@sunfleurpower Thanks for the Ids. You folks certainly know your Hoyas. I did not buy any. I am thinking of going back and getting one of the variegated ones.. Bu they are pricey.

Jojo: If I was near you I would have been interested in that 40 year old juniper. It is a sought after plant for bonsai and hard to find a mature one.

Tropico, go for it!! They can be very nice the older they get)

Jojo, thank you. Not ready to turn a year older, ugh. My mom says the older you get the more pain follows. Not looking forward to that. She says she has 'saloon arthritis'...Wished you take a pic of before and after of that tree you pulled out, ha. I'll bet a few Bonsai enthusiasts would of loved to take that tree off your hand. What will you put in place of it? What about your son? He better help. By the way, any frogs lately? lol

Bill, I use to know a lady that sold Hoya and boy do I miss her. She use to have all kinds for a reasonable price. Those days are gone. Use to be called SRQ Hoyas and she would cut her mature ones and sell and grow all the cuttings into reasonable sized plants and throw out the older mature ones. Crazy, right? She even use to sell the perfect sized white hanging pot. Ugh

If you are rooting a cutting, it can flower as quick as it is rooting depending on how mature the mother plant was. I have a couple of Hoya cuttings rooting as quick as within last fall when I rooted them. The Hawaiian Royal was only a cutting and flowered the following summer. I don't know why some Hoya takes years unless they are started from seed? Most cuttings from mature plants root quickly for me. VERY VERY fragrant))

I am not surprised they rooted that quickly. Sometimes what I do is stick a vine into the soil in another pot next to a nature plant, and it roots rather quickly..

Sufleur, of course I will. I'll take a pic soon. I have cut it back so many times and it's still big!! Thanks for the well wishes. How kind)))

Mike

Mike, brilliant idea of laying a vine in an adjacent pot. Thanks, I'm gonna try it!

Good morning!

Mike and Tropicofcancer, I don't think it would have made a very good bonsai. I cut out the lower portion of it years ago to shape as an umbrella. So it had some trunk and no branching.

Anyway.... the beast needs to go. I was so sore yesterday! I think I have a few pics of the project, not sure. I will be planting desert willows.

Mike, your mom is right about more aches as we get older.!!! LOL!!!!!

I'm in my 50's, and today I am feeling it. lol

My son hasn't been much help, but he also has a baby to chase.

SoCal, I hope it roots for you!

If Bella doesn't like to dry out, I may need to pass on that one for now. I'm the type of plant mom that forgets to water here and there. lol.. So far I've done ok. with my Thanksgiving cactus though.

I have been looking on Ebay and Etsy for plants.

Anyone have a seller or web site they would recommend for reasonable plants, and in the U.S.

I am not ready to deal with overseas. lol

Have a wonderful day all!

JoJo

Jojo, 50s? You're just a young tike! I will agree with one thing though, the aches and pains become exponentially more each year we age!

I'm digging holes in my yard because I want to mount a trellis. Besides being 29 degrees out and very windy, I can't get over how tired I am. I just told my wife I can't believe how weak I've gotten! At one point I represented Special Forces in marshal arts tournaments, now I'm lucky if I can put my shoes on! 🤣 I did manage to get one whole hole dug though! Maybe tomorrow I'll dig another. Ugh....

Bill.. Your sweet.. :-) Thank you..

I don't consider myself old, just feeling it right now.. lol.

The first summer rain and I'm out stomping in the mud puddles and looking for critters. LOL!!

I grew up a tom boy... diy'er , and stubborn about asking for help, so this body has been through more than what most women do.

It's crazy how a different activity can be so noticeable. I have a very fast paced physical job, but digging a hole I notice. lol!!!

29!!!! Yikes!!! may it's the cold slowing you down and not your age. lol.. I can't imagine working in that!!

We RARELY see that as a low, let alone day time temps!

Hopefully the rest of your digging goes smooth and I'll be wishing warmer temps for you!!! :-)

Mike, no frogs or toads yet! Wont see them for a few more weeks. I'm watching and waiting!! you know how I love our little critters!

Well.. I have some cactus and succulents to repot... so I better get to it.

I hope you all have a wonderful night!

JoJo

Jojo, I have to tell you, I've been called a lot of things in my time but sweet?! Nope, that was never one of them! 🤣

A Tom boy? Diy'r? All people should be like that. Especially today's snowflakes. I have neighbors who don't know what end of a hammer to use!

You go enjoy yourself Jojo, stay safe and stay well, keep growing your plants and keep participating in these discussions. We welcome your input.

Later....

Good Morning Everyone!!

Happy Easter!!

I hope everyone has a beautiful day!!

We colored eggs last night with my 2 yr. old grandson. He had so much fun! He decided it was easier to use his fingers, so the little guy will have colored hands for awhile. LOL!!

JoJo

Enjoy Easter with your grandson and family. They're so much fun at that age. Innocent and just enjoying life and all it has to offer. Give him one hug for each of us on here, then a hug for every plant you own, then a hug for every plant you want to own, then a hug....

Just hug 'em.

Enjoy....

@Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.),

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I hope you had a wonderful day!

I am sorry this is such a late post, Life has been crazy for me and I honestly didn't think about it being Sunday. I get up, rush off to work, and don't always think about what day of the week it is. lol

My turn to sing!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you !

Happy birthday dear Miiikkkkeeee....

Happy birthday to you!!

Hugs and much love dear friend!

JoJo

Jojo, God broke the mold when he made you)) You have always been one of the best people I have ever known. Glad we have been friends all these years. Thank you.

Bill, just these past few weeks getting to see who you are in the way you present yourself you are a genuinely good man with a good heart. Stay that way and it's been a pleasure getting to know you along With all our other friends here.

Too bad we couldn't have a cookout and and get together)

Mike

Mike , Thank you! :-)))) We have been friends for some time now... Maybe going on about 10 yrs! I find you one of the best people I know too.! Looking forward to many more years of friendship! I would love to be able to meet face to face some day! :-)

Well I pulled an extra shift yesterday.. Hello overtime!! Hello tired me!! ROFL! Thank goodness for online shopping! I'm too tired to go anywhere. lol..

Back to work for me today... I hope everyone has a great day!

Jojo

Oops - just saw this Mike. Thank you for the kind words. I try.

Now, as far as a cook out goes - maybe one person can bring the hoyas, another bring the hoyas, maybe someone else bring the hoyas (you see where this is going right?!)

We can always have a zoom meeting - that would be fun I'm sure. It's always a thought.

I keep looking at the weather and wondering when the nights will remain worm enough to bring everything outside - maybe in another week I hope. I am really getting anxious to start moving my plants into the higher light. I'm sure most of you are in the same boat too.

Stay well all....

Bill, It's been in the 90's here in Tucson, Az. all week. lol.. Don't hate ! lol...

But just two weeks ago, 70's and nights were still in the low 40's. It's been a crazy year so far!

JoJo

Jojo, I love AZ. I used to work in Goodyear, I had a missile facility just south of Luke AFB on Litchfield Blvd. Unfortunately my wife didn't like the monochrome colors of the landscape. I have to wonder how you grow tropicals in that environment. At least it's a dry heat right? 🤣😂

It has to be a challenge I'm sure.

These two babies just arrived, have to add them to the interesting leaves group...

H. sp. EPC-317

H. deykeae

How nice and it's so good to see you back again. Was a bit worried about about to put out a call on you)

Wendy, will that leaf turn into a plant eventually? I hear so many different opinions on starting from a leaf. It's a beauty and so is that other on top. Nice . I wonder where you will fir all your newbies once they grow huge for you? Ha)

Mike, the single leaf is attached to a stem with a node, so it should turn into a plant eventually :-)

lol, I'll worry about how to find room for all of them when they get huge when that time comes. I may have to do some culling at that point.

Good Morning Everyone!!

@Bill M. I love it here too! It's home!! I have a friend from Michigan that tease's we dont have color change with the season's , so I showed him an agave I have that turns fun colors of pink come winter. and a few other plants that change colors. LOL!

I have never tried growing tropicals , this is my first go at it, so we will see. The two Hoya's I do have I got back in Oct.

It is a dry heat for sure! Up until July, then monsoon's kick in. They last until end of Aug. It does get humid, but not as bad as other parts of the country.

Wendy,

Those are beautiful!!!

JoJo

Hello all!
So...I have been stalking ebay for awhile now and have a few plants Im interested in but Im just not in the mood to shop online. I went to visit a small business near me today and found a beauty!! Its not one of the ones that were suggested as a good beginner plant, so I hope I dont regret it. lol!!
An amazing little black cactus followed me home too!!! lol!!!
Hoya Gracilis
any tips on here care would be greatly appreciated!!
JoJo

Jojo - very nice looking catch! You're sure it's a gracilis? I'm a novice at this but it looks similar to my publicalyx, but then again everything to me looks similar to my publicalyx! Whoever she is, it's a really healthy looking plant. I'm sure with a little tlc you'll be seeing blooms this year already. Best of luck with it.

Great find Jojo! She is so pretty 😍 I have one too. It looks a lot like a pubicalyx but has smaller leaves. I treat it like my other hoyas.

@Bill M. No! I'm not sure, super newbie here! LOL!!

I'm just going by the label it had. I haven't had a chance to google anything yet. lol..

I sure hope it blooms soon!

It is very healthy, I am happy with it, and from what I see on Ebay, it was a bargain to boot! It was $24 in a 6" pot.

@Tika Land That is a beauty too! Thanks for sharing!!

JoJo

Jojo, that's a great price for any Hoya. Any questions you may have can be answered here. These folks have a tremendous amount of knowledge concerning hoyas. Just ask away.

Enjoy it always.

Thank you Bill! I will! :-)

Jojo, that's a beautiful plant! I'll agree with Bill that it looks more pubicalyx than gracilis. Both seem to be very forgiving of forgetful plant parents (-:

I bottom water with the lower leaves a pliable. My gracilis lives about a foot away from a shaded south window and pubicalyx are right under a grow light, they seem to like this and the new leaves a chocolatey/maroon color before they slowly turn to green. They seem to grow quickly but I haven't experienced flowers yet...

Ok....

Since there is some doubt about what I have, I had a talk with the plant and requested flowers as soon as possible. lol...

Thank you for that info sunfleurpower... I have a nice south facing window it can go in. I'm thinking of getting a plant rack. I can only hang so much. lol.

Which plant has the chocolate/maroon color new leaves? '

Jojo, in high light they both send out dark colored new leaves. I bought my gracilis mislabeled as pubicalyx pink silver so I think it's a common error. the difference seems to be in leaf shape and growing habit.

I don't have a picture of my pubicalyx baby leaves, but here are gracilis (south window) and macrophylla albo (grow light)

thank you!!
at the moment mine are bright green. But as you said, light levels can change things.

Jojo, that will work. I have a lilac tree, that never blooms. My neighbor has the same plant, and it blooms regularly each year. About two years ago I told my plant, if you refuses to bloom next spring, I'm cutting you down.

Yep, you guessed it. The following spring it bloomed! Sparse, but blooms none the less. It held up its end of the bargain. The following year it bloomed again,and again not full but still sparse. I think it's saying "you said bloom, you didn't say how many!".

I'll see what it does this spring, but I encourage you to have a stern talk with your plant and he just might comply.

Wana read an interesting book? Read "the secret life of plants". It explains a lot.

Later....

@Bill M. I'm glad your talk with your plant worked! :-)

So... we have to be specific! Tons of blooms. lol

I'm all for a stern talk... She got her lecture this morning. A gentle one for now. She's only been here for a week. lol...

I will look for the book! Thank you!!

JoJo

Bill if you want lots of blooms put lime all around your Lilac bushes and fertilize once. You’ll be shocked how many blooms you get ))
Jojo , hello. Great yo see you around. Enjoying the conversation and what’s beauty you have there!!

Hi mike!! Thank you!! Im enjoying being here! :-)

Mike, I didn't know that. Lemme see how I'm feeling later in the week (I've got some medical issues to handle this week), but if then lime works then I'll pick up a bag. When I get done the area around the lilac should look line a finely lined soccer field! (football for you Colin if you're reading this! 🤣)

Hi Bill, this might help. Working in landscaping for years, it is a very big problem up here in the North East where our soil tends to be a bit on the acidic side. Hope it helps. you are too funny my friend. lol

Get better and stay healthy)

Why is my lilac not blooming?

However, there are several reasons why they don't bloom. Growing conditions: Lilacs like a slightly alkaline soil (pH 6-7), even moisture and plenty of sunlight (at least 6 hours). So, if you have very acid soil, a dry summer while buds are forming or your plant doesn't get enough sun, you may get few or no blooms

@Bill M. I was looking for the book you suggested. Do you know who wrote it or what the cover looks like? I'm seeing 3 different books/ covers with that title.

I hope your feeling better soon!!! :-)

JoJo

Jojo - Unfortunately I don't remember. It's a very old book, probably published in the 70s or 80s. Lemme see if I can find something on it.

Found this: "The Secret Life of Plants is a book by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. The book documents controversial experiments that claim to reveal unusual phenomena regarding plants such as plant sentience, discovered through experimentation. Wikipedia

Originally published: 1973

Adaptations: The Secret Life of Plants (1979)

Original language: English"

It's a fun, interesting and sometimes controversial read, however a lot of the processes are now in practice in farming. It'll make you think 🤔!

Thriftbooks.Com has it for $7.19.

Thank you!!! I did see that in my search. I will be getting it!! I'm taking a stay home vacation soon and I think I'm long overdue for a little R & R and a good book in one hand a some wine in the other. lol

JoJo

It's a strange read, but it will make you think because I do believe there's a lot of truth in it too.

Enjoy....

How is everyone!?!

I'm sitting here bummed because I can't enjoy the full moon, too many clouds in the way!

Crazy storm going through. (Tucson, Az.)

High of 82 today

Tomorrow, 64! And rain! lol...

We need the rain though!

It will be a good day to get caught up on things inside, but I also have a ton to get done outside.

JoJo

Do'n OK Jojo. Was up at 4:30 this morning and took my dog out at 5am. Moon is incredible! It shines in my room like a spot light. I love it, my wife hates it!

You stay well, collect some of that rainwater, your plants will love you for it.

I also have a bee and a moth costume that no one seems to want, so if you want to do a little pollinating to your plants, I can lend them to you. 😉

Bill M....

Good morning,

Wow! Your dog gets you up early. Lol. I thought my brats were bad. Even on my days off they think I should be up around 6am. Lol

I love it when the moon shines through my bedroom window!!

Sadly though I didn't get to see it last night. Too many clouds!!

Im working on my coffee and waiting for the rain.

I have a rain barrel, which I emptied a few days ago, so Im anxious for the rain to get here. Lol..

We NEED it!

I'll pass on the costumes, thay would freak the dogs out!! Halloween is difficult around my house. Lol!!!

I'll let one of the natives take care of the pollinating.

Actually it's me that gets the dog up! I've been an early riser all my life, and don't hit the sack till 11 or so. My dog, she's a great sleeper (and loud snorer!)

Jojo, holy crap. That moth could be a pet. It's as long as your hand))

Hoping all is well. Still cold here. Ugh

Bill, sound like me, up early every day. But I fall asleep before 9 most nights. Ha

LOL! Bill, 1 of my 3 snores! Sometimes I have to get him to move so he stops for awhile.

It's an outside pet Mike. LOL!!! Isn't it a beauty!!! They only come out at night! Known as the Sphinx moth or hawk moth. We have many varieties here in Az. I just love going out at night in the summer and finding them. If your slow and gentle, they just climb up on your hand.

https://www.spadefootnursery.com/moths

Very chilly here today!! only in the 60's. Us Az. natives are not happy for the most part. LOL!

We didn't get as much rain as expected, but still quite a bit in my rain barrel. So I will transfer most of it into jugs so it doesn't evaporate!

I hope you guys warm up soon!!! And all is well!

I got some work done today on the shrub I am trying to get out. So sore and tired now.

Up early for me and bed by 9pm too! ROFL!!!

JoJo

Jojo, 9???? That would be sleeping till noon for me. lol I have not slept past 6 for years now lol That moth is crazy big. You do probably have the most diverse group of bugs I have ever seen, not to mention those huge creepy cockroaches that try to get into your home at night looking for a drink of water.

You still working on shrub??? You need to set a group of carpenter ants and beavers on it. That thing would be shredded and knocked down in days. lol Must be a huge bush! I HATE digging well grown rooted plants out of the ground. It takes so much out of you.

Hey, do you have HULU? Let me know.

That is COLD for your standards. 60 or plus in summery for us. lol It is only 60 today and I am loving it. 70 is just to warm for us so early ha. The Hoya and all my plants love this weather. Although it gets cool at night, for some reason they are no affected by it. BUt if I kept temps that cool in the house, they would rot away. I don't get it??

Hey Mike! Guess what? Yelling at my lilac tree last season worked! It's again covered in blooms. More than last year. I guess threats do work! Ya just need to understand their language.

(I'll try the lime too once I pick it up at Lowes)

Hello!! :-)
How is everyone doing tonight?
Im just unwinding after a crazy day at work!

I received a gift card today from work, for outstanding customer service, which I should have gotten back in 2018! ROFL. Some how it got lost for awhile. We all had a good laugh about it. Better late than never. Lol....

I have a lot of plants to repot, so looking at a wild Saturday night. Lol!!
Its actually going to be a long overdue relaxing night!

Bill,
Hows your search going for some new Hoya's?

My book came a few days ago!! Plan to start reading it tonight.

I hope everyone is well and has a good night!!
Jojo

Jojo, well I hope you had a nice Saturday nigh... How was the read? You should of saved a few drinks for me to join you since I have no social life these days. How's it going? did you pull that shrub out finally!!? I will show you a few pics of what I worked in in a few days)))

Funny story about work..lol Seems you might even be owed a mom of the year award..

Hugs

MIke