Very interesting---keep us posted! Are those pubicalyx? Can't tell from here....

They are Sigillatis. What are the white stone looking things in the bottom right corner?

Looks like it will dry out very quickly!

Growstones. They keep their moisture quite well.

I guess that's why you headed it "H. sigillatis media experiment"....sigh....I'm an idiot....anyhow, still very interesting....

Yes, sigillatis.

Yes, growstone.

Yes, it holds moisture, and wicks it to some degree.

You guys don't need me for this. :-)

How's the experiment going, Eugene?

I just checked today when watering. They are all doing reasonably well. A few leaves dried off here and there, but nothing major. I was horrified to see the plant in sphagnum sitting in a completely bone-dry moss. The plant looked good though. They all got red outlines around the leaves, because the light is pretty strong where they are rooting.

The bottom middle plant in the photo - I swapped that medium later that day, by the way. The original medium (Promix) just seemed too water-retentive to me. I changed it to a much smaller percentage peat, much coarser perlite, and with treefern fiber mixed in.

I agree peat just holds too much water. I've noticed recently any Hoyas I've purchased at Lowes or my local nursery seem to be planted in pure peat with maybe a few tiny perlite pieces. I guess it's the cheapest media for commercial growers?? Now I understand why a lot of them die from root rot! Not because I overwater, but by the time I buy them they've been watered so many times pythium is already developing. :-(

UPDATE TIME!

The plants are all doing well, although not growing much (yet). They are under a pretty strong light (2 T5 bulbs), and I grow them pretty dry - not intentionally, just because of the configuration of the growing space, small pots, coarse medium (in most cases) and my rather laissez-faire approach to watering. :-)

Posting this because - look at the color of those leaves! (Compare to the pics above.) This is the biggest reason why I love H. sigillatis - I wanted to get that brick red color to the leaves.

I love those leaves!I guess I'm still new I've never seen those before!

greentoe,

Several years ago I went in on a group order from David Liddle's nursery in Australia and if I am remembering correctly he had a picture of H. sigillatis in situ that was growing in a VERY dry area. I think he was surprised to find the plant growing in such dry conditions.

Unfortunately, David Liddle died from a heart attack (I believe) probably 5 years ago and his wife and son did not want to keep the nursery open so the nursery closed. Any Hoyas that have an associated IML number were Hoyas from David Liddle's nursery.

You may already know about the plant growing in very dry conditions, but if not, I wanted to let you know. I have a H. sigillatis and I let my plant go pretty dry between watering with no ill effects, so far.

I agree. Sigillatis seems to be fine, if you neglect to water for a bit. I let mine go for 10-14 days between waterings.

I do not remember seeing that in situ picture you are referring to, Greenthumb, but many people have mentioned growing sigillatis dry successfully, so that did not surprise me.

Thank you both for your replies.