This really surprises me. I've rooted a few rigidas and they always seem really easy-going. You'd never know they ever went without roots.

I don't know your setup, but it could be that the western light is just too aggressive for it while it's still a cutting. Especially if you have it in a bag or something like that. I would definitely err on the side of letting it dry out versus keeping it too wet. (Not that you really want to let it go dry as a bone while it's rooting, either)

I wouldn't think rigida would need it normally, but maybe a bit of bottom heat wouldn't hurt if you have that option, just since it's clearly struggling and could use a push to get over the hump.

I should also say that I rooted that particular rigida (I think) last fall. I potted it up in a clay pot in a heavily barky mix and routinely let it dry out too much (although I did spray it once a day). It was in a clear IKEA storage bin with a heat pad underneath, about 1' back from a western window with semi-sheer curtains drawn.

So, maybe you really don't have to worry about it going dry as a bone lol. I know I really struggled with that batch of cuttings b/c I wasn't used to the clay pots and didn't realize how fast things were drying out. I really had to pull some back from the brink of death, but rigida did not mind at all.

Maybe I need more humidity for this one. I water about every 3 days and the pot is always super light. Terra cotta pot(also a first for me and hoyas). i will take a pic to show the decline. I can move it to a east window, but also felt part of my problem could be from moving it in the first place.

-David

Actually I think I am over reacting. If I was a plant who lived in FL and moved to VA this time of the year I would be pissed too. lol

Well to change the subject here is a pick of one of my Adeniums only flowers at this time.

In all seriousness this rigida is a little yellow :(

-David

Oh! THIS rigida. I guess I was talking about rooting a different one, then. It definitely does look upset. I have such a bad track record with reversing yellowing leaves.

I'd bag it and move it to the east window, well into the indirect light zone. I think at this point worrying about disrupting it shouldn't interfere with you providing the most optimal conditions you can.

If the pot is feeling light every three days, I don't think you have to worry about having overwatered it. If you give it a lot of stable humidity that might permit you to just let it be for a bit, though, and that always seems to help in an indefinable way.

Very pretty Adenium! I'm not familiar with this plant.

David I am sorry you are having problems with your rigida.How long did you have the plant in your home before you changed the dirt and pot?
I feel one needs to let the plant get used to your home and recover from the shipping before doing any changing.The only time I mess around with a new hoyas is when I know something is very wrong and to just save the plant I will re-pot.Maybe its just me and others will think its a silly idea to wait but I feel its best.I just changed the dirt today from a hoya I got from joni back in Jan.
I do wish your rigida a speedy recovery.

Cindy

I had the plant for a day or two before I up potted it. I typically will pot up the plants from their 2.5 inch pot to something a little bigger. I also try to pull the plant out with all soil still attached to the rootball before placing it in my pot. I have had success with this process with most/all other plants. I usually try to give plants less light upon receipt as well to keep them from going into shock. The western exposure I gave this plant is pretty much NW exposure about a foot away from the window.

I still feel like I just do not know what is best for this one at this time. By the flimsyness of the leaves I would say it is not taking up enough water, but because of the yellowing I would think that I am overwatering. I read the post in the past regarding Dry growing in the winter and wet growing in the summer for this one but still I do not want to sit idle while this one whiters. I will include a picture when I get home today to show the progression of the yellow. It was very dry yesterday so I watered it thoroughly. I placed it outside in full shade 3 days ago since our temps have risen and it has been in the 60s at night. I am tempted to switch to a soil based mix on this one. I thought I would change my mix based on others success without me having failure first. I think I should worry about fixing things that are broken rather than breaking something that works. I can't even stomach proofreading this one.

/disgusted - David

Thanks Cindy by the way for the ideas and well wishes.

David, I am really sorry to read how your rigida is doing.I can relate to feeling gutted when you think your going to lose one of your hoyas.Right know I am worrying over my darwinii the leaves are a bit soft.I don't know if I should try replanting the thing or take a wait and see.

Cindy

I am torn too. I typically grow my plants really well in a heavier soil based mix. I am not used to seeing any new additions rapidly decline without a tangible reason. Such as too much sun, too little water, too much water, too little sun, too dry, or damaged in shipping. None of these seem to be the case here. I even started misting this one. Before the plant loses any leaves I will be sticking it is a high heat/humidity rooting tank with some sphagnum. I will give it a few more days to turn back around though. It still has not lost any new growth so it can't be that bad, since that in my experience is the first to go. I'll continue to wait and see.

-David

I'm very sorry to hear that there's been no improvement yet w/patient rigida. (And the same goes for darwinii, Cindy ._.)

I hear what you're saying, David, about changing up a mix that has worked for you, but is contrary to general practice. I grew Hoyas in the same mix as my Gesneriads until joining this forum. Then, embarrassed by my naivete, I switched to 'better' mixes and there were times I was shocked by the unforseen stress I put my plants through as I (not they) adapted to the new conditions. I think most of what I had at that point were pretty flexible species, so it was frustrating to 'fix what was not broken.' But, I have since added fussier species and in the end, I think it was worthwhile to switch everything over to roughly 2 categories of mediums, just so the tough plants fit the same watering schedules as the particular plants.

That said, it does sound like you're treating your plant well. It sounds like root damage may have occurred and it just needs time to develop new ones. So no matter how optimal your conditions and handling, it needs time to come round the bend. Rigida is a toughie; I'm sure it will pull through. And if it doesn't, my IML 1424 decided to throw a 3' vine this winter, so if it ever decides to put some leaves on it, I can give you a cutting.

Here is the pic from this afternoon.

It was rained on so I am hoping that will revive it a little bit. It appears a little more jaundiced since last pic.

I know this is OT... But I worked hard this weekend redoing this garden. It is a work in progress. I have a lot of different dahlia varieties planted in the free space and purple and white zinnas planted in the back with some red castor bean plant planted in the far rear as well. A few other surprises will sprout up here and there.

How nice to watch the spring plants going in and coming up! I'm really enjoying how my walk to work allows me to watch all the barren corporate landscaping plots and windowboxes come into bloom.

It looks like you've got a feline friend in the back, too, so this falls under tigerdawn's family portrait category too.

Hope rigida's hanging in there.