Let’s Talk About Hoya microstemma (NS11-145)

Hoya microstemma was collected on September 14, 1909 by Rudolf Schlechter in what was originally called German New Guinea. Today it would be called Papua New Guinea, and it was found on the Northeastern section of the island in the Torricelli Mountains, at about 800 meters in elevation. Below the leaves of Let’s Talk About Hoya microstemma (NS11-145):

The Best Of The Campanulate Flowered Hoyas

I have grown a large number of the campanulate flowered Hoyas, and of all the species, and subspecies that I have cultivated, I believe Hoya danumensis ssp. Amari to be the best of all of them. I say that based on ease of care, combined with the spectacular size and coloration of the blooms. I think it stands above all of them!

Winter Solstice and Hoya leucantha

I have restarted Hoya leucantha many times in the relatively short time that I have had it. Three times I have had 3 foot tall specimen plants that looked wonderful, but soon fell to one malady, or another. My latest iteration of this plant is as a hanging basket which is hanging in a kitchen window with no artificial aids and very little light. This plant managed to pull off a blooming feat that few other Hoyas could do; it flowered at the winter solstice in late December. Here is a not so great photo of this small miracle:

Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ – The Secret To Its Success

First of all this plant likes it on the cooler side. My basement tents for several reasons have become much cooler than in the past. They now only get up to about 22 C during the light cycle and down to 15 C during the dark cycle. Humidity is very high ranging from 70% to almost 100% at night. I am using coconut husk chips with a little perlite as a substrate. I generally soak the substrate ever 7-10 days or so. Mites are kept under control by spraying periodically with PureCrop 1. Lighting is with indirect LED grow light fixtures. I will be the first to admit that providing these ideal conditions are going to be difficult or impossible for many people to provide, but use it as a guide to do what you can. It took me 12 years to get a plant that I could be proud of!

Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ The Healthiest Its Ever Been

I have kept Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ for at least a dozen years now. It came from my good friend Julie Kennedy from Scotland. While I have had lots of great floral displays over the years from this plant, I have struggled mightily trying to have a healthy plant. The plant I believe is one of those Hoyas that is very susceptible to the ravages of the invisible flat mite. The midrib of the leaves with get ashen colored and the leaves would deteriorate and get sickly looking. I have had so many of these sickly looking plants over the years, that I have come very close to getting rid of the plant for good. The only thing that has stopped me is the insanely beautiful fragrance of the blooms. Tomorrow I will give my take on how to keep this one healthy. Below my beautiful specimen:

Final Day With Hoya stenaokei Dark Form

If you can find the dark flowered form of Hoya stenaokei, I urge you to pick one up. The growth is much more easily contained than H. stenaokei (NS12-222), and it is slightly more floriferous. I have to say that of all the plants in the Macgillivrayi Complex the one that has the best, strongest scent is Hoya macgillivrayi itself. So don’t buy this one for the scent, buy it for the spectacular flowers and easy care. I give it my highest recommendation!