So I've had these "twin peduncles" on my kentiana, and I was really excited to watch them open together. But I just noticed that the buds on one peduncle were starting to open, and when I touched it, all the buds on the other just fell off.

I'm wondering if that's normal bud blast or if it's a "twin" thing. Funny, because I'm a twin myself, and I know all about fighting for the spotlight! So maybe that's what happened with these twins. Could one have sucked out all the energy of the other? Maybe I'm thinking too deeply into it (time to see my therapist), and it was just regular bud blast....but I don't know why it would happen to one and not the other. Anyone ever have twin peduncles? Anyone care to share your opinion on this twin phenomenon?

Here is a pic that was taken about a week ago of the "twins":

And a pic of the lonely twin taken tonight:

Another pic (from below) of the twins taken a week ago:

And the lone twin starting to open it's buds:

I guess the "twin" sister had to sacrifice herself for her sister to bloom...how bittersweet :)

Sorry I cant help you, I am only on my first hoya and still seeking advice.....lol, but I had to say "Marvelous" pictures!!

Tracy

Tracy, thanks for the commenting on my plant (and pics). It does give such cute blooms. Your hoya is gorgeous too, by the way. Those blooms are incredible! Anyway, the camera I use (not off topic at all by the way) is a Sony Cybershot, 6.0 megapixels. Love it.

ps - no insult intended to any twins out there who think I am calling them freaks of nature

Now I may as well be in a basement. Not only are there tons of trees, the house also has a four foot eve type overhang all around the outside, so every window is not only not getting much light due to trees, but is in the shade of these overhangs. I have one sliding glass door - northeastern exposure - that gets decent light for most of the day, the rest maybe get an hour of direct sun a day, at different times depending on exposure. It's a real drag for the plants, I rotate them constantly so they all have a chance at the slider, but the carnosas I leave in the bedroom windows, they seem to be ok with the lower light. I also have artificial lights under the cabinets and a few spot lights here and there. It is a real pain but I manage. I also have a few outside, but the squirrels mess with them and the one spot that the squirrels can't bother them is the one spot that has NO shade at all, and that area is too hot, too scorching for hoyas....I can't win! Just looking forward to that greenhouse!!

I hear ya on the greenhouse!! My first actual "house" MUST have a sun room, or I'm buying a greenhouse. Or maybe both!

It's too bad you have all that shade now...but at least you give all your hoyas a fair turn at the sun. You must've loved living on the shore. I've been pretty close to there, but never actually been there. But I deal with all the Jersey shore traffic when I head that way this time of year! I frequently go camping to a place near the Jersey shore (I'll be going there in July)...it's called Cedar Creek Campgrounds and it's in Bayville (in Ocean County)...ever hear of it or of the town?

I am going camping on Thursday, we were going to go to the Sea Pirate campground just south of Manahawkin on Rt 9, but decided on someplace closer near here, in the pines, Atsion Lake. I am hoping it cools off a bit, or at least that the area isn't overrun with those nasty gypsy moths, they have been really bad around here lately.

I used to live in Long Beach (in Long Island), and I absolutely loved living on the beach. You're right, nothing beats it.

Sea Pirate campground sounds pretty cool...I'll have to look into that one for our next camping trip. But we just love the one in Bayville...it has a red creek (hence the name "cedar creek"), and it's just a really nice campground with lots to do. And the creek is always cold, so in the dead of summer it's really nice to be able to cool off. You should try it out sometime...you're much closer to it than I am (it takes me about 2 hours or so to get there). Well, have fun on your camping trip :)

That's why I live where I live in Bklyn, am 3 blocks from the beach, have a bay (Sheepshead Bay) & a park in front of my house. The beach was finally nice this wknd, water warming enough to swim. I had a lovely swim at 6:30 pm, didn't want to come out at all; was just perfect! Am certainly w/ you folks in spirit abt living on or near the beach, just can't beat it!

Just as nice, I have all western exposures, my Hoyas all love the light, I could use more windows, but those that I have bring oodles of light (I have to lower the blinds on summer mornings lest the place roast while I'm a way at work)!

You have to keep in mind that NJ isn't that big, I grew up in the center of Burlington County, about a 15 minute drive to the Ocean County border.

I have canoed Cedar Creek, it also runs west- or is it nrthwest?- into Double Trouble State Park, not far from Bayville, but on the other side of the parkway. Nice clean stretch of water, so many beautiful spots along it...If you like animals, Gabi, you could go south on Rte 9 to Forked River, whick is the next town south of Bayville, and go to Popcorn Park. It is a zoo that is sort of a shelter as well, they take in unwanted or problem zoo animals from all over. Have the same as regular zoos, maybe a bit smaller, but a nice setting in the pine barrens and a great little morning daytrip when you are in the area. They also have alot of exotic pets that people abandoned for one reason or another, like reptiles and pot bellied pigs and a whole aviary full of cockatiels. I used to go there alot, it is a nice, laidback place. Not too expensive ( the Philadelphia Zoo is I think $18 now! ) Popcorn Park is also a vet clinic and shelter for dogs and cats. They probably have a website.

All you people with sunny windows make me jealous...my poor plants, I definately don't have as much blooming going on here.