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peanut01_gw

I see why you all love Hoya

16 years ago

Hi I am new to Hoya's but I thought I would share :) I have been walking to my front door the past 2 weeks and I have been catching whiffs of this great smell. Kinda like the big oriental lily 'Casablanca' or like a 'Stargazer'. I have tons of asiatics blooming in the bed, but I didn't think any of those were fragrant. Then last night I was on my front porch around midnight and the frangrance was especially strong. I shrugged it off then went to inspect my H. Lacunsa which I bought a great big hanging basket of for $14.99 at HD. I love the leaves, they are dark green, waxy and have hints of red, black, and purple in different light. I was making sure that it was not getting burnt up. When I was studying the leaves I uncovered 1 bloom and another "pendicule"(idk spelling). The blooms are on this variety are super small and there doesn't seem to be much to them, but they are super fragrant and I am now hooked. I moved it inside to my night stand last night so the fragrance could be enjoyed all night. My wife asked why I slept next to the plant last night lol. HD has another variety for $14.99 but they had several left and this was the last one of this type, so I will be back to save the others.

Now for the questions lol.

How long is the blooming season?

Any reason not to make a mixed pot of Hoyas?

I have H.Lacunosa, H.Lacunosa x H.Obscura, H.Rubra, H.Carnosa Compacta, and H.Carnosa Variegata... What are some other must haves?

Does anyone have a bloom picture or can describe H.Lacunosa x H.Obscura scent?

Do these plants like any direct light? so far I have keep them on my front porch bright indirect light

Thanks for reading and sharing any info.

Comments (17)

  • 16 years ago

    Hi Peanut,
    Isn't lacunosa heavenly? It's my favorite so far and the very one that got me hooked on hoyas as well.
    Blooming season can be pretty much all year round if your lacunosa is happy. Mine started blooming last fall and hasn't stopped yet. Bright indirect light is great for them, but some say they can do with less light.
    As to mixing a pot of hoyas, as long as they don't compete with each other and have similar requirements, I don't see why not. But some one else more experienced might want to answer this one.
    Hope this helps some.
    Sande

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks Sande. I was just about to see what Lowe's had to offer on my dinner break. Then we had some freak electrical storms here so I decided to stay here. Doh my Plumeria cuttings are getting rained on!!!! I hope I have as long of a blooming season as you. I would never have to buy a candle again if I can keep some Hoya in bloom. Sande, do you have any others or favorites?

  • 16 years ago

    Peanut, what part of Va are you in? We had hail here this afternoon.
    After lacunosa, I'm pretty much at a loss to pick another favorite. Mainly because I haven't had but 3 hoyas in the past 2 yers. I'm making up for lost time, tho. Beautiful leaves, if it blooms, and performance in general will sift the favorites from the runner-ups. But that's to come. I did a lot of internet research so I had a good idea what was going to occupy space and those I'd be most likely to be happy with. Have fun collecting!
    Sande

  • 16 years ago

    Peanut,

    Lacunosa is one that, once it starts to bloom, you will likely see at least a few on it pretty much constantly. It may rest now and then, but not for long. It's a faithful bloomer, that's for sure...

    As for others to look for, I've been collecting them for over 30 years and have around 85 species and even now, H. pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' is a favorite. Mine is one of the very silvery-flecked ones, and I prefer to call it 'Splash' instead of 'Pink Silver', although the two cultivars are really the same, just different clones...

    H. fungii is another great one - beautiful leaves and an easy bloomer. Both are pretty common.

    Now, what's this about a lacunosa/obscura cross?? I've never heard of such a thing. Where did you get it? Can you post a photo??

    Denise in Omaha

  • 16 years ago

    I am in Fredericksburg which is central VA. There might of been hail out there but I made a mad dash to the building from my car. I need to build a greenhouse because moving my Plumeria seems to be necessary daily while I am trying to get it to root. No wonder why I have black rot. lol I saw a picture of a Hoya with a green and purple bloom on this forum and I think I will now be on a mission to find out what type it is and where to get it.

  • 16 years ago

    Hi Peanut,

    Lacunosa is great, although it doesn't like conditions here in London....

    The hoya with the green and purple bloom is Hoya cinnamomifolia, I believe.

  • 16 years ago

    In answer to which are my favorites? The ones that are blooming!

  • 16 years ago

    hills - Thanks for the id - I ran into a great picture of one in the June blooms post - I have to get that one :-P

    laura1 - maybe in FL it is possible to always have one blooming :-?

    Thanks for the info so far everyone :-P

  • 16 years ago

    Denise, you asked
    "Now, what's this about a lacunosa/obscura cross?? I've never heard of such a thing. Where did you get it? Can you post a photo??"

    I was curious also, so I did a search on the net and came up with the hoya that is suppose to be a cross between H. Obscura and H.Lacunosa ssp. Paddiflora and its called Hoya cv. Sunrise. The vendor in HI, carries it?

    Flowers looks a lot like Lacunosa, but supposedly the leaves resembles both.

  • 16 years ago

    Denise and Nancy, as for Lacunosa x obscura, there's a greenhouse in CA that sells this variety...if it is what they say...here's the link.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Hoya Lacunosa x obscura

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks for the link Saltarello...Since I have both Lacunosa and Obscura, I will probably just pass on this one. To me its looks a lot like Obscura. But appreciate the link with the great picture for reference.

  • 16 years ago

    i grow hoyas in Thai and Laos (my mother house)
    she blooming around year
    i fall in love with hoya lacunosa sweet heart
    see in my link

    Here is a link that might be useful: my world

  • 16 years ago

    Hi Sandra, welcome to the forum...What a COLLECTION you have!! It is unbelievable...never seen anything like it before. You have enough hoyas to open up your own business,lol! There are several I've never even heard or seen before! Thanks so much for your "gorgeous" Pictures, I have really enjoyed looking at them. You definitely live in the right country to grow them and it shows!

  • 16 years ago

    Hi Sandra,
    What a collection you have there. FYI, albomargenata means "white edged" ;) You have your three mixed with the variegated counterpart. The other's i couldn't tell you if they are correct though.

  • 16 years ago

    Beautiful Hoyas Sandra, I really enjoyed looking at your photos. Welcome to the forum. :)

    Mike

  • 16 years ago

    Welcome Sandra to the forum.
    You have amazing hoyas and the photos are also nice.

    Cindy

  • 16 years ago

    Sandra,
    Awesome hoya photographs. What a great resourse for us "hoya addicts". (:o)
    Mike

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