Vines sometimes die back - it's just a fact of life with Hoyas. All your leaves look healthy, so I wouldn't fret about it. Cutting the vine off will probably jump-start some new growth.

On the other hand, I got a Hoya kerrii, fuzzy clone from Shoal Creed Succulents last fall. It was a rooted cutting. The leaves are shriveling as if it's not sucking up the water. I have a feeling it's on its way out... Guess we'll see...

Denise in Omaha

Hi Denise,

Thanks for your reply. I guess I worry a bit more about this plant, than others I have, because I love it so much. I will relax a bit on it. The situation with your leaves does not sound good. Hopefully your plant is not headed out.

Thanks again for your reply

Shirl

Shirl, where did you buy your Kerii? I have been looking in nurseries and other stores that sell plants and have never found one.

Helga.

Helga,

You can find them on eBay all the time. Bob Smoley's Gardenworld is a good source for Hoyas, too, but you do often have to wait a few weeks to get an order from him. I've found that his plants are worth the wait, though.

Denise in Omaha

Here is a link that might be useful: Bob Smoley's Hoyas

Hi Helgal,

I bought my Kerri from a place called Plants for Kids. They guarentee the plant to arrive alive to your door. The plant cost me $15.99 but that included shipping as well as a root mass that is big and strong, potted up. That is how they sell their plants. The price they quote gets the plant to your door. It is -plants for kids .com

Shirl

I bought a kerrii from a local greenhouse (Canon City, CO) a couple of months ago. Some of the vines were VERY shriveled as if dead, so I cut them off - they bled! I stuck them in water to see if they would revive, and lo and behold, they have not only revived, they're rooting. Needless to say, I'm thrilled!

The original cuttings from which these two vines had tried to grow, looked as if they had merely been laid on top of the soil, which was terribly dry when I bought the plant. They hadn't rooted well at all, and the soil in the pot looked rather disgusting. I added more soil to the pot, and I'm trying to keep it on the dampish side. The plant does look better, but the leaves are still very leathery and tough, and not at all deep glossy green like the picture posted in this thread. I hung the plant under grow-lights, but may move it to brighter sunshine, or outside when the weather warms enough, to see if that helps. My main problems are a lack of good shady places to hang stuff, lots of wind, and very low humidity.

I also found a good-sized tsangii at this nursery, along with the usual assortment of little carnosa variegata starter pots. The tsangii was also very dry, but it's responding nicely to being watered and loved. I use a homemade fertilizer on all my houseplants which absolutely sends my hoyas through the roof:

12 oz. beer (any brand/type, just cheap)
1 cup Epsom salts
1/2 cup household ammonia (no particular scent - just cheap)
2 cups water

Mix it all up in a quart bottle, keep it capped until needed. Does not require refrigeration. Shake well before use. Add 1 tablespoonful to a gallon of warmish water and use every other week in your regular watering/fertilizing schedule. It supplies carbs for energy, magnesium for photosynthesis, sulfur to acidify the soil, and nitrogen for lush growth. I've been using it on everything this winter, and all my plants are growing like mad, even at nearly 9,000 feet elevation. Many have also bloomed all winter, and now the hoyas are going berserk with buds and blooms, as well as new growth.

Becky

Wow Becky!

I wish I had have known about rooting the cutting of the shriveled up stem. I tossed mine thinking it was no good. I will know next time to try as you did and see if it works for me.

I will be trying your fertilizer for sure!

thanks for the wonderful info!

Shirl

i am sorry for the extra post, but there is no edit feature available here. Becky, would it be ok with you for me to post the fert recipe you gave up on my forum? I have a lil place were we gather and it has a little section for house plants in it. I want to be sure it is ok to share it there.

Thanks
Shirl

Wow, that's some recipe, are you sure it's safe to shake it?? ;)

Denise I brought a hairy kerrii and deep veined kerrii from Shoals, but mine were un-rooted. They rooted really fast and have put on lots of new growth.

Here is a link that might be useful: deep veined hoya kerrii

Shirl, It could just be the color of the new growth. Is it still shriveling?

Hi Lydia,

The vine died back all the way to where it is coming up from the two leaves. Everything else looks good still. The leaves are still nice and green, and so are the main stems. I have to wonder if the plant was just shocked being shipped during the cold weather. The plant was resting right on the cardboard of the box, and it was pretty cold out. It is still alive and looking good, so I am hopeful.