Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Hoya

Q. I purchased a Hoya plant. It didn't come with directions, except for watering. Could you tell me what needs to be done so I can get it to bloom. I have heard the flowers are real fragrant. I live in Wisconsin, so I don't know if I could put it outside in the summer.

A. Hoya needs plenty of good indirect light during the summer and fall to bloom. They tend to become more floriferous as the days get longer. The flowers are waxy, and in clusters with a beautiful fragrance. Be sure not to prune off the leafless vines, called spurs, as they tend to bloom on the same ones year after year! The foliage can be solid green, but some varieties are variegated with white and other colors.

Keep the plants moist, but allow the surface to dry out before rewatering. Supply a well-drained soil mix, lightened with perlite. I recommend flowering house plant food given only when the vines are growing and blooming. Do not repot until quite root-bound, as they need that compactness to bloom.

During the winter, they need a semi-dormancy, with less water, light, and food. Plants can be easily propagated with stem cuttings in all times but the winter.

Q. I was wondering if you could tell me the name of a houseplant, I wish I could send you a picture but I don't have one. It grows like an ivy sort of, grabs into things, it has oval shaped dark green leaves and gets little pink bunches of flowers on it, funny looking things, not at all like a normal flower, they look like one till you see it up close then they look like bunches and similar to a plastic looking flower. I hope you can give me an idea of what this plant is, I've had it for a very long time, last year was the first year it got blossoms.

These questions are the hardest on me, for I cannot see the plant and say, Oh yes, that is called...

I suspect Hoya. Do you know that plant? I have a webpage here below for you to browse through. It is the most complete one on Hoya that I know with lots of color pictures of the growth and flowers, called bracts. Let me know if this is the plant. It is rather waxy and the flowers do indeed seem plastic.

Be sure not to overwater it, but supply good humidity [it is a tropical climber] and indirect light for optimum growth. They bloom sporadically, but once they have started, they should bloom yearly for you!

http://magdoch.free.fr/hoya.html

Pooma writes~ My Hoya was planted at least 7 years ago in a 8" pot with a moss-covered, Styrofoam stake. Initial long vines had been loosely stapled to the stake. It has grown and grown. It even bloomed 2 years ago and from all I've read, that is pretty impressive. Nothing has ever been done to it other than to use half-strength fertilizer every time it is watered. The plastic pot it is in is pretty shot. Plus, the plant is so rootbound that there is virtually no soil left, not to mention the soil has been there for all that time! Lately, the leaves have been growing father and farther apart on the vines. It is obvious something should be done, but what? Should it be cut back? Should it be repotted? What size pot? If we can cut it back, how are the vines propagated? Don't get me wrong, it is still gorgeous, but I definitely feel that it could use a "face lift."

I am so pleased to get a note from a gardener who is having success! But, yes, you are correct that it is time for a little bit of assistance in keeping the plant happy and avoiding a sudden decline.

First, you need a bigger pot. Allow the soil to dry out for several days, not enough to wilt the plant. remove it from pot and lay on layers of newspaper. Take a very sharp and clean [washed] knife and slice into the roots at intervals of 2-3" all the way around the pot, near the bottom and others up near the top and all parts in between. Do not slice the poor guy in half; merely cut into the roots to force them to branch out into your new soil mix.

Place it into a new 9 or 10" plastic pot, anchoring the pole so it still supports the vines. Add plentiful fresh, brand new soil mix for house plants [Hyponex, Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Sunshine, Pro-Mix]. You may even lay an added inch or two on top of the old soil surface line. Take to the sink or tub and gently allow water to drip quickly all over the soil. Keep it up until you see water coming out the bottom. allow to drain for an hour.

Place in a new larger saucer and back in the same spot where it was. If bright light comes in that area, keep it shaded for a week or two to allow it to acclimate to this shock. then, allow as much light as before. Resume fertilizing one month after repotting. In the soil are plenty of nutrients.