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randi_holbrook

'Jennifer'

9 years ago

I have always admired and wanted a finlaysonii, but research tells me it is difficult and requires a lot of humidity. It is very dry here. I came across a 'Jennifer' which I heard is a cross between finlaysonii and incrassata. The leaves are almost as attractive as the finlaysonii. Do I dare try it? Are they easier to grow than a finlaysonii because they are a hybrid? I grow my hoyas indoors, and use pebble trays, mist, and group plants together. Anyone successfully grow them in a dry climate? Thanks!

Comments (16)

  • 9 years ago

    I find neither of them difficult to grow. I have a fin in the house year round, and my Jennifer also grows in the house year round. The only time I mist them is when I take them down to water them, so once a week or so. They seem to grow perfectly fine in the same conditions as all of my other Hoyas.

    Denise in Omaha

    Randi Holbrook thanked Denise
  • 9 years ago

    Denise& Randi,

    Are all your hoyas kept under normal house conditions? If so, which bloom best for you? I am in Southern California, in Santa Monica so I have a bit milder climate than Randi. Some bloom well; serpens,australis, obovata, carnosa, sometimes lacunosa,pubicalyx,Mathilde,fungi,javanica,Ban Ngon Ngoy some, like buotti grows well but no sign of flowers.

    Thanks for all input for Hoyas under basic home conditions with humidity trays and misting in winter .

    Randi Holbrook thanked partycat
  • 9 years ago

    I went ahead and ordered it before I got any responses, and now I'm glad I did! I love the veining on these plants! I'm glad to hear I might do alright with it.

    Partycat, I used to live in the Rancho Cucamonga area, and sometimes I wish I still did because so many plants can be grown outside year round! Here, it's way too dry and hot in summer, and just shrivels them up, and it also gets too cold in winter. I do grow all my house plants indoors, including hoyas. I've only been into hoyas for a couple of years, and have only had one carnosa bloom for me. Sounds like you're having great luck with blooms! Most of mine are still young, so I'll have to wait a little longer. I love pubicalyx and fungii. My Matlhilde died for some reason. I have a variegated kentiana too, which is so attractive, and I would recommend highly, and I also have obovata. Have not tried a lacunosa yet. I do try to mist at least once daily.

    Aurorawa, let us know how your experiment with your fins turns out!

  • 9 years ago

    Neither of those is difficult for me to grow either, so do not be discouraged to get finlaysonii clones. I grow a few different ones just fine. My air also gets very dry in the winter when heating is on, and they do ok.

  • 9 years ago

    I live in S. Calif., and have grown hoyas inside hanging in windows or on window ledges just fine. I have grown the finlaysonii cvs inside & out and find them easy to keep. The leaves don't like sun hitting them though. They will get burn marks.


    Randi Holbrook thanked mairzy_dotes
  • 9 years ago

    Yes, they are sensitive to the sun :)

    Randi Holbrook thanked aurorawa
  • 9 years ago

    Thank you for the information, especially southern california growers. Where I am it doesn't get below 40 degrees and only rarely that low. mairzy-dotes which hoyas do not do well for you? I know you are a seasoned grower. I am hoping to get some flowers out of buotii, erythina "bajo", estrella falls,Gunung Gading, etc. Some are still not 2 years old so I will be patient.

































  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My 'Jennifer' arrived today. 4" pot. Here it is. I'm very pleased.

  • 9 years ago

    She's a beauty. Did you by any chance order that from Gardino's? From the color and size of the pot and the white ID tab it looks as though you did. Good luck with it.

    gloria

    Randi Holbrook thanked gvargo883_mst
  • 9 years ago

    No, actually I got her from Cowboyflowerman on ebay! I've gotten many very nice plants from him over the years.

  • 9 years ago

    I do the best with hoyas that are not too cold sensitive since I don't have a greenhouse, and the plants brought in for winter seem to suffer then for lack of humidity. Much as I love the lacunosas, I have to really be careful with them. Outside, I lose them to the cold even though they are supposed to be cold growers. Inside....the only ones I manage to keep are hanging over the kitchen sink.

  • 9 years ago

    Well that is Jennifer. you got a nice one. Mine is huge and blooms all the time. But it is not my favorite hoya. The bloom umbel is about the size of a golfball, next to no scent, the blooms stay open maybe 3 days. I don't get into the 'genes or family', like you are doing, to get this variety. I grow what makes pretty flowers. I try to grow what I like, and if i fail after a few tries, I give up.

    It looks like you have her set on water, that should help, be sure to give it as much light as possible.

    Jennifer LOVES the heat/humidity here. She is huge and grows FAST.

    I just dont have the heart to toss her, the blooms do nothing for me, and it takes up so much room. It has maybe 5-8 foot long vines on it. I would feel terrible to toss a hoya that big. So I let her grow over and around statues/pots/other plants, and then blooms pop out here and there. And it is still in a 4in pot! Good luck!!

  • 9 years ago

    My first eBay order of Hoyas was with Cowboyflowerman. One plant arrived with scale and mites. Jody didn't believe me even after I sent him photos. All those plants died not too long after receiving them.

    The best Florida vendor (large scale grower) in my experience is Beastlyflower on eBay.

    If Cowboyflowerman has a Hoya I really want maybe I'll give him another chance.

  • 9 years ago

    FWIW I've ordered many times from cowboyflowerman and never had a problem....sounds like you were just unlucky on your first order, which is too bad....I'd definitely give him a second chance....

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks. I'll check out his listings.

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