Hm...I know you are all scintillated with my tale, but I think I've figured out what is going on. The medium (not mine, came with the plant) is some sort of really fine bark and it appears to have some sort of fungus. Gah. What to do?!

Sorry I don't know these varieties of Hoyas, but on that 1st pic, before the problem. That bottom-most beige/tan stuff doesn't look like roots to me, rather like long sphagnum to me (orchid medium).

Denise, are you out there? Confirm or clarify pls if you're able.

I'd repot Tawny, if they were mine, I would believe that 1st pic's mix is in trouble for having long sphag at the bottom of the pot encouraging rot.

Cinnamon (like used in baking) is a known anti-fungal (used by orchid growers from whom I learned this trick).

Pls. get some cinnamon. When you've got some other mix to use, take the plants out, sprinkle roots w/ cinnamon, give a good shake to remove the excess & repot. If you're unpotting any to check & put back, I'd sprinkle them w/ it too.

I keep my cinnamon in a salt shaker, makes using it much easier.

Hope this suggestion helps.

PS: I don't water after applying the cinnamon, at least for a day or 2 more.

Thank you SO much! It's totally sphagnum...I don't use it so I was having a hard time placing that "spongey" texture. I have repotted most everything and will try the cinnamon too. Thanks again!

Colloidal silver is a great thing in controlling root fungus....or adding hydrogen peroxide to the water and then soak. I grow in sphagnum peat and perlite and have never had this issue but it is certainly possible.

I've heard using Cinnamon on stems are ok but on the roots are no no. I agree with Joni, add hydrogen peroxide soak well help. I can't grow in sphagnum due to humidity and heavy rain here.

Sphagnum can work really well for rooting, but I never leave it one once rooted because it can cause issues with the roots. That's why I've pretty much gone to rooting in chunky perlite - sometimes it's hard to get all the sphagnum off the new, tender roots without damaging them. With perlite, you can just shake off the excess and what sticks can go right in the pot.

It's another good reason to repot new plants into your own soil - you never know what someone else is using and how it will work with your watering habits.

Denise in Omaha

Thanks, ladies! I did do a H2o2 soak yesterday and will try the colloidal silver since I just received some in the mail. *wink*

@Denise, I used to let my new plants sit for a while to acclimate, but I think you're right and I need to check each new plant's root system/substrate immediately. Not like I ever need to buy another Hoya ever again. Lol

I have saved the mother plant after taking cuttings on quite a few hoyas with a h2o2 dunk of the root-ball after washing off most of the soil of whats left of the roots.I use 1 part 3% h2o2 and 2 parts water and submerge the root ball and stem in the solution for 20 to 30 min.You will see little bubbles coming off the roots.This amount of time will kill the pythium rot while keeping most of the viable roots alive.After the dunk,wash off the roots off under tap water and re-pot in new medium.I sprinkle Great White on the roots to aid in the recovery and water it in with some molasses or humic acid.Works good,but I only us this method in worst cases ,when the plant is almost a goner or there is not enough of the plant to get a good cutting.

Oh man, is this what I saw, pythium? That's a death sentence in cannabis culture.

Cool, thanks Jimmy. I've seen Great White but never used it. I used to make compost tea and add mycorrhizae to my soil when I was growing other stuff, so it makes sense. Everything is looking tremendously better since I repotted so doesn't look like I'll lose anything. Thanks again everybody for your assistance!