Beth, you should notify/ take picture and let whoever you bought it from know. That plant shouldn't look like that if you only bought it a week ago. I don't have that particular plant so, maybe someone with experience stop by and can give you advise.

A hoya I have absolutely NO experience with! Wow! Um, anyone else have advice? Is this like linearis? I have that one (prefers cool, dry conditions).

Thanks both - I've notified the seller, but haven't heard back yet.

It's looks a bit similar to a linearis, but I'm not sure how the leaves compare as I've never had a linearis. I've read the retusa's also known as a grass leafed hoya - smells like dried grass as well!

Could it be suffering from frost damage? I had some Hoya plants get lost in shipping and spent 2 plus weeks in a box in the heat of summer. Looked bad when I received them, but recovered in just a few days, I did loose a few leaves.

Did it look like that right out of the box?

Pretty much looked like that out the box, although I've trimmed off the trailing dead leaves. Haven't got a good picture unfortunately; reminds me to document more!

Could be frost - the other plants are all arrived very healthy though, and shipping was only 2 days (with about -4° to 4° weather).

Do you mind saying who you brought it from?

I ask only because she said she received it like that and the other plants were fine. I might want to avoid that seller in the future. Although i guess we really dont know what happened. Revealing a sellers name doesn't mean their reputation is gonna be damaged. You said people have mentioned you and i dont think you suffered any damage. Someone posted about iyares recently. I might want to avoid them in the future.

Also, if a plant is unhealthy it could be due to the buyer even though they are asking for a refund.

lol its not like the seller is gonna come to our town and retaliate somehow. I doubt the majority of sellers are even on this forum.

(Also, if a plant is unhealthy it could be due to the buyer even though they are asking for a refund)

Im not talking about you Beth. lol I just mean in general. Sometimes a buyer will ask for a refund weeks to months after getting a plant.

And please dont feel any pressure to answer a question i have if you dont want. Simply dont respond. We are all adults here and i dont take it personally.

Some people are very open about having bad experiences and sharing the people who were involved in that. Some people dont want to say share all the facts. Either way its ok.

Thing is, if ONE plant is dead, out of several, there is no need to avoid that seller. That's exactly what I mean by ruining a seller's rep.

The heath, or lackthereof, of a plant is best left between a buyer and seller, not aired out in public. As is handling the return/refund transaction.

It is different if I VOLUNTEER that I was the seller or if a buyer VOLUNTEERS my name, after I have asked for confirmation that it was one of my plants. No one has volunteered my name without my asking! It is also different when the buyer says they bought the plant from so and so and wants to know if others experienced an issue or if others know how to help.

It is also different when you mention a seller already known to have a less than good reputation.

I know it is hard for you to understand, as you have not sold as much as I have, but just ask yourself how you would feel if you did your best to ensure a plant you sold arrived in perfect health, but the PO delivered late, and the buyer blasted you via a forum, possibly even before contacting you to discuss their issue? Not only is your name out there as a potential bad seller, but you also lose business because people form friendships on forums, and sometimes it just takes one person to ruin you.

That being said, if you REALLY must know, a private message is the best way to find out. That way, only YOU are persuaded to avoid a seller based on a single isdue vs. an entire forum.

Although i have not sold as much as you, this is becoming too critical. I know there is no reason to avoid a seller because of one dead plant. I also know that nobody is gonna get a bad reputation just because someone on a forum said something. People are welcome to their opinions and they share them weather negative or not.

People will leave bad feedback on review boards and ebay in a hot second. That is how some humans are.

(The helath, or lackthereof, of a plant is best left between a buyer and seller, not aired out in public. As is handling the return/refund transaction.)

That is absolutely true. I was just discussing this with another seller who has seen their plants being talked about on different forums and yet the buyer never discussed any issues with them. I also know of people on this very forum who buy plants constantly from the same seller and then later try to get their money back when nothing was wrong with the plant. Just so they can get a free plant. They may also say negative things about said seller without mentioning who the seller was.

I have been on this forum for a few years and i have not seen anyone have their reputation completely destroyed. I have also seen negative feedback about gardinos, cowboyflowerman, yellowgreen2u and etc. Those people are still in business.

Although i NEVER mention any negative things about sellers or plants that i have got from other people, I am always curious to find out more information when i hear negative things being said. Thats just how i am. Doesnt mean that i will never buy from iyares or whoever....

I will leave it at this:

You said: "I ask only because she said she received it like that and the other plants were fine. I might want to avoid that seller in the future." I'd hate to find out a potential buyer avoided me because they found out a single plant I shipped was damaged/DOA, possibly due to circumstances beyond my control.

That is many other peoples' reaction to someone receiving a dead plant. To avoid the seller in the future. You made my point for me.

It is fine if you want to know, just ask in a private message.

Also, I do agree with you about certain buyers who want a quick refund because their plant has one leaf out of place. Or because they want a free plant.

Update - they got back to me and said it looks like it got frosted on the journey, so they'll refund or replace. Glad to know it's not my fault!

@tlbean2004, happy to send you the name via DM, but I'd feel uncomfortable posting it here. That being said, the rest of the plants were all in great condition and they've now replied with a good response, so maybe it makes them looks good. A debate for another day.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Yay! Glad it all worked out!

Just found this post after buying a neglected Hoya Retusa from a local flower shop. I will try the measures mentioned, thanks. Am new to Hoyas but oh so in love!

Also, I didn’t realize there was a plant trading group on here. How do I sign up for that?

old thread but I'm hoping someone can still help!

aurorawa, you say to keep the soil "evenly damp", but that goes against anything I've ever read about Hoyas (and most plants), which is to let dry between waterings.

Can someone who grows this weigh in? My retusa is hanging on by a thread :(

I'm losing my retusa as well. Hanging by a thread is a good way to put it. I'm wondering if they have different needs than other hoyas because their leaves are so small.