I've not been successful in finding any live Hoya here, so I'm wondering if they grow well from seed? I think the climate would be perfect for them, I just can't get the ones I found for sale delivered to my area.

I've noticed some Hoya's have longer peduncles than others.I have a H. compacta that has had 3 or 4 peduncles that aren't much longer than the stems on the leaves.The tips seem to be forming the little buds but no umbels.They have been like this for months.Should i feed it or water it more ? I am at a loss as to why they seem to be stuck.I will try to get a picture of one of them.I welcome any advice!!

I'm not sure but I think the older the plant, the longer the peduncle? But, that may just be the case with some hoya's. Re: forming of buds ... some of my plants will sit for months and months before the buds form! I guess just like human children, our "plant children" are stubborn and just decide to do things in their own time.

The length of the peduncle depends upon the species...and is rather species specific. The terminal end of the peduncle where the buds form is called the rachis (not meant to be a lecture here, just some information for better communicating). Plants have their own timetables for forming buds...often they do it when stressed as a survival instinct. I also find that many species bloom in unison: Often I will have a plant blooming (for the first time that year) at the same time as others in the Northern Hemisphere as plants get their signals from light (length of daylight/nighttime hours and the intensity)....

I have a plant growing in the benign conditions of my greenhouse that NEVER bloomed! NEVER! I finally gave up and put it outdoors and within 3 months it had 19 umbels forming EVERYWHERE on the plant. Finally it bloomed... and I got the ID from Dominic Murray who had the same plant blooming in the Canary Islands at the same time. The leaves were different (he grew his in almost full sun and mine was in filtered sun) but the length of the peduncle (and the color of the peduncle) as well as the color of the buds as they were forming gave me the clue it was the same plant. Flower color is NOT stable nor is it consistent...so I don't count on that. Here's the plant... IML1669 H. rigida.

Carol, I'll accept your educational lectures any time!

Love the looks of your H. rigida; pretty leaves and flowers!

extranjera said:I've not been successful in finding any live Hoya here, so I'm wondering if they grow well from seed? I think the climate would be perfect for them, I just can't get the ones I found for sale delivered to my area.

Maybe they call it differently in their local vernacular. Like in Manila, we call our plants differently, and thanks to ATP I am learning how some plants should be properly called.

Thanks for the information Carol!! What is your experience in the length of H. compacta? Mine has had only a few peduncles and they have all stayed only a couple inches long,they are all consistently this short.I am also always glad to learn from your vast knowledge of these plants.

Thank you

Tarev, they are called Flor de Cera (wax flower) in spanish. I had a long talk with a nursery owner here about them, she is interested too and I had hoped she would have better connections for getting them. She told me the other day that she can't get them from her regular suppliers but that if she takes a trip to Veracruz or Mexico City, she will look. It didn't sound like something that would be happening soon. I may have another option though and I'm hopeful that I can get some started here.

Oh, I love the Spanish name Hope you get them soon!

Btw, are you affected by the incoming hurricane over there..hopefully not..but just in case..take care!

This hurricane (Barbara) is on the Pacific coast but it is perhaps going to be strong enough to cross the country and enter the Gulf. That could bring us some rain at the least. We are under a low now with light rain and much cooler temperatures so it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing

It looks like it will hit land around the city of Salina Cruz and cross the isthmus into the Gulf around Veracruz. The land area it will cross is very low and narrow so it won't have as much effect on the hurricane as mountains. If it strengthens again in the Gulf it could become a problem for us depending on which direction it goes. It's awfully early in the year for hurricanes, I hope that is not a bad sign.

Here's a pic from today of Barbara's location. I added a red dot on the right to show about where I am but you will have to click the picture to see it.

I cannot believe there is a hurricane already!!! Yikes!

Our local t.v. news is out of Orlando and a couple of days ago the weather guy was saying they were going to be watching closely something that may head into the Gulf ... I bet it was "Barbara" that he was referring to! It's really unusual for tropical systems to be forming, but with Mother Nature you never know anymore.

Jonna...I have a dear friend in Tepozotlan who grows Hoyas....another in Puerto Vallarta and there is a fellow in DF who has bought Hoyas from me and I believe he has a big collection. Treemail me if you would like to contact them... They are on facebook.

My hoya shooting star continues on with the new pair of leaves and new peduncle. I am such a hoya newbie, any new growth or progress makes me feel happy

My Hoya's are loving our weather.It's humid,very wet and temps in the mid 80's.I have them all hanging under tree's outside.

H. 'compacta'


H. 'wayetii'


I still need to take some pictures of my H.carnosa 'krimson princess' & my H. DS-70. They are also blooming. I have a H. 'chelsea' & 'brevialata' that haven't ever bloomed,can't wait until they bloom.

lovely lovely

So pleased with my indoor garden. My Shephardell is still in bloom at work.
2 plants with 5 umbels.

Very nice!

Had to move my Hoya shooting star away from the window..with summertime I guess the light is heating it up, so have moved it to a shadier side, and at the same time keeping it watered, literally liking it standing in water. Finally it stopped throwing out the peduncles and holding steady with the others it has.

My hoya pubicalyx is doing better now as well, with stepped up watering and keeping it in shade outdoors, ably enduring our recent heat wave, it has grown good looking leaves

And my hoya kerrii variegata has forgiven me for accidentally cutting off its lead..it has grown a new one and getting longer. Now that it is outdoors but in shade, I was freely watering it, and seems to like it a lot, compared to its growth when indoors; I was so afraid to over water it then..but I realized that during summer, these plants can take more watering, especially since our area is very dry anyways.

I have three Hoyas blooming now:

Hoya pubicalyx .................................................... H. merrillii .................................................. and H. obovata: