The newly rooted plant did not seem to like the warm conditions and LED lighting of the grow tent that I had it in, as the leaves did not look particularly healthy, and the first peduncle fell off. I moved it to a cooler tent with a T-5 fluorescent lighting, and it perked right up and soon formed a peduncle that actually grew. Buds formed and they opened a few weeks later.
Hoya paxtonii was rooted in sphagnum when I got it and as I began to unwrap it, I noticed the dreaded root rot. I took cuttings and placed them in water with a couple of drops of KLN Concentrate and a few weeks later there were ample roots to put it into a 2 inch pot using a soil substrate.
Let’s end the year with a new Hoya for me in Hoya paxtonii. I had never heard of this Hoya prior to a kind and generous woman, named Mandy, contacted me and asked if I wanted a cutting. I immediately accepted the offer as it was closely related to Hoya Bella, which I always did pretty well with.
As always, all good things must come to an end. Hoya nyhuusiae exceeded every expectation for me, and I wish that it was more readily available so that more people could have a crack at growing one of the showiest and nicest Hoyas in the world. I will report back on it in time to share its long term progress, ease of propagation, etc.
To all of those who celebrate it, Merry Christmas! Lets hope that by next year at this time, we will have most of this pandemic behind us and be somewhat back to normal. Today I will give my take on why after 17 years there seems to be so little of Hoya nyhuusiae in circulation:
I am guessing that this plant is a relatively slow grower coupled with the fact that it needs cooler conditions hinders the typical Hoya nursery from growing and selling the plant. When you peruse the Thai nurseries, this plant seems to be missing from their offerings. I think it is because their very hot conditions are too much for the plant and they are unsuccessful with it.
Hoya nyhuusiae was described by Dale Kloppenburg in 2003, which begs the question after 17 years why is there so little of this plant in circulation. Tomorrow I will speculate on why I think this is so.
Hoya nyhuusiae is endemic to Borneo (Brunei and Sabah). It is only found in lower montane forests an 1200-1800 m, often as a terrestrial on ridge tops climbing into shrubs or as an epiphyte on trees in valleys.
From A Guide To Hoyas of Borneo by Anthony Lamb and Michele Rodda
Hoya nyhuusiae is named in honor of Torill Nyhuus who is long time President of the Swedish Hoya Society, editor of the Hoya Telegraph Journal and is a big time collector of Hoyas.
The flowers on Hoya nyhuusiae opened in stages and lasted about 4 days so I never had all of the 19 flowers open at the same time, but that is okay as it made the display last longer.
Finally my days of waiting came to an end and the first two flowers opened up, and I was delightfully surprised that the had a light floral scent.
