Hi,
Thanks for your message.
Most Hoyas will root well if you lay them horizontally, so your carnosa
should do too.  It may help if you use pegs or small pebbles to make sure
several parts of the vine are in contact with the soil. Roots should develop
at those points within a week or so.
Also try to keep the leaves off the soil to help avoid rot.
It will take a couple of weeks to adjust to its new position, but I think
your plant will end up with several vertical vines growing very well – I’d
love to see a pic when it has got going.
Kind regards,
Molly

Hi,
Thanks for your message. The easy answer is ‘Yes’
However, if you use some good compost in the new pot, you won’t need to
fertilize for a few months. When you do fertilize, make sure you use a weak
solution – about a third of the stated strength works for me.
I feed all my Hoyas with a weak seaweed extract during the warmer months and
in flowering, and they all put on some nice new growth in spurts throughout
the year.
Hoyas tend to flower more when they’re pot-bound. This can eventually stress
your plant, so potting on every few years will benefit your Hoya, although
it may not flower as well for a couple of years.
Don’t be afraid to trim old vines back – it may stimulate new growth.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for visiting Molly’s Tropical Plants,
Molly

Read Hoya Care for more Care Advice.

I so appreciate any help you can offer.

Mealy Bugs

There are many different types of Mealy Bug, all favouring the warm, humid conditions that you want to provide your Tropical Plants with. Similarly to Scale Insects, they use a waxy layer to protect themselves and their newly hatched offspring, whilst feeding on your plant. The appearance is of ‘cotton wool’ growths near leaf axils.

Mealy bugs can be a pain – rubbing alcohol or similar can be effective when applied directly. Change the compost and look out for any woolly nests hiding ion the soil or near the roots. They can hide in pot rims & saucers too, so a thorough inspection and a few shots of alcohol on offenders will be needed. Regular ongoing checks will need to be done too, and you may have to revert to pesticides if you have an infestation.

Prevention invovles a close eye on your new additions, some regular TLC for your plants and the provision of a healthy, well-balanced environment. Healthy plants are not usually as succeptible to infestations.

Thank you.

Hi,
The temperature would be fine, but you would have to keep it well watered, and out of direct sunlight.
I put mine out for a bath when it’s warm and raining, but never leave them there and definitely not in direct sun.
It might be possible for you to put it in a shady spot to see how it acclimatises. Hoyas tend to tell you when they’re unhappy, so if you see more than a few leaves drop after you’ve moved it, it’s time to bring it back in.
Hope this helps,
Kindest regards,
Molly

Hi Frances,

Hi Deb,
Thanks for your email (and your compliments!)
I have several H brevialata that are doing very well. They are all in different conditions, so I would say they will cope with pretty varied
conditions as long as you follow a few rules:
My biggest tip is to make sure you don’t overwater them so use quite small pots and a well-draining compost. Don’t be afraid to let the soil dry out
for a few days betweend waterings, especially in cooler weather. Keep them in bright but indirect light – direct sun will scorch the tender
new leaves. I have never fertilised mine – I just pot them up every couple of years with some new compost and they seem to do well.
Another tip is to keep them out of draughts as this will hinder their growth.
I hope this helps.
Kindest regards,
Molly

Read Hoya Care and Hoya brevialata for more Care Advice and to buy Hoya brevialata

Some plant extracts are toxic, and I don’t want to kiss  the blossoms good night if I’m actually tasting a carcinogen! Thank you!

Hi Cathy,
To the best of my knowledge, Hoyas are not toxic, especially in small doses.  I have been told that they are pretty much inert to mammals – a fact that is
proven by my kittens, who ate most of a small Hoya carnosa with no ill effects.
I often taste the nectar on my Hoyas and it hasn’t done me any harm. It is, as you say, very sweet and has a floral hint in a similar way to some honey.
Some varieties may be harmful, so please do some research before using Hoya nectar to sweeten your tea!
Kindest regards,
Molly

Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your message. It is very possible for a Hoya to be 50 yrs old – they can last for many years and are often passed through the generations (as my first Hoya was).
When you repot it, don’t choose a pot that is TOO much larger, as Hoyas like to have cramped feet. You will most likely get a flush of lush new growth a few weeks after repotting it, so it should be beneficial.
I haven’t updated my leaf gallery for some time, so if you need a hand identifying your plant, just email me a decent quality pic and I’ll help if I can.
Kindest regards,
Molly

Read Hoya Care for more Care Advice

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