Hi Kelly,

Well... it depends on the Hoya, single cutting or multiple. I just took cuttings of my polyneura and put a bunch in a 5" pot and another bunch in a 4" pot and they rooted very quickly and are already growing. But it wouldn't have been wise to put one or two cuttings in that large of a pot. On the other hand, a big Hoya like macrophylla or pottsii could use a 4" pot right off the bat, IMO, because they produce big root systems fast. (Which they have to to support the heaviness of the plant...) I recently got a rooted cutting of pottsii myself from CBFM and I put it in a 5" clay pot. It's taken off like gangbusters...

So, tell us what cuttings (and how many) you've put in these 4" pots and we'll see if we can figure out if they need to be in a smaller pot.

Denise in Omaha

Right-O. Let me see...3 2-node cuttings of H. lacunosa 'Tove', 3 kentiana, 4 sipitangensis, 4 walliniana. It's the otostemma I'm thinking about really I guess (Tove, sipit, wallin.). They are growing alright, but that little pauciflora really took off and when I squeeze the pot, it seems like it is full of roots.

Kelly in Victoria

Kelly,

I would definitely say that a 4" pot for 3 lacunosa and kentiana cuttings is too much "leg-room." I have a potfull of kentiana (actually, wayetti in most cases...) cuttings in a 3" pot, and my medium-sized one is in a 4.5" pot and has been for several years. So I would definitely "downsize" those two. Just be gentle with their new roots...

I don't grow the others, so will bow to the suggestions of those who do.

Denise in Omaha

I use 2.5 inch pots for small species and 4 inch pots for the larger ones. I find that the small Hoyas do really well in little pots for quite some time but larger species need room like Denise said and keeping them in too small a pot can be problematic once they really start to grow. I have started using the small pots that starter sized nursery plants come in, stuff from the garden center. The pots are about 2.5" but they are deeper than regular pots and they allow for a good root system to form before the plant needs repotting. Some Hoyas are just slow to start growing and they may be focusing on roots. I have a few that have hardly grown in six months but I know that one day soon they will start vigorous growth when they are ready. I have all my Otostemma section Hoyas in 4" pots because they tend to be smaller plants but I have never rooted them in that large a pot so can't really comment on that from experience.

Good luck with your plants.

Mike

Hi again:

Well I've repotted lacunosa and sipitangensis into 3 inch pots, will do the rest when I get more 3-inchers. Wasn't easy to do with those fragile little roots, but I think I'm doing the right thing. Hope they don't pout too long. What was I thinking? Well, I've learned my lesson. Don't overpot! I think that is what's wrong with Kentiana, as not much is going on with it. Thank you Denise and Mike. Jeez, what would I do without you two?

Kelly in Victoria

Kelly,

Though it's been a great year for most species for me, wayetti (aka kentiana) has been a slow one to get going. So as long as they look healthy, never worry about them. I learned a long time ago that a Hoya can remain dormant (or semi-dormant) for a long, LONG time.

Speaking of which, I've often mentioned my sigillatis that has done nothing since I got it last fall... I have TWO new leaves!! Yippieee! Am remaining cautiously optimisitc about this one. Just a little reminder of how those of us who are obsessive collectors "hover" over our plants!

Denise in Omaha

Denise I swear they like when we hover, it's almost like they reward all the attention with new growth. I wish I had the time to spend looking over all my plants one on one more often instead of just the regular watering routine.

Kelly one thing I have learned so far is that Hoyas are pretty tough and resilient. If you fail just try again chances are you just got off to a bad start with a particular cutting.

Mike