It remains to be seen how I will make out with this plant long term trying to provide cool humid conditions. I am however very happy that I got to experience the plant first hand and take photographs of its tiny but amazing flowers.
Care of Dischidia astephana
Warm and humid is easy for me to provide using my grow tents, but cool and humid has always been a challenge for me. I am currently soaking my Dischidia astephana daily from 5-10 minutes while I care for the rest of the plants in the tent in which it resides. It lives under a strong LED light and has grown well for me, but has not flowered since I received the plant last September.
Dischidia astephana is Endemic to the Mountainous Regions of Malaysia
Dischidia astephana is a montane species. This was my word for the day, and I had to look it up. Montane means inhabiting mountainous country. This plant is endemic to the cooler humid mountainous ecosystems of Malaysia.
The Flowers of Dischidia astephana Are Beautiful
I think that the flowers of Dischidia astephana are among the most beautiful in the Dischidia world.
Let’s Talk About Dischidia astephana
I picked up a beautiful mounted specimen of Dischidia astephana on eBay last year from a grower in San Francisco. Below is a photo of the plant mounted on cork.
In Praise of Hoya cumingiana – Again!
Although I’ve said this many times before, it bears repeating; Hoya cumingiana is one of the best plants in the Hoya world. I can think of no Hoya better to start with for the beginner than this plant. It grows and flowers incredibly quickly from cutting and the flowers have a beautifully spicy scent. Below a plant I started from cuttings in the late summer, which is already covered in flowers and buds in less than six months.
Hoya padangensis Still Ugly, But Still Blooming After All of This Time
I’ve had this plant going on four years now, the best things that can be said about it is that it doesn’t get very big, and the flowers are really, really cute. The plant itself is still among the ugliest (at least the way it grows for me!) in the Hoya world.
Hoya imperialis 14 Buds and Still Blooming
This photo doesn’t show it very well, but there are 14 buds on my imperialis. It is under a strong LED light hence the difficulty photographing it. This plant has not stopped being in flower or bud since late autumn.
Hoya sigillatis Flowers Make Me Keep the Plant
Today I pulled the plant out of its tent to photograph its flowers and cut away masses of unhealthy looking foliage. What I have left looks pretty good so it has lived to survive another day. It seems to know to produce flowers every time I get ready to discard it, helping to save itself from the dustbin.
I know how to grow this plant; it would like a southern exposure with adequate humidity; watered before it gets totally dry and leave it in the same space without moving it. Unfortunately I can’t provide those conditions:-(
Hoya sigillatis Continues to Exasperate!
This plant has been vexing me for a number of years and I keep saying I’m going to get rid of it, yet I still have it. Hoya sigillatis loses so many leaves every time it gets moved; it drives me nuts. I have to move it outside in the summer and into a grow tent in the winter, because I have no window where it would stay happy.
