H. mindorensis Care

15 years ago

Hello everyone! It's very exciting to see the beautiful blooms abounding, and I have been lucky enough to get a couple of them myself. I have been searching for a solution to my slow growing mindorensis, but have so far turned up empty handed. So I thought I'd pose the question to the group.

I purchased a cutting of mindorensis in Aug or Sept 2010. It had two nodes and as many leaves. The cutting was very stiff (or woody) and I was a little concerned this was a bad sign. In the almost year that I have had it it has only produced one new leaf. I started the cutting directly in soil in a 2.5" pot and about two months ago I checked on the roots. There were perhaps half a dozen little rootlings and they looked healthy so I re-potted back into the same pot. While the cutting is still looking healthy, no dropped leaves and still green, it just isn't doing much. It receives bright indirect east light all morning. Is there anything else I can do that could possibly jump start this cutting? The other cuttings I received at the same time have gotten the same treatment and are growing like crazy, so I tell myself it is the plant and not me. Any ideas?

Mel

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Comments (8)

greedygh0st
15 years ago
I just posted my three mindorensis (2 real, 1 aff) in a different thread and I can tell you that the IML 0768 has been a slower grower for me. It tends out to put out new vines pretty regularly, but if the conditions aren't perfect, it aborts them. I can only imagine how it will be if it ever produces buds lol!

The other two have been well disposed to put out new growth with no fuss, even though I haven't had either for that long.

I guess what I'm saying is I think it's the plant and not you, too, and that it will get moving when it's settled in. It certainly seems to take some longer than others. And maybe you just have a slow mindorensis!

I tend to just wait patiently, and I have had a 100% success rate with this policy, so far. But lately I've been thinking: If I put this Hoya on a balcony in Spain, would it jump to action, and am I just wasting my time doing NOTHING to push it?

So in that spirit, I don't see why you shouldn't try some new stuff. Are you keeping it evenly moist? It seems like they dig this. Is it warm or is your AC cranked up? Could you increase the humidity around it w/a pebble tray? It obviously doesn't NEED any of that, but maybe a little extra snuggle would get it moving.
mel_10
Original Author
15 years ago
GG - Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm glad it is not something that I am doing wrong. I do have a pebble tray with the cuttings to increase the humidity around the cutting. The house is kept warm, as I detest being cold!! Been a wet chilly spring (STILL!! Come on sunshine!) so no AC. Perhaps I will water it more frequently. I was letting it dry out a bit as I do with the other ones. Guess I will just need to hold on to my patience a little longer. I'm not sure which version of mindorensis I have as it was only labeled that. Just my luck that I end up with the slow one :(

Mel
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dmichael619
15 years ago
I have several clones of H. mindorensis and they all seem to grow pretty fast for me. I have found though with those old woody cuttings that sometimes they will just sit and do nothing. My hoya bordenii is like that, it came as an OLD hard woody stem and even though it rooted quickly it's never really grown well and it's now at least 7 years old. I was just thinking the other day that I need to cut it up and make a new pot.

david
Denise
15 years ago
Mel,

When it warms up enough that the nights are staying above 50, I'd put it outside in a shady spot. I've found that stubborn non-growers will respond well to a summer outside in a shady spot. I have a few of those on my north porch, in close to the house so they don't get any real sun and most are already showing some signs of new growth. Something about the fresh air, heat and humidity...

Denise in Omaha
theplanthoarder
15 years ago
I agree with Denise, put it outside. When I put my hoyas outside, even the most stubborn ones show some new growth and even blooms. You could also put it in a rooting aquarium and it will start growing again.
mel_10
Original Author
15 years ago
Denise, I have thought about putting it outside, however I live on a hill with very little around for shade. Even worse, the wind is very strong. I have tried hanging plants out before and they rarely stay up for even one day. I will try to see if I can find a safe spot for it, but I don't want to chance damaging it.

Planthoarder, I would love to put it in a rooting aquarium, unfortunately I do not have one. I have considered placing it in a ziplock baggie to increase the humidity around it. The room it is in stays well into the 70's during the day, but perhaps a little extra warmth would do the trick.

Thanks for the advice! Mel
geosdee
15 years ago
You might want to 'scrap' the end a little. I have found that when a plant is going no where by scraping the ending for some new green does wonders, kinda like exposing a new growing area on the plant.

Dee
Denise
15 years ago
Mel,

We get a lot of wind, too, which is why I put my Hoyas on the porch, right up against the house. No hanging - the worst that could possibly happen is for them to just blow over on their side, and if they're already on the porch floor, there's no falling involved.

The baggie might do the trick. I'd try it if you don't want to put it outside.

Denise in Omaha