Your post was way too big of a block for me to read completely, but I skimmed the meat of it and think I can answer your questions.

Yes, get into that old mix and loosen the rootball.

For Hoyas, I've had the best luck with bark-based 511 in large hanging containers with the built-in driptray. You won't be sorry.

Josh

Both of you, beautiful plants!!

Josh, nice coloring buddy

Ok. I apologize for the wordy post. I haven't learned enough to know what information is relevant, but I'm trying to get there! 511 mix and clean up the root ball. Got it. Thank you Josh. And, WOW... They are beautiful!! Is that color due to light exposure? The top of mine turns lime green in the summer but I was told it was being "burned" and that it would prefer lower light.

Hey, thanks, Mike!

Rennezoe, that initial color was from cold temperatures over the Winter, but the plant is Royal Hawaiian Purple so it has lovely colors from yellows to rich deep purple leaves. Overally, though, these plants do best in filtered sun conditions, otherwise they will develop burn spots.

Josh

Josh, I can't believe the colors of yours! I will pst mine here soon ok?

Rennezoe, all of mine are in tha same mix Josh uses, just about and they thrive, even with severe root work. Your plant will do great in low light levels but even better they will flower and grow colorful in high light, but no direct sun as Josh says depending on where you live.

Great job and yours is so large to boot. I am in love with Hoya plants!

Renne,

Pls, do not apologize, if I may, this isn't wordy it's a formatting problem. To the contrary, it's actually excellent in that you explained so much abt your growing conditions, setting, pots, mix, etc. Your post is the exception, not the rule where we usually have to ask for particular details to comment, advise, diagnose, etc. Your pix are excellent & your plants, well, so nice, healthy looking & so large!!!

I'd like to do something a bit different here, if Renne doesn't mind, cause this is actually a very well written post, but the formatting made it tough to read & absorb. I'm a former word processor, so I reformatted it just to be able to digest the info & see what the Qs were. Then I saw how well written it was & wish to share the reformatting, hoping you find it helpful.

Actually you did such a nice job explaining things, it flows so well on its own; all I did was to insert paragraph breaks.

I've been lurking and reading everything I can find on container gardening in this forum and I've learned so much!! I think I have a basic understanding of principles related to the gritty and 511 mix, watering/flushing and repotting vs potting up. I've ordered the necessary components for the potting mix and I'm excited to give it a try. I just have some logistical questions related to this specific hoya.

When I bought this house 3 years ago the 2 hoyas were part of the deal. They were in 4 inch pots with roots growing out the top and bottom of the pot. They were also covered in blue crystals from excess fertilizer. The plants are not growing in the hanging pots because I wasnt sure how much weight the rope could handle, so the pots are sitting on top of a shelf with the vines growing over the ropes. They obviously needed some TLC but I didn't know what, exactly at the time so I just pulled up the whole root ball and put it in an 8 inch pot and filled it with 1/2 orchid bark and 1/2 cactus mix and cut back everything that didn't look healthy, about 1/3 of the original plants. It's been doing well, lots of new growth and has been blooming since June.

Part of me thinks to leave well enough alone, but the rest knows that the sad, fertilizer caked root ball has likely never been repotted and I'd love to see this plant at its best! Whatever I do has to be done from a ladder and in a very cramped space.

So before I dig in I'd like some advice.

1. How aggressive should I be in loosening and trimming roots? I think I read somewhere that I should attempt to remove all the old soil in and around the root ball, is that accurate?

2. I have supplies for both the gritty and the 511 mix. I have read that the gritty mix is suitable for most houseplants and that makes sense. But... Watering requires a ladder and isn't exactly convenient so I don't want to set myself up for failure by creating a situation that calls for more time and effort than I can realistically offer. I understand the theory behind adjusting the ingredients for desired effect, but because I've never used either of the mixes I'm not sure what baseline watering requirements would be. Right now I water about one a week. In the winter only once every 3 weeks or so. Ha! Basically, after all my reading and attempts to understand... I just want someone to tell me exactly what to do!

And #3...If anyone has any helpful tips for dusting this guy I'd love to hear them. I've tried climbing the ladder with a backpack sprayer and made a fantastic mess but I'm not sure the leaves are any less dusty. I did find a nursery tag in the original pot dated 1985 so we're talking 80s dust... not feather duster dust

PS: Do you know not to cut off your Hoya's bare vines? That's important, they'll leaf out on their own timing, but we leave them on deliberately, see Josh's 1st pic.

Hey Josh, that Obovata in your 2nd pic is swoon-worthy, I may have to beg a piece ;>)

Karen, that was very kind of you! Good job.

Thank you Karen S. I have been told before... people need more white space or they won't bother! This is definitely not the most user friendly forum, it's a shame. Bur there's a wealth of information here so I'm doing my best to figure it out. I appreciate the assist!

Rennezoe, you are right. The forum has changed a lot but thank God we still have many good ole folks around here ready and willing to share and help like Josh and Karen and the such. I couldn't be more greatful for them.

Laurie, yes they can turn color, I have one and it does. Mines turns a different color though and still pretty, Darker tones and not so bright like Johs, but just as pretty. I will tell you that Josh get a great amount of sunlight there and longer than I. but he loves the colors on mines too as I do his.

Josh my ole friend, question???

At what point would you stop putting yours into a bigger pot? Or do you keep them in the same size cutting the roots and growth back? At some point they can almost get to big to hang!!!

Mike

Hey, all!

Mike, good question. I don't think I'd go much bigger than these hanging pots, just because they do get so heavy as a plant! Once they're in these large containers, I'd say just repot every couple years, thin the roots a bit, and replace with fresh barky potting mix. Mine is already so heavy with biomass that I need to support the greenhouse roof.

Rennezoe, if the Hawaiian Purple is indoors, more of the leaves will be dark green, burgundy, and purple. Sunlight and cold temps will tend to induce those lighter colored leaves.

Josh