Pale green leaves on my Hoya
Hi Molly,
Last summer all the leaves on my Hoya became a very pale green. I think it was from over watering. Is there anything I can do to get the leaves back to their dark green color?
Thanks
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Hi,
Thanks for your message.
This can happen for various reasons, but as long as the plant seems generally healthy it shouldn’t be a big problem. Another common cause is keeping them in too strong light – this can bleach the leaves somewhat but it will reverse over time if you reduce the light intensity it is subjected to.
If you think your Hoya has been overwatered, restrict watering until temperatures increase to around 15°c at night, then continue with your regime but allow the compost to become almost completely dry between waterings.
As for treatment, I use a foliar spray fertilizer on mine every week or two in the growing season – you can almost see the leaves darken over a couple of weeks as they are replenished with vitamins and nutrients, especially Iron.
Buy some of the fertilizer I use (Organic Seaweed Extract) at your local garden centre, which should do the trick.
I hope this helps,
Kindest regards,
Molly’s Tropical Plants
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Mealy Bugs and Re-potting Hoyas
Hi Molly,
Thank you for the quick response. I will continue with restricting the water and will fertilize as suggested.
Also, I have mealy bugs! I have sprayed with a soap/ water solution once but they have come back. How often do I need to treat until they are gone?
Lastly, this plant has been in the same pot for at least 5 years. When is the best time of year to repot?
Thanks
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The mealy bug problems could be well-timed though, as you could repot your Hoya into a pot that is a couple of inches larger in diameter (not much more) and change most of the compost. This will help with getting rid of the bugs as they live in the rootball too, as well as giving the roots a bit more space.
Keep a ‘squirter’ of rubbing alcohol nearby (you could even use strong vodka) and give them a blast as you see them. It will be much more effective than soap as they cover themselves in a waxy layer which can be tough to penetrate. The alcohol dissolves this (a bit grim, but effective!)
As for timing – it will take as long as it takes – make sure you give your pot a thorough inspection and clean and they could well be gone in a month or so if you are vigilant.
Good luck! and please let me know how you get on.
Kindest regards,
Molly’s Tropical Plants
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Persistence and Re-Potting
Hi Molly,
Thanks for the tips. I just wanted to let you know that over the past year I have been diligently caring for my Hoya. I repotted it and have been spraying with alcohol to rid it of mealy bugs. There are still some. I haven’t been watering it as much. I have been feeding it and the leaves are again a deep green. It didn’t bloom at all last year.
I’m hoping it will bloom this year. Any suggestions on what to do to get it to bloom? Does repotting effect it?
Thanks
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Hi,
Thanks for your email.
I admire your persistence with the mealy bugs! If you keep them to a minimum as you are doing, they will not adversely affect your Hoya. Now that your Hoya is a lot more vibrant, don’t be afraid to follow up the alcohol spray with a blast of pesticide. This could help keep the numbers down even further.
Hoyas do flower more profusely when they are a little pot bound and they may miss a year in flowering if they are repotted. Don’t worry though, as the refreshed compost and new space will ultimately improve the plants’ vigour and performance when it does flower.
To give it a nudge, you can try several things:
Allow it a little more light, but make sure it is indirect light, and not scorching sunlight!
Increase temperatures a little. Just a few degrees can sometimes make a difference.
Add a very weak tomato fertiliser or similar. Fertilisers that promote blooming are high in potash and are widely available. Just make sure you use a quarter strength dose and try to get an organic version to help prevent any chemical shock.
Don’t worry – as long as your flower spurts are there, your Hoyas will bloom again. It has just spent a year adjusting to it’s new boots, but hopefully this year you will see a new display.
Please let me know how you get on.
Kindest regards,
Molly’s Tropical Plants