Hi Lisa,

Pls. don't rub at this; it's not mealies nor abnormal.

I don't know what it's called, but I remember well discussing exactly this, here at Hoya Forum w/ Denise from Omaha. I believe she'd noticed it as well & she & I were comparing notes about it. Not all Hoyas do it, if I recall correctly, I've seen it happen on H Australis & I think also the Pubicalyx types.

I've been w/out H Obovata for about 3 yrs. now, but seem to recall that one may have done it also.

It's at the very tippy tip of the new growth right? Tiny fiber like hairs, yes, I do remember them. Watch it but don't do anything to it & you'll see the filaments will disappear in a couple of days as the new growth gets going.

It was never a precursor to bugs, I can understand why you may have thought that, I initially wondered about it myself, but I assure you, it's not bugs.

Yes I have several that are like this and it is not a bug seems to be the growth pattern...

Thank you!!! I shall let them grow in peace.

Lisa

I've noticed the same thing on my obovata plants and I wondered what it was. So glad to hear it's not bugs!

I have several Hoyas that do this with meliflua being the most obvious. I find that this hair or crystal like substance(wax?)develops most where the leaf petiole connects to the leaf blade. I wonder if this substance has ever been analyzed to see what it is and what it's purpose might be.

Mike

lol Whenever I see that stuff it gives me heart palpitations, too. Can you tell we all have mild cases of mealy-onset PTSD?

I assume it is some kind of fetal leaf protective coating, like a cuticle. I was curious about researching it, as well, but wasn't able to find anything.

Here's a picture of one of mine having the white stuff on new growth you're describing. This scared me the first time I saw it!

Thank goodness it's normal!

More buds Kelly!! What are you feeding those Hoyas of yours? LOL

Mike

That's the second set of buds on wallichii-or-whatever-it's-name-may be!

You know, I did switch fertilizers a couple of months ago. Went to Maxi Growth. Think it's by General Hydroponics. Did so after Nancy, I believe, mentioned using Dyna Grow for Foliage instead of Blooms. Hmmmm...wonder if this could be making a difference even though I'm using it sparingly this time of year...

Kelly

Hi Kelly, don't underestimate the power of fertilizers at the right amount...like anything else too much of a good thing isn't always better,lol...I'm betting the combination of your extra light and your new fertilizer attributed to you better success this year...Congrats! Great job!