy fog and cloudy skies for over a week, and last night and today it's snowing lightly. I need SUN!!

Denise in Omaha

Cuttings showing growth
kerrii
krimson queen
rubra
obovato
motoski

Non-stop growers
wayettii
carnosa
DS-70 (tsangii)
bhutanica
australis ssp australis and tenuipes
incurvula
lucanosa
compacta
polyneura
carnosa chelsea

rooted cuttings starting to grow. . . finally. . .
pub. Pink Silver, RHP,Red buttons
fungii
montana
finlaysonii
chlorantha
sp.chiang mia
diversifolia
limonica
crassicauli

Peduncles/buds forming
mulitflora
hellwigiana
AH-0240

Not doing a bleepin thing
pachyclada
callistophylla

Suffering/dying :(
nummularoides
dasyantha

Maid~

Variegated macrophylla...lost about 1/2 or more of the plants leaves(a lot)Very Sad :o(
H.obscura...took a few cuttings as almost the whole plant is yellow...I think the plant itself is on death's door if not dead.
Krimson Princess...75% of the plant froze.

Some are growing and some are just barely or pretty much dormant. I hope I get some blooms this spring.

Congrats to those that are getting winter growth and or peduncles/buds.

Great thread Toni!

Denise, long time no see. I noticed you and Maid are in z5. Mind if I ask which states you both live??? You dont have to be specific, or even answer if uncomfortable.

You guys have SO many Hoyas..lol..
Do you use artificial light..what about fertilizers in winter?
If so, how often..do you halt/decrease in winter months?

Denise, keeping a log is a terrific idea. I've kept a journal for years...it's nice going back, locating date a plant was purchased, fertilized and ST'd, and when/which plants are flowering. There is so much more to add.
Is your log an online program or on paper?

You guys are so funny. Do you watch your Hoyas grow? lol..The reason I'm asking is, although I've had a few hoyas, 3 over 20 yrs, I never, and I mean ever saw a baby leaf grow to maturity..Guess I'm too darn oblivious..lol..

Except when cheking for insects..

Denise, your wrote, 'for Australis', 'it's all over the place..' What do you mean? Obviously, your Hoyas aren't in the garden, do leaves drop and root in neighboring plant pots? I've heard of such a thing, but heck, I can't root a hoya cutting..lol..

Since comiing to this forum, I've added quite a few hoyas. And I want to thank everyone..after seeing Hoya pics posted, the Hoya bug hit me, big time.
Denise, you're the first who inspired me.
I'd love to know your secret keeping hoyas growing year round..if you dont mind sharing it..or is it a family secret? lol

Maid, you'll have to post more hoya pics. I saw two or three that you posted..your Carnosa is amazing..I still can't figure what you did to get it so big in such short time. All your hoyas are doing great.

Pug, seeing your plants always amazes me. But you already know that.. :)
It's terrible about the FL freeze..especially if it was unexpected. no time to haul in cold-sensitive plants.
I'd cry if my Var Mac froze..it's one of my favorites.

One plant I lost was, oh God, spelling..H. sagillitis..sorry..I dont have the name and spelling in front nearby. It was hard finding the Sag/Sig in the first place..I 'never' should have potted both in one pot. If I hadn't, maybe one would have survivevd. One came from Thailand, but its death wasn't their fault..it was mine.

Will added light help? If so, by what percentage? If you agree it will, perhaps I can persuade dh into going to HD and buying a figure and bulbs. lol. Today, after he gets home from work..I wanted to stop at HD anyway..
The other hoya that died was an unknown, in a 2" pot.
I think they died from improper watering. The soil is well-draining, maybe too well=draining.

Does anyone know what symptoms hoyas show if not getting enough water? Believe me, it wasn't an over-water problem..the pots were 2 and 3". Well-draining soil.

I too need sun, Denise..can't stand this weather..it's too darned depressing..I feel like Jack Torrance in The Shining..lol..'Hereeeee's Johnny.' lol.

Thanks for sharing. If anyone has any ideas, please LMK..thanks so much, Toni

PS: I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday..

Here are my hoyas--all growing:
australis ssp. australis 'Brookfield'
bella variegata
callistophylla
carnosa compacta 'Variegata' & 'Mauna Loa/Lura Lei'
carnosa 'Holliana'
carnosa KP & KQ
chelsea
diversifolia
DS-70
finlaysonii 'Rippled Leaf'
kentiana/wayetti
kerri 'Variegata' & 'Reverse'
lacunosa
macrophylla 'Variegata'
obovata
pachyclada--whoohoooo!!!
polyneura
pubicalyx 'Philippine Black'
vitellinoides

The only one that is not doing anything, and frankly, I'm not expecting it to ever do anything, is Curtisii.

Tish

Never stopped growing:

buotii
carnosa 'Krimson Queen'
kentiana
lacunosa
lacunosa, speckled
linearis
pubicalyx 'Chimera'
pubicalyx 'Pink Silver'
sp. Tanna Island

Sporadic new growth:

kerrii (either that, or it has been growing constantly, but SLOWLY)
macrophylla
pubicalyx 'Splash'
subcalva

New growth starting:

curtisii, potted
cv. Mathilde
heuschkeliana, yellow form
lacunosa 'Royal Flush'
nummularioides
retusa

Nada:

curtisii, mounted
multiflora

Croaked:

pottsii 'Cooper's Creek'

My Var. Macro was inside my garage during the freeze...I thought it would be warm enough in there, apparently not. Next time, I will keep inside the house, bad lesson to learn. The plant is still alive...just a lot smaller than it used to be :o(

Cindy

Supplemental light is important because without it plants can not use the moisture in the potting mix during gloomy days and root rot becomes a real threat unless you water carefully. Most of my Hoyas take a little break and then come January start to put out lots of new growth. I water slightly less for plants in 6" pots but everything in smaller pots gets watered the same as during the summer months. I fertilize my plants during the winter with dilute fertilizer and more recently fish tank water because I hate the thought of just dumping it especially knowing that it is full of good stuff the plants can use. Come spring and the return of warm weather and sunny days I will use a fertilizer with a high Nitrogen content to give the plants a boost.

Mike

Anyway, I think I'm in the unusual situation of getting a better angle of light during the winter. I'm on the third floor, and somehow during the summer months, the sun, due to the angle it is at, doesn't really give me much in the way of direct sunlight. Only the stuff right by the window benefits much from the southern exposure. However, in the winter, the sun's angle is such that I actually get direct sunlight in the room. Additionally, I lined the bottom of each shelf with aluminum foil (in lieu of mylar, which wasn't readily available to me) so that light can reflect back down onto the shelf below. I did add a strand of LED Christmas lights, but I doubt that's doing much - I would have to add a lot more, I think, to have a discernible impact.

I have continued using VF-11, but I have mainly stopped foliar feeding. I have a fan running about 16hrs a day. I generally have to water every other day for the water lovers, and maybe every third or fourth day for the others. There are orchids growing under lights nearby, but not near enough to make a difference to the hoyas, I think. All the ones showing brand new growth are my cuttings in my terrarium. They stay moist most of the time, get a little bit of window light but mainly get light from a 23W CFL. There is a computer fan running in the terrarium, and the humidity generally flucuates between 50-60%. Most of the cuttings are sitting atop a tray of Hydroton that I try to keep filled with water, to help keep the humidity up. The pots of cuttings are not sitting directly in this water; they have individual saucers that serve as a barrier. I tend to foliar feed the cuttings every other day, and the soil only when it starts to go dry. They'll be removed from the terrarium when they look like they're established enough to live with the rest of my hoyas. A couple may stay, though: retusa, and the mounted curtisii. Still planning on building my orchid terrarium, so I'd have to come up with a new rooting terrarium, but I'll think about crossing that bridge when I get anywhere near that point : )

Continuous growth:
australis ssp. tenuipes
diptera
diversifolia
limoniaca
wayettii
lacunosa (budding)

Dormant:
carnosa KQ
pubicalyx "Pink Silver"
shepherdii
verticiliata var.

Damaged/dying:
nummularioides
bilobata

Let's see..Tish, you're in WI yet your hoyas are growing..I have to be doing something wrong.. Has it been sunny? I give up with Curtissi..I haven't any idea what they need to survive, let alone bloom..if they bloom?
Anyone here have one that flowered?

Quinn..I don't know if you were addressing me about your H. Mac..There's at least 3 Mac's..one is green w/narrow leaves, the second is variegated, and the third is variegated, 'w/deep gold center' called Pot of Gold..it's absolutely gorgeous, but costly..Asiatica wants 60.00 for a 3.5" H. mac 'Pot of Gold.' If only I was rich..lol..

Pug, thank you. I remember you mentioning Sig's are one of your favorites..
Well, look on the positive side..at least your Mac is alive, right? I'm sure it'll soon look like it did, considering your plants are so healthy.

Cindy, aside from lights, do you keep your hoyas near a window, too? I'm starting to think the only way they'll put any growth is by adding lights..now I have to try convinciing dh how important lights are..lol

Trini, I am no Hoya expert, but IMO Hoyas are similar to succulents, soil needs to dry between waterings, especially if your house is cool.
Ask here for watering advice.
Why the pots have mildew is beyond me, other than the soil being kept wet..Anyone here have a suggestion?

Bunny, like you, I fear fertilizing in winter. It's going on a wk since any sun shone. I've read, via several plant books, fertilizing shouldn't be given in winter, especially during cloudy days, otherwise plants grow spindly. One book, Hyponex, lists plants that shouldnt be fertilized in winter, and they sell fertilizer..for them to suggest not fertilizing, when people would spend money, has some merit...lol...

Mike, I agree we should research where plants are from, and 'try' duplicating their climate.
Mike, for the time I dont have an extra light fixture. But I am working on it..lol..And believe me, it's been very dark here. I have SADS..the weather is effecting me, so I can imagine what it's doing to my plants..this is the reason I don't fertilize..although this is a hoya forum..I used to fertilize Geraniums during winter months, but this winter has been the worse. It's totally sunless. I'm afraid they'll grow spindly..geraniums need full sun, something we're without. That's one reason I don't fertilize in winter. But I agree, people should research their plants.

Quinn..thanks..I totally forgot about lining shelves w/aluminim foil..lol..I'm not expecting miracles, but it might help, somewhat.
I'm surprised Retusa likes living in a terrerium. By its looks, it seems more succulent..hmm..

Jan, like I mentioned to Pug, 'who also lives in Fl.' Think positive..at least your hoyas are thriving. Hopefully, once Fl winter ends, you'll probably see new growth..I hope anyway..Toni

I think I read that VF-11 isn't really a fertilizer? In any case, I see no ill effects. I'm sure they're just fine without, during the winter.

Retusa actually has these thin little leaves. Looking at it, I would definitely think it would appreciate extra humidity.

Cindy

Its been quite a while since I was on as well. Between work and christmas and everything else I feel like I am lucky to have time to breath. Unfortunitely my hoyas took a bad hit on the Houston freeze. I have a temporary greenhouse with an electric heater in it. Well it got down into the 20 for three or four days straight. My heater pulled so much energy trying to keep the temperature up it was tripping the breaker in the middle of the night. It got way too cold in the greenhouse and I don't even want to know how many I lost. My yard is desimated as well. We were busting water lines all over the place at work but luckily nothing at home. It has not been a good winter at all.

Sorry - done whining. Hope everyone is doing well. The family is healthy and happy. The hoyas can be replaced (I hope)

Dawn

Mike

Welcome back Dawn, hope your loss is not too bad :o(

I agree with Mike, I also fertilize in winter(very lightly)but only when the temps are on the warm side and we have lots of light...and I am seeing growths. I cut way back or stop if the temps get below 60°. So I can understand the people that grow in very cold climates why they wouldn't fertilize till the weather warms up and light is available.

Tish

I'm in Nebraska, straight over from you, so I'm sure our weather is probably exactly the same - you get it a day or so later! We're back in the deep-freeze now, but at least the sun has been shining again...

I don't use any artificial light. I do have a small greenhouse off my kitchen, but this time of year, it doesn't even get all that much light because I have a close neighbor and the sun is so far south that my sunroom shades it a bit. But even before I got the GH, I never used additional lights. The ones that grow in the house are close to the windows, and that seems to be all they need. I use the VF-11 year round, both watering it in and I foliage feed, too.

When I say some of my Hoyas are "all over the GH", what I mean is the climbers wander across the top of the GH, latchig onto anything they can. My GH attaches to the side of my house at the eave of the house, which is about 2.5' deep, then the roof glass goes out from the eave. So the vines wander back into where the eave is and set roots in crevices or twine around other plants and then move further on. I used to try to keep them from doing this, but they seem happier when they can wander. My pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' hangs about dead-center in the GH and it's vines reach both ends (it's about 16' long...) Others that "wander" are australis ssp. australis, which is a sun lover that is in a large pot on a top shelf; australis ssp. tenuipes, which sits on the floor and covers a trellis at one end and wants to work its way to the other end; rubra, which is trying to take over the shelf it's on; same thing with fungii; and macgillivrayii is starting to wander after having climbed the same trellis the australis is on. These plants can become massive over time!

Denise in Omaha

After starting this thread, I've been keeping an eye on my Hoyas like a hawk..lol..My H. multiflora variegata has two sets of buds. Now we'll see if they buds open. lol.

Bunny, mind if I ask what type of fertilizer you use? It's true, some ferts are very expensive..especially those that don't contain Urea Nitrogen..it's double to tripple the cost.
Also, if you're satisfied the way your plants look, if they're healthy, there's no reason to change anything.

Quinn..Are you talking about the silver fixtures..one bulb goes in the center? If so, I have two lying around.
I used to use them all winter long, until our house almost burned down.. :(
In winter, I'd clamp the fixture on a table or big pot. Alternate sides. One night, I had to run to the store..Thank God I was gone less or about 15 mins. Our dog snuck in the plant room and knocked the fixture down. Instead of the bulb burning out, it landed on the rug, the heated bulb landed on the carpet, devouring the material..It was literally smoldering like charcoals in a grill. My God, I was so scared. This happened in the 90's, and that was the last time using these fixtures..BUT, I think they work great..'unless you have a sneaky dog,' lol. He wanted to go with me, and I'm guessing, everytime he heard a car, he thought, 'oh, mommy's home. I'd better check to see if it's her car I'm hearing.' lol

Do you use regular or plant bulbs..Walgreen's and Home Depot sell irredescent plant bulbs for 9.99..they're blue..
I'm unsure what VF-11 is, and regarding using VF w/fertilzier, either someone told me, or it's written on the box. If it's similar to ST, then it doesn't matter, can be used with different ferts, etc.
When you say Retusa has thin leaves, what are you comparting it to? Each leaf on my Retusa are as hefty as a healthy blade of grass..lol..

Cindy, the problem is..I have, let's see, one 6' fixture, and a shelf w/4 flourescent bulbs in the front plant room..In back, there's a second 6' fixture. lol. I think dh is worried about the electric bill.
You might ask why my hoyas aren't under these lights..The reason is, both front and back rooms are too cold for hoyas..the might be one reason mine go dormant. In autumn, when hoyas were brought back indoors, I decided to set them in the upstairs bedroom, where, 1. it's about 10 degrees warmer, and 2. bedrooms are on the 2nd floor, in 2 south, unobstructed windows, so more sun.
BTW, what is a T5 light?

Dawn, that's ashame..Sheesh, when it rain it pours. In your case, literally..Never fails, right?
About your hoyas, was soil wet or dry when the freeze hit? If it was dry, there's a good chance they'll survive. 'like most other plants.'
We have a small gh..the first year, 'on the coldest night of winter,' the heater went out..I lost 32 or 37 plants. Try blocking all that happened.
Freezes that aren't expected, for places like Fl, ect, are harder to deal with..it just happens. I feel sorry for nurseires where plants are kept outdoors..'in Fl.' What did they do? Were they able to keep plants? Especially nurseries with numerous stock..
Perhaps you'll find your hoyas are doing better than you think..???

Mike, you got it..and we who live in cloudy, cold climates depend on what little sun is available..Today there is light..lol..If my plants could dance, they'd be doing the Jitter-Bug..lol

Pug, glad you understand. Although our house is warmer than 60, so the problem stems on lack of sunlight. Week after week of darkness, if fertilizer is given, what happens is plants grow, but new growth is spindly.
My H. Kerrii and Stephonotis are proof. 'Even though they haven't been fertilized. Super long stems have grown, but few leaves. I hope they fill in once days lenghten.

Tish, lucky you..SUN!!! lol. Which direction does your upstairs window face? I agree, second or third floor windows get more light than first floors.
I'd love to live in a corner house, facing south. With lots of windows, of course..lol..When we drive to the store, and see House for Sale, I think, now let's see, where would plants go? lol. If we ever move, I want a home on a corner lot, facing south, and two stories. Or better yet, a house w/no nearby neighbors or trees..lol

Hey Denise..Do you have a picture of your gh jungle? I'd love seeing your hoyas and others entertwine..if they're happy growing everywhere, then let them do their thing..lol
Can you walk from your house into the gh? I'd love being able to depart from a stuffy house and enter a humid, sweet-scented glassed-in-room. It's so nice.
If you have a pic will you post?
16' longh Pink-Silver..VEry nice..

Besides sun issue, I think I fear repotting Hoyas..Almost all are rootbound. I worry the next size pot will be too large, so they stay in the same pot forever.

How tight-fitting should hoyas be? Should I just go ahead and place 4"er's in 5 or 6" pots? Not this moment, perhaps spring? Or keep root-bound?

Thanks again, everyone..hugs, Toni

Cindy

Mike

ThePlanthoarder..Thanks..
Is Greenthumb in Thailand or am I thinking of another seller? So, you think Sig's need more water than most other hoyas? That's probably the reason mine died..It was doing fine during summer, but hoyas get a lot more water when days are hot, Plus we got a lot of rain last summer. And my hoyas are underpotted w/well-draining soil, so if Sig's need moister soil, that explains its demise.
But thanks for the tip..as soon as it's warm enough to ship, I'm going to look for another or two. lol. And this time, they won't be potted together. Big mistake.
Thanks so much, Toni

I use CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs). They are the kind that fit in a normal lightbulb socket, and are usually coiled looking in appearance, although Ikea has the kind that hides the coiled bit inside a glass globe, so it looks like a normal light bulb. CFLs are nice because you can get more light for less wattage, and less heat, and they last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs. Saves you money on electricity bills too. I've actually converted my whole house to CFLs. The only thing that's weird about using them as household lights is that it takes a little bit of time for the bulb to fully light up. So it looks a little dim for a few minutes, but gets to its full brightness and all is ok : ) However, these won't work in dimmers, unless you get a special kind of CFL that is designed for dimmers. My bedside lamp is the only one in the entire house that has incandescent bulbs now, for that reason.

For my plants I use daylight balanced CFLs that I ordered online, partially because I think it gives a better balanced spectrum of light, and partially because I like the whiter light. If you are just supplementing with them, I don't think it matters what kind you use, just get the regular coiled CFLs from Home Depot or even the grocery store. The pkg will tell you what CFL light output is equivalent to which incandescent. For instance, if you like the light output of a 60W bulb, I believe the equivalent in a CFL is 11W. I use 23W, which is equivalent to 100W incandescent bulbs, and 30W, which are equivalent to 120W (not that I've ever seen a 120W incandescent bulb before, ha). I even have one 85W CFL, which is equivalent to a 350W incandescent, but that bulb is a monster.

I think someone else can better explain what VF-11 is, exactly. It's similar to Superthrive in some ways, but isn't the same thing. For instance, I believe you can add Superthrive to your fertilizer, but VF-11 is only supposed to be used alone.

Retusa has thin leaves to me, compared to other hoyas. It's kind of like fat pine needles. Or like taking a very small kerrii leaf, and pulling it at each end until it becomes this elongated version of it. That is, if said kerrii leaf were made of clay, ha. But you have a retusa, why am I explaining it to you? You already know what it looks like : ) How big is yours? Mine is only a cutting, so it is still itty bitty.

You got it..silver fixure you have..the one my 'doggie, Shame' tipped over, almost burning down the house..
I like these fixtures, but ever since that night I fear using them...

Aw, African Violets..I got a letter '8-9 pages' lol, from Violet Gallery..Sooo tempting..Have you added any new?
I really want Fisherman's Paradise, Senks and Chimoya, sp..If you've ordered recently, have you noticed hgh/preposterous shipping costs?

We too use Swirly bulbs..I haven't used them for plants though..they do last longer and save on electric.

I purchased two light bulbs meant to help ppl w/SADS..
One, 100 and 150 watt bulbs..
Quinn, I was sooo excited..put one in the socket..the room turned dark blue..I HATED it..It was more depressing than a 60 watt regular bulb..lol..9.99 each, plus shipping..what a waste and rip off.
My dh found another bulb meant for the same reason. These were rather costly..Another disappoinment. This time the room looked gray..lol..From now on it's plain old 100 watt bulbs.
I wonder if these bulbs would work for plants. They're supposed to have different spectrum that make ppl feel 'gay.' Gay meaning happy, de'light'ful..I felt de'pressed..lol. Dh sent the bulbs back..30.00 per bulb!

I haven't seen the bulbs Ikea sells..Are they listed on Ikea site..or would you happen to have a picture?
I too like whiter light..not blue or gray..lol..

Today, we had about an hour of sun..One advantage of snow is it reflects sun onto plants..
I feel my hoyas aren't getting enough light, yet, H.multiflora has buds..What do you think? Enough light or not? Do multifloras need less light to flower?
BTW, NO, I do not like 60 watt bulbs..And like you, the only regular bulb is on my bedside table..lol

Quinn, I've researched VF, talked to ppl who use it..So far, 100% vouch for it. This year I may switch to VF, instead of all the other ferts, see if there's any difference. BTW, do you use VF for all plants? Even AV's? Also, did you say you foliar spray with VF?
My concern is, can I use ST and VF? I don't believe in excess..that's the reason I asked if they were similar.

My Retusa is also small, possibly a cutting. It looks nothing like the mom plant that was posted onn Ebay.lol. She was huge, hanging several feet..what a beauty!!!
Come spring, I'll be hunting for another Sag and H. Square..And any variegated Hoyas I can find and don't have..Among other plants..

Thanks for replying. Unless dh has a tv show scheduled tonight, maybe he'll feel like going to HD. I want the flourescent fixture and bulbs..

Quinn, do you think the silver fixtures we have would work w/hoyas? If I clamped the fixture on the shelf edge, would bulbs burn the leaves? I'd have to look for the SADS bulb, 'that makes the room blue.' If I cant find it, I'll have to use a 60watt incandescent..what do you think. Thanks so much, Toni