Hi Maid, I have no answers for you unfortunately, but I will be watching for advise or answers as this has happened to me with a couple of my hoyas. It happened with my Obscura(which by the way is dead now) had severe cold damage during our freeze...even took cuttings but they died too. Last summer it budded up 2-3 different times and would always fall off until it finally held on its 4th try. I wish I knew what triggers them to abort? Could be temperature, watering fluctuations, plant not mature enough, so many factors to consider.

Hang it there though, I'm sure it will happen soon. Good luck!

Debi,

Mine in hydroton is looking good but is doing the same thing. Buds form but they drop before they get too far along. I think you just have to be patient sometimes. I've had more than a few species that abort the first few attempts to bloom. The most frustrating for me is macgillivrayii. It tried three times from one peduncle last year then gave up. Now it has more peduncles, but no signs of buds yet.

Denise in Omaha

I wonder what the problem is with your plant? Hoya multiflora is a thin leaved species so it does need fairly constant moisture to combat the water loss that large thin leaves cause. Is the humidity low in your house, do you know what the humidity is? Keeping the potting mix moist helps combat water loss through transpiration but it can not replace sufficient levels of humidity. My guess is that dry winter air is causing the bud blast. Do you have any way of checking the humidity in the area the plant is growing?

Mike

Maid, so sorry to hear of your problem with the multiflora losing its blooms. Bud blasting is a real dilemma with me, too...something Puglvr and I have talked about recently...it's so darned aggravating. I've never lost buds on my multiflora...and I have had up to 11 peduncles at one time...it's constantly in bud and bloom...literally. One thing I might suggest, if you think your humidity is too low, is to place the plant and its saucer onto a pebble tray filled with water...this would raise the humidity enough for that one plant. I have a very humid sunroom due to an enormously large fountain...so, unlike the rest of my house, the sunroom is intolerably humid, even in the winter. Try a pebble tray...a large bowl with gravel would work. I learned this from raising begonias But, be sure to have a liner beneath the plant to prevent the plant from becoming saturated with water. I would imagine this would resolve your problem. BTW, coir wouldn't resolve the problem with lack of humidity. Fondly, Patrick

Thanks everyone for your help.

I really don't know what my humidity level is. The multiflora sits on a metal shelf with about 25 other hoyas in an east facing window. I had a humidifier in the room for a brief period of time. But quickly removed it when I saw signs of mealies and fungus on some of my hoyas. I also noticed new leaves turning yellow and dropping off on several of them. Since I took it out I haven't seen any ill signs.

It could be a humidity issue, but I'm thinkin it may just be premature. It was obvious this was a rooted cutting when I got it, and there is no way the roots have grown into the pot, crowding them, thus inducing flowers. But maybe that's not the case with mulitflora, perhaps it doesn't need to be tight in the pot in order to bloom, I don't know.

I've read a lot of people use pebble trays, I may give it a try. Thanks again folks,

Maid~

Debi,

If it's sitting amongst 25 other Hoyas that seem happy, I wouldn't think it was a humidity issue, but I'd give the pebble tray a try. Like Mike said, multiflora is a thin-leaved one and that may be some of the difference. I'm going to bet, though, that once spring is truly here - the days are longer, brighter, and with some fresh air - that your multiflora will pump out blooms like crazy. Especially if it seems otherwise happy.

Denise in Omaha

Some plants are very sensitive to low humidity and because they experience high humidity in nature they have difficulty adjusting. Most homes are probably well below 40% humidity with some as low as 20% humidity during the winter. Thw worlds driest deserts range from 4%-30% humidity. If you are going to try to raise the humidity with a humidifier I would recommend a fan running in the room constantly to keep the air moving. Check part way down the link for the weather and humidity for the island of Java to get an idea of the ideal humidity levels, you will be surprised. Now you don't need to replicate the conditions of a tropical forest in your home but it does go to show what type of conditions many of these plants grow in and that high relative humidity is preferred.

You can make fairly inexpensive humidity trays by using shallow Rubbermaid tubs meant for under beds and building a support inside using that plastic grid sold for light diffuser. I recently made some trays to help cut down on how often I have to cart my plants around to water them and now I can water them in place and just move them when I want to check them more closely for pests etc.

Here is a photo of the trays with bulkhead drains that I got from a hydroponics store. The trays drain into a bucket which can easily be dumped. There is always a little bit of water in the trays so it helps keep the humidity up around the plants.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Weather/humidity for Java Indonesia

I was thnking. Did you say you had mealie and fungas?

Mealie problem may not be attributed to humidity levels, but fungas can...I was wondering, do you use fans to keep the air moving if using a humidifier? This will definately help prevent mold and fungas issues..

I have to say, reading this thread, makes me think twice about getting more hoyas...It must be frustrating, and a challenge each year to flower a few of these species, especially after waiting so long for them to get to the size they need to be to do so...

My hats off to you all for the patience and perseverance you all demonstrate!

I wish there was a thread with pictures of everyone's hoyas that did hold bloom this spring.

Mike..:-)

Maid...please don't stress over the bud blasting....it happens to all of us...and it's not always due to the humidity...I had several hoyas blast their buds this past summer...and the humidity was over 90%. I think Denise is right, once Spring arrives your multiflora will blossom like crazy. To speed things up, do the pebble and water method...it'll work. I do not believe your multiflora is too young....they tend to bloom as cuttings...it's probably the humidity...our homes are extremely dry this time of year, at least in the northern states. With the high humidity in my sunroom, my multiflora is in bloom and has at least 7 or 8 peduncles on it...this wouldn't happen if the plant was anywhere else in my home...which is far more suited for cacti!! Go ahead and place the plant on pebbles and water...I would imagine you'd have blooms forming within a couple of weeks...and then, it'll be only a couple months til summer!! LOL Best wishes, Patrick

Mike you are correct in mentioning the importance of air movement and if you are adding additional humidity to a dry environment it is even more important. I have fans going in all of my plant areas including my orchid case which is a constant 80% humidity and there are no problems with fungus. If you keep plants wet including the potting mix and leaf surfaces and there is no air movement you are creating the perfect environment for fungal growth.

Don't give up on Hoyas because you don't want to wait for blooms just buy a mature plant from an online vendor or a basket from Lowes or Home Depot. It's true that cuttings can take a few years to bloom but you will notice that many of the more difficult to get Hoyas are only available as cuttings.

Mike

I know this is an old thread but I am having the same problem with my Multiflora.

It seems to be happy and has put on several new leaves and three new peduncles since I got it about 6 months ago.

It has large buds on one peduncle which are falling off and the other two peduncles are starting to form buds.

I have a room humidifier which keeps the humidity at around 45% or more depending on how often the furnace runs.

I water it twice a week with weak Folage Pro one of those times. The other is just plain water.

It has tried to flower three times now and the buds have fallen off every time.

If you all need more information please ask and I will try to provide it.

Thanks!

I forgot to mention the temperature in the room is 65 degrees to 68 degrees.

Mine does the same thing..Every now and then it blooms,but most of the time the buds turn yellow and abort.This usually happens after watering.it may have to do with the tap water...mine is hard water..lots of lime and calcium in it with a pH of 7 which is high for hoyas.leaving the water sit out a few days doesn't bring the pH down.I'm starting to think that the high pH temporally locks out nutrient uptake resulting in the buds aborting.After they get to a certain size...it happens less often.I was having lots of buds blasting until a watered in some molasses and some beneficial microbes( Great White brand) which will naturally lower pH.Now the buds are reaching maturity!I have to do some more experimenting to be sure,but now I'm adding the molasses and microbes twice a month instead of every few months.I also bought an organic fertilizer for acid loving plants to hopefully aid in combating the high pH of my water.

That is what happens to my buds too.

They look really good and then the stems start to turn yellow and they fall off.

I know we have a lot of lime in the soil here in Virginia as the bedrock is limestone.

How much molasses do you add per gallon of water?

One teaspoon per gallon.I use the kind made for plants and mix it in with Great White Mycorrhizae,which is good microbes for the plants roots.The molasses feeds the microbes and in return there byproducts are used by the plant. links for the products i use.....http://www.amazon.com/Organics-HOF08304-1-Quart-Hi-Brix-Molasses/dp/B005H79HF0/ref=pd_sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41X-cYmryQL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=10X2PBVQVY0EGH4RZGEA    and http://www.amazon.com/Plant-Revolution-PRPSGW04-Great-White/dp/B00AU8JKR6/ref=pd_sim_86_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=513xomEq0bL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR143%2C160&refRID=10X2PBVQVY0EGH4RZGEA

Meyermike - I'm giving up my citrus for more Hoyas. lol

Even if my Hoyas don't bloom the foliage is just as pretty. They sure are a lot less maintenance then lemon trees :-)

Jimmy,

Thanks for all the information. I found the things on Amazon and was going to place an order for dog cookies anyway so I added them to my order.

Before I place it may I ask what organic fertilizer you are now using? I use Foliage Pro and Neptune Fish and Kelp.

Would it be a good idea to substitute something else for the Foliage Pro do you think?

I assume you still use your regular tap water?

Thanks again!

Bud drop is a common problem. Some Hoyas take awhile to get "revved up", so they blast the first several tries. I have a paulshirleyii that put all its energy last summer into trying to bloom - didn't grow an iota, but budded up, blasted, budded up, blasted, over and over. I never did get any open blooms. This year, I hope it will just grow and not even try to bloom! LOL!

Denise in Omaha

Hi...what you have is good..I have used both.I just use very small amounts when using the Great White.Right now i just sprinkle some Osmocote Plus on top of the soil twice a year,and use the molasses,kelp humic acid,every now and then to keep the good microbes happy and fed.This spring i;m gonna try a new organic seaweed fertilizer for acid loving plants,to help with the high pH of my tap water.