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Hoyas
kim_wa

Hoya bella blasting buds

10 years ago

My H. bella is growing fabulously, and since last summer has about 5-9 peduncles on it at any given time. Trouble is, the second they get big enough to start looking like they are actually going to bloom, the plant blasts them away.


It's in a sheltered south window, I suspect part of the problem may be that it is too close to the glass, it's hanging from a standard curtain rod. Maybe pulling it back a bit, to protect from the cold glass? (I am in Eastern Washington). The second thing I suspect may be lacking is nutrient availability? I currently only use Tappin Roots as a plant feed and realize I should probably step it up.... my mom bloomed hers year round on only those icky miracle grow sticks. Anyways, the tappin roots is a kelp and willow based extract. Maybe I should try something else?

Other conditions.... I never let this one completely dry out, or it will get fussy and hemmoraghe leaves. I give the tappin roots as a foliar spray about once a week, and this is a 3 year old plant from cuttings. My family grows H. bella like many folks do H. carnosa, and I can't recall my mom every having much trouble save for keeping it misted to get it to bloom. Any thoughts or suggestions? I miss those gorgeous white and pink stars!!!

Featured Answer
  • 10 years ago

    Hi Kim,

    I'm sorry about your bella blasting buds. I can't offer any advice since I can't even root cuttings right, but I can imagine your frustration after getting SO close to flowers! Maybe it wants more nitrogen??

    Why is it that it's always someone's mom or grandma who doesn't do anything special and whose plants are always full of flowers???

    Comments (9)

    • 10 years ago

      I think it's probably just stupid.

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    • 10 years ago

      Just kidding! I missed you, Kim, that's my bratty little kindergarten side coming out. ;)

      And I can't get my Hoyas to bloom without blasting to save my life, so yeah, they're stupid.

    • 10 years ago

      I just laughed so hard at this. Some plants are just stupid, for reals!!

    • 10 years ago

      Tawny, I laughed. No worries. ;-) It is stupid. Seriously, my mom grew this under conditions that would make a proper horticulturist cringe. Plant grew like crazy for her, and always had blooms. Will keep at it, she says all she did extra was mist.... we will see. At least my H. javanica is about to bloom again for me, I have ONE hoya that isn't stupid.

    • 10 years ago

      I increased the dosage on my foliar feedings, and am misting every day. Currently, we have 6 adorable little bundles of disappointment. At least my African violets are blooming. That, and my awesome H. javanica looks like it will have some blooms on it again any day now. That javanica might be the easiest to bloom Hoya on the planet. At least, that I have grown.

    • 9 years ago

      Bumping this because my bella has started doing the same thing :( The buds get almost to full grown and start blasting. I'm thinking water more? water less?

    • 9 years ago

      Bella is a cool temp. growing hoya, so make sure it isn't exposed to high or dry heat. I never could get this one to be happy for me, but I have it's tiny leaved cousin (chinghungensis) growing and thriving, hanging under the skylight in my kids' bathroom.

      Bella (and chinghungensis) likes to be kept lightly damp, but not drippy/soggy. Growing semi-hydro seems to work well, but I make the reservoir shallower (1/2-3/4 inch for bella/chinghungensis vs. the standard 1-1 and 1/2 inch reservoir for other hoyas) because the roots seem more shallow and more sensitive to growing in the water. This is probably a defense mechanism due to them being cooler climate growers.

    • 9 years ago

      Ahh.. that could be it. She is thriving here because it's colder but we are having a bit of a heat wave at the moment, maybe that's upsetting her enough to start dropping buds.

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