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| INFORMATION FOR NEW HOYA GROWERS |
Hoya have been around for a long, long time and are an engaging plant to collect, great in tropical gardens, can live outdoors in some
climates and they make interesting houseplants.
With some exceptions, Hoya are tropical/subtropical. They come from different areas of Asia, Australia and the South Pacific…some with
a lot of humidity and some with a dry season. Most Hoya are vining, some hanging down and some climbing up. Some require deep shade
and lots of water, some like bright light and to grow dry. There are about 300 Hoya in circulation and it is estimated there are many
more yet to be discovered.
To understand growing Hoya, you should know how to grow tropicals indoors - Philodendrons are a good example. To meet the requirements
of various tropicals is to meet the requirements of most Hoya. Imagination is needed, too.
The Question should NOT be HOW TO GROW HOYAS but HOW CAN I GROW HOYAS WITH MY CONDITIONS.
HOYA NAMES
Like all plant genera, Hoya names are in a constant flux as more and more is learned about them and with the advent of DNA. You may find
that you have H. verticality and someone shows a picture of H. acute and it is the same Hoya. The explanation is that some of the forms
of H. verticality, have been found to be H. acute…names change.
It is important that, if you want to sell or trade with others, you stay in tune with the news: belong to a good forum, subscribe to
periodicals like STEMMA (published free and on-line by Markroy68@yahoo.com), or the more serious publications. Usually in a good, strong
forum someone will inform as to changes or news. I recommend www.DavesGarden.com or HoyasRUs@MSN.com. DavesGarden is an informal group of
all levels of collectors from the very knowledgeable to the newbie. The MSN forum is run by Christine Burton who is extremely knowledgeable
and she shares her knowledge about Hoya. Ms. Burton is also known for her short temper and long diatribes about nothing important but if
you can keep your sense of humor and you don't take it personally (and don't ask dumb questions) you will learn good stuff.
As with all new clubs, it is a good idea to resource as many of the history and links on running forums so that you get information that has
been covered already. At times a new post asks a question that has been answered/covered/explained many times before. The 'page issues' of
these forums are worth their weight in hoyas.
No matter what the names are, there are certain ways that plant names should be written to be understood by all. A few of them are:
EXAMPLE: Hoya carnosa = Genus name (Hoya) is written with a capitol H. The Species name is written with all lower case.
EXAMPLE: Hoya cv. Ruthie = tells you that Ruthie is a cultivar NOT a species. Hoya Ruthie is NOT correct as it means that Ruthie is a species
(which it is NOT).
EXAMPLE: Hoya meliflua ssp. fraterna = fraterna is the subspecies name for that particular clone of H. meliflua.
No matter who you buy your plants from, all valid names are still undergoing changes and alterations.
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ACQUIRING PLANTS
Trading plants thru forums or groups is done very very often and it is a good way to expand your collection. It is important to know if
the person you are trading with has verified that their names are correct or you may wind up with a lot of H. carnosa or H. australis
traded or sold under different names. It is perfectly alright to ask where their plant came from: IML + # indicates the plant originated
from David Liddle as in H. latifolia IML0088. David Liddle is the foremost grower and seller (and collector and researcher) of Hoya in the
world. Often some forums have group purchases from David Liddle where you can participate.
EBAY The auctions on eBAY are a good place to get bargains…but make sure it is a bargain compared to what you could buy it for online.
You will soon be able to tell the good sellers from the others… There are a few sellers with incorrectly labeled hoyas and a question on
your forum should give you the answer. Check out sellers thru the Garden Watchdog on www.davesgarden.com.
EA - Exotic Angel - Plant Seller EA produces beautifully grown hoyas with consistently wrong names. In a good forum you will be able to
find the correct name with a picture. Also, be aware, that EA grows their plants with a moisture retention factor added to the soil. This
means that the plants usually are over watered when bought and then lost. Some are successful keeping the original soil and watering from
the bottom, others repot their plants.
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INFORMATION
There is a GREAT deal of information in the internet-some of it good, some really really bad!!! I can only give you some ideas of what I
think better than most:
http://www.bigislandgrowers.com/ghp/AHinfo.php Contains links for information on growing hoyas.
http://www.bigislandgrowers.com/ghp/AHlinks.php Contains links for more information on other websites about hoyas.
http://members.tripod.com/jbroton/hoyaphotos/id102.htm Good pictures and ID's.
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/botanicalterms.html Botanical Terms
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/search.php?search_text=hoya&submit=Search Good information on different hoyas
http://www.rare-hoyas.com/Catalog.htm Ted Greens Catalog with good information on origin and growing conditions.
www.myhoyas.com An exceptional website with good studies of Hoya with lots of pictures and excellent information and many other links.
Visit all of the links. You will soon be able to determine the truth from the fiction.
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SOME HOYAS I WOULD RECOMMMEND FOR BEGINNERS
H. australis There are many ssp. of H. australis in circulation, including variegated. There are also many seedlings people have
carelessly introduced with no distinction of them being a seedling. All of them are good. The variegates are slower growers than the
green leaf forms, which holds true with all plants.
H. carnosa. This hoya is very slow to bring to bloom so it is important (if flowers are important to you) to get H. motoskei (the original
carnosa) or one that has bloomed. H. carnosa has a number of cultivars and different forms of leaf which many enjoy growing because of the
exciting leaves.
H. pubicalyx These cultivars should be grown like H. carnosa and are often quicker to bloom. Their leaves are very interesting and their
flowers different shades of pinks. I like the cultivar 'Reva' as it is a good bloomer with great color, and I like 'Royal Hawaiian Purple'
and 'Red Buttons' for their flower colors.
H. heuschkeliana and H. lacunosa Both are small leafed, hanging hoyas, with small highly scented flowers…both enjoy the same warmth, light
and humidity requirements.
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