Bella likes cooler, damper (not soaking wet...just don't let it dry out completely), lower light conditions.

Deferring to Kim for validation on this, as I murder bellas by the bushel.

That is so pretty! I ordered a bella (all green) and I was hoping I would get something nice and full like that but instead it was one long, lonesome stem. Is that the one they call Luis Bois? Good luck with it.

Lovely new baby!

Aurorawa is right on the conditions these like. I give mine showers at least once a week. Bella loves to be misted, all the time.

Mine also really enjoys a good foliar feeding with a kelp based fertilizer at 1/4 strength, but needs a phosphorous boost to bloom well. For recovery purposes, give it a nice misting with a foliar feed (I use tappin roots right now, has some willow extract too).

It doesnt look too dehyrdrated to me, maybe the picture is deceptive though? I usually give mine a couple hours in the humid shower to drip dry and suck up more humidity before putting it back in its window.

Sheltered Eastern light is best for this one... it HATES heat and direct light. Summer time is a struggle over here for me but I get by.

The misting is non negotiable with this one... most of my other Hoyas do not care if I skip it, but it is like rolling out a red carpet for spider mites with bella.

Also... Aurorawa, I have been thinking and I am wondering if my family managed to get a particularly resilient clone. If you ever want to give bella another shot, let me know.

Gvargo883, kind of like this one? Lol! This is probably the ugliest hoya I have, but it's mature and blooms for me so oh well! I hate when they're just one long stem

Kim, thank you! For all that information. I could tell from just looking at bella that it needs different care. The one pictured above is well established and as I mentioned ugly as hell so I won't mind too much if I lose it, but I'd really like to keep this vari one alive and well until and after maturity!

Also, Gvargo, Begonia9868 is the eBay seller who has this variegated variety of bella. If you're in the market for a few cuttings I'm sure she'd be happy to sell you some!

You may want to consider cutting and rerooting your other one. They root easily and it will be in bloom again before you know it. This is mine, about 3 years old from a fistful of cuttings off my mom's plant. I am thinking about hacking her back and rooting the cuttings back at the top to fill her out more, but need to figure out better accomadations for her first. She is too close to that window, ideally I want her 2-3 feet back but that window is in my pantry. East windows are scarce in this house, and I want her in the kitchen where I won't forget to water her... that and my mom always kept hers in the kitchen, just feels like a kitchen plant to me. :)

Hello Kim I'm a newbie around here and l have a hard time finding good Hoya's and I would LOVE to buy some cuttings if you cut your Bella. Do you root them or just send cuttings?

Sure, though I probably won't be cutting her until the weather cools a touch. This one is easy to root, how about you message me on here?

Kim, I'm so envious! What a gorgeous Bella. Sadly, I threw mine out because she was a mite magnet.

Thank you! And yeah, they can be bad for mites. Anyother plant and I may have pitched it too, but bella is our little family heirloom plant and all that. So, showers, misting, etc. She really is a pain in the butt compared to most of my other Hoyas. :)

You guys are making me nervous with this mite magnet talk... I should be looking for small webs and the mites are visible to the naked eye correct? I'm noticing that any cat hair that's floating around gets stuck to it so I've had about 7 heart attacks thinking cat hair is web lol!

Off topic, does any one know how to reach ric (Ricinfl)? I'd like to get ahold of him, but he has no current eBay auctions to message through.

I believe Ric is in Italy right now. Not sure when he'll be crack.

Oh okay! I thought he might be away.

Ahhhh, I was wondering where he was. Not that I obsessively stalk my favorite ebay sellers stores or anything...

I missed an auction on a Kunming Kina (white dragon I think it's also called? Correct me if I'm wrong) by 10 minutes and word is he has one or cuttings. I must have this hoya lol

Kunming Kina is also called H. revolubilis.

White dragon is entirely different, and has been renamed to Hoya celata. Both are high on my must have list.

Ohhh, thank you so much for clarifying! I'm wondering what the difference in blooms are on each. I see pictures of celata advertised as both!

Thanks guys for the info. Yes, kinco, my poor bella is something only her mother could love. lol. I will try to buy one of the variegated ones once I make sure I can keep the green one alive, I've heard they're tricky and I've killed all the Hoyas I can afford to this year. :-0

Also, I'm the one who bought the Kunming Kina a few days ago. I'd gladly send you a cutting when I get it recuperated from its travels. She just mailed it today. It's in a 6" pot so I'm sure there'll be some I can cut off. Maybe we could do a trade.

gloria

Gvargo, I would be interested in trading for a little cutting of that one at some point myself. :)

Gloria I would be delighted if we could do a little trade! PM me or post to this thread when you can take a snippet.

Received several cuttings of this Hoya in the mail today! The variegated leaves are so beautiful in the water.

P.s. is it okay to soak these guys? I was told these cuttings would be hard to root because theyre so thin... Well here goes!

Soaking is fine. And I really do not think bella is hard to root. I more often than not root mine in water before sticking them into soil but it isn't necessary. I just have a tiny bit better sucess doing it that way. As for water roots not being strong.... I get that, I do. But my grandmother, mother, aunties, and myself have been water rooting this one so long it is hard to quit. :)

Lovely looking cuttings, good luck and happy growing!

Ooh, I love the variegated variety! I wonder if it's less of a mite magnet than the green?

Not sure.... I doubt it though. Variegated forms tend to be less hardy than the solid green forms. Poor bella. I think this is just one species that requires a bit of extra vigilance and a dash of luck.

I wonder if there are Hoya varieties that are not susceptible to insects (pests)?

I think most of them are not too susceptible. When I do see mites or mealies, they are generally on just a few choice plants, and the rest are fine.

Maybe I have been luck so far, but of my 50 to 60 Hoya types (havent counted in awhile), only a few have ever had pest issues. Bella and the bloody mites has been the worse. I have also spotted mealy bugs, once on obscura and once on heuschkeliana. With the exception of one stupid Aeonium and a Coleus I brought home with a major infestation I have yet to have serious issues with mealies. Those two plants got pitched (had been quarantined, fortunately). As for my Hoya, the mealy bugs have been pretty easy to conquer. Helps I inspect my plants on a regular, so I have yet to see more than a few at any one time. Then its alcohol, q-tips, a couple doses of Safer insecticidal spray, and its a done deal.

Spider mites however, are the absolute bane of my existence and I avoid plants that are prone to them. One mite magnet is plenty for me. I do think I have the little monsters squelched but I continue to treat all the same.