Brad,

One of the reasons I don't put very many Hoyas outside is that sometimes, bringing them in will trigger leaf drop. It's a pretty radical change from outdoor conditions with lots of fresh air, warmth & humidity to inside where the air is dry and even if you have good air movement (I have ceiling fans in nearly every room), it's not fresh air like outside. But it will probably pop back after a few weeks...

Denise in Omaha

Hoya lacanosa can be very temperamental. I lost my large plant after repotting and the cuttings I took of it have been slow and kinda moody so I didn't think twice about buying a big Ruby Sue as a replacement when I saw it at Walmart a while back.
Are there any indication of problems on the leaves before they yellow and fall, do they look dehydrated or slightly wrinkled?
Check the SRQ page for Hoya temperature tolerances in case Hoya lacanose is a true warm grower. Many lowland tropicals can not take cool temperatures and 50 F is enough to outright kill some and others just suffer or become susceptible to disease. It went down below 50F here last night so I had to go out and find all the Hoyas and orchids that I knew would be unhappy, left the Stapeliads out so I hope they are OK. One thing warm/hot growing lowland tropicals hate is being cold and wet, that will cause major problems for many including rot of tissue/roots.

Mike

Thanks, Denise and Mike!

I don't see any problems before the yellowing and falling off. I was having the same trouble last year and it turned out to be mealies. I sprayed all my plants before I brought them in and lacunosa started turning yellow a few days before the plants came in. Tonight's supposed to be colder than last night and I just put lacunosa back outside (it's close to the house under that little porch where I had all my hoyas).

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Well, they're back again! I see mealies mostly toward the base of the plant. I also turned the pot over to check for the little "cotton" masses and destroyed the two on there. I didn't spray it yet but I will soon. Hopefully, it'll recover, but I don't know if I want a hoya that's a big mealybug magnet. It is very lush (lots and lots of new growth and buds) and rootbound as well.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Just dunk it in a bucket of soapy water, then spray it with alcohol. When that dries, spray it with a neem solution.

Carolyn

Thanks, Carolyn!

I don't have any neem solution. What else would work?

Brad AKA Moonwolf

I suggest you try & find some. Mealies can be a difficult & ongoing thing, best remedies should be tried.

I don't do Neem oil, but a serious systemic (bought through my local gardening society).

Mealies can really go through a Hoya collection. Some of us no longer grow Compacta (Rope Hoya) 'cause of all its Nooks & Crannies where Mealies can hide.

Several months ago (early Spring I guess) I bought 2 beautiful KQs (Superb Form was suggested here). They didn't show their mealies for almost 2 months, when they weren't thriving when they should have been. Fortunately, I'd still had them off to the side of my main Hoya collection.

It's now a month after I applied systemics: I'm surprised to still see a mealy or 2 (last time I used it 8 yrs. ago, the bugs vanished immediately). But now, the 2 plants are really looking good.

I'd suggest Neem or whatever other Hoya growers are suggesting, do what you can to get it, otherwise mealies can be just too much work. Good luck!

Just do the dunk, then alcohol. But go get some neem oil, and make the solution.

1.5 tsp neem oil
1 Tbsp alcohol
few drops of Ivory dish soap (not the ultra)
32 oz water

put in a spray bottle and shoot the little buggers!

Carolyn

PG, I was afraid of growing compacta for that very reason. In the short time (a few months) I've had my cuttings, knock on wood, that I haven't had a single mealybug on it.

Carolyn, thanks for the recipe! I'll see if I can get the ingredients soon!

Brad AKA Moonwolf

I would spray it with alcohol and then get some Bayers tree and shrub. I know it is expensive but mealies are so annoying and it seems to be a losing battle if you don't use Bayers. My hoya tanna island is a magnet for mealies. I have an exotic angel lacunsa that I never put outside and blooms continuously. It had mealies when I first got it but the Bayers got rid of them fortunately.

I wish I could use the BATS, but with all my parrots, it's not safe. (Just in case someone decides to get loose and take a bite from a leaf.) So, I use a pet friendly pesticide; NEEM.

Carolyn

Hi Brad,

It's nice to see you're still active here on the forum. . .

As you know this summer has been very hectic and busy. . . sad to say my attention wasn't on my hoyas as it should have been, and I discovered a [what I call] bad case of mealies. . on my RHP mostly, but a few on some other hoyas that are close by.

First I sprayed them with alcohol, but a few days later, I saw them again, so I bought Bayer rose and flower insect killer, sprayed it on and also watered it in. (2 TBSP/ 1 gallon water). Its been a few weeks and so far no sign of them. I keep the bottle handy just in case I spot one, I shoot it dead. . .

I agree with PG, don't wait, get them as soon as you spot them. . . otherwise you have a huge problem on your hands. . .

Good luck. . .

Maid~