Small leaves; great for beginners:

diptera

cv. Mathilde

sp. DS-70

wayetii

kentiana

anulata

lacunosa (can be a wee bit finicky)

sigillatis

myrmecopa

carmelae (just don't over-water)

nummularioides

bilobata

cv. Minibelle

collina/sp. IR-26 (aff. collina)

loheri

cummingiana (not a hamging type, but small leaves and compact growth)

densifolia (not a hanging type, but small leaves and compact growth)

golamcoiana (not a hanging type, but small leaves and compact growth)

Oh goody!! Thank you for such an extensive list ... Google here I come ;-)

You are very welcome!

Dont forget the variegated heuschkliana...(however it is spelled) I love that one!

Oh that one is adorable tlbean! How difficult is it to grow?

I am also in love with Mathilde, DS-70, carmelae, nummulariodes and collina/sp. IR-26 (wow that unusual foliage!)

Its easy to grow but VERY expensive and kind of rare in the states. I have not gotten flowers yet as i have not had it that long. They(exotic angel) are currently selling DS-70(which i think has a different name now) in stores now. Its very easy to grow. I recommend it. Also nummulariodes is easy to care for and kind of slow growing with great smelling flowers. That one blooms easy too!

Yes, I noticed that whilst looking online! I'd be afraid to spend that much for a cutting in case I screw up and kill it. I do see Exotic Angel brand at my local big box store so thanks for the heads up - I'll keep my eyes peeled! I have seen a variegated carnosa on occasion under that brand

Yes, they also sell that variegated carnosa. You may also be able to find a lacunosa being sold now.

Personally, I like retusa and curtisii, but I was fortunate enough to find them as established plants. They're supposedly both difficult to flower (neither have flowered for me yet). Not too hard to grow for my setup (either at a window space or under 2 two-foot t5 lights with a standard cool-mist humidifier in the room).

I will say, Curtisii apparently has a specific way it likes to be watered. I got mine in a peat/perlite media that I water once every week and a half. Too much water will rot it, and too little, it'll drop leaves quickly. And retusa prefers higher humidity (I have hunidity as low as 45%). But i don't seem to have any issues with either myself, and I'm far from an experienced grower.

curtisii is charm itself and one of the first ones that came to mind ... but I was afraid it might be more particular. Unfortunately, needier plants tend to have short shelf lives in my house. That's why I'm so impressed with carnosa - it looks like it would be this delicate tropical vine dropping leaves at a wrong glance especially in a dry Midwestern home in the winter, but it has really surprised me!

Thanks for sharing your growing experience Cristian Sin!

I have the variegated heuschkliana and it's growing well but I don't have the normal version so I don't know if they are different to grow. It's funny hearing that it's rare and expensive overseas because It is the most common variety I come across here. Every batch of hoyas they get in the nurseries near always seems to have a couple of them.

My serpens and paucifolia are both adorable smaller leaved hoyas and are thriving for me here but I think that's just luck and climate.....

I'd recommend pauciflora too actually. Easy to grow, likes to dry out in between waterings (can tolerate it is more likely), probably not as difficult as people make, say, Curtisii seem. Grows well in my room, adapted very quickly. May need cooler temps to bloom, but the foliage is just adorable!

Cutisii is also being sold right now by exotic angel. They have 2 or 3 8-inch pots of it at a Lowe's nearby my area.

I spent so much time looking at pictures and blogs of Hoyas yesterday that I literally dreamt about them last night. It was awesome.

Kinco, great to hear from someone in a similar region. Davidcummingii has the cutest cheerful flowers! Sounds like a very rewarding plant; thanks for the recommendation.

triffidmoss, serpens makes little cartoon hearts appear in my eyes but I'm not sure if it's tough enough to withstand me, ha! That is why 'Mathilde' appeals to me because I'm hoping it has some of the tolerance of carnosa with the aw-factor of serpens.

Well, I might be willing to try my hand at curtisii if I can find it locally at a good price! I'll definitely be haunting Lowe's this weekend.

Thanks everyone for your input!

A few of my little ones include kanyakumariana, inconspicua and krohniana. Nice, compact growers.

Denise in Omaha

I don't even know if you can get Mathilde in Aus, to be honest :( I'd love to try it one day.

Ooooh, I love that krohniana, especially 'Eskimo' and SRQ said it is good for beginners! Thanks so much Denise.

What about on ebay, triffidmoss?

I have krohniana 'Eskimo,' and even in my dry climate, it is doing well. Growing slow, but is growing, and such an attractive little plant! The color entrances me. Mathilde died on me within a couple of weeks, but could have been my climate.

None that can post to my state, greenhearted.

That's unfortunate triffidmoss.

Randi, appreciate you sharing your experience with 'Eskimo' and 'Mathilde'!

I went to two different Lowe's this weekend and only found the variegated carnosa that I have seen previously. I went epiphytica.com and wowowowow! So many! Not practical for me to order from but I sure enjoyed seeing the many different hoyas they have on offer.