Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ABC Wednesday - Hola to the Honorable Hoya!





ABC Wednesday is a fun meme in which to participate. If you'd rather not participate but enjoy viewing the variety of posts, just click on the link to see who's participating.

Enjoy!


The information in the following paragraph was taken from Wikipedia.

Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical climbing plants in the family Apocynaceae (Dogbane), native to southern Asia (India east to southern China and southward), Australia and Polynesia. Common names for this genus are waxplant, waxvine, waxflower or simply hoya. This genus was named by botanist Robert Brown, in honor of his friend, botanist Thomas Hoy.


You will find much more information about the species at this site, entitled "The Hoya Page."


During the Fall of 2008 or the Spring of 2009, my Aunt MEA's garden club held a plant sale/fundraiser. My parents and I stopped and shopped. I came home with three hoya leaves in a pot (75-cent expenditure) and hope for its future.

This photo was taken January 24, 2010.
These two photos were taken April 12, 2010. It's growing!


September 1, 2010
A ballet?
March 3, 2011

March 3, 2011
Isn't it looking wonderful? Do you suppose another vine will start?

The Hoya has waxy leaves, and is susceptible to mealy bugs, and certain varieties to spider mites. Treat both by spraying with an insecticidal soap.

Hoyas like bright, indirect sunlight. These plants make great houseplants. I have mine in a bright, west window. You might have to move it around until it finds the "perfect spot."

They tolerate humidity at low levels. If you allow the soil to completely dry between waterings, you will not have to worry about overwatering. When you do water, make sure you water thoroughly - until some water drains through the pot.

You can fertizilize lightly. Once-a-month with a balanced fertilizer is adequate. During the winter, when the plant rests, discontinue feeding.

You can prune when you need to, or after the flowering cycle is complete. The plant blooms on new growth.

This post is property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com/

24 comments:

Chubskulit Rose said...

Great choice for letter H. Thanks for sharing the name, I always wonder that myself.

Have a peek on my letter H, see you.

Shady Gardener said...

Thanks for your visit today. I'll be over to see your post. :-)

VioletSky said...

It is exciting, isn't it, when you next look at the plant and there is long tendril dancing away?!

and word verification is hello!

J.Rylie.C said...

So pretty!

Hygiene, hearty treats, and a hat

PS. I am your newest follower.

Anna said...

Your hoya has really taken off and must be really happy. Have never grown one ~ off to research further :)

Sylvia K said...

Lovely, interesting post for the H Day! And I got to learn about a plant I wasn't familiar with! It does look happy! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!

Sylvia
ABC Team

♥♥ Willa ♥♥ said...

That's nice that you capture how it grows. :)

ABS Wednesday:H

troutbirder said...

I need to study these small houseplants. It seems my past choices like Norfolk Pine, miniture lime tree etc. all got so big they were banned to their doom from the house. Really! :)

Roger Owen Green said...

I think of Georgetown U, whose nickname is the Hoyas - different meaning, I believe.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Shady Gardener said...

Hello to you, Violet Sky! Thank you for your comment and observation.

Ms. Burrito, And I'm following you, too. :-)

Hi Anna, When you find photos of their blossoms, you may find yourself wanting one of these very easy-to-care-for plants!

Sylvia K., Don't you think it's fun (important) to be learning something new every once-in-awhile? :-)

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Willa, I took this series for my Aunt MEA (as well as for myself). :-)

Troutbirder, I understand. It's painful to have to get rid of a plant because you don't have room... the next time that happens to me, I'm going to head to the local care center or hospital, etc. to see if they'd like to keep it. Look up the Hoya blossom! They're the next "goal!"

Roger, I'm going to assume that's true! Interesting mental picture, though. ha!

Tumblewords: said...

My granddaughter keeps my mother's hoya and has since she was young and my mother passed. It's such a beautiful and rewarding plant! I posted on ABC H when it bloomed the last time - amazing, to be sure!

LisaF said...

This is a new plant to me. I'll have to find out what the flower looks like. Sounds like an interesting plant to grow.

D said...

Wow, SG, you have quite the green thumb. It has been a long time since I had indoor plants and this was one of them. I might have to reconsider and do some indoor plants...

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Tumblewords, I'm going to see if I can't locate your previous H post to see the plant in bloom! :-) What a wonderful inheritance.

LisaF, Thank you for your visit. It's an easy plant to grow. Wait and water when dry.

Di, I enjoy a few indoor plants... esp. when many of them can be outdoors during the summer! :-)

Kit Aerie-el said...

You won't forget the incredibly wonderful fragrance of the flowers once they bloom. And they are
gorgeous. They are so perfect, they look like plastic. Although I've never had trouble with the honeydew they are supposed to 'drip', I've heard you should be cautious under the blooms cuz they can drip sticky and icky stuff. Yes, that's a technical term. Your plant looks well on its way to some fine blooms for you!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Aerie-el, Thanks for the warning... I'm so excited to think the flower will someday bloom. I always appreciate the technical terms!! :::-)))

Nanka said...

Learnt a lot though don't do any gardening!! Loved the shots and one of them reminded me of a plant that we call here as "Rubber Plant".

Unknown said...

I have my mother's curly-leaved hoya and it is now blooming every summer in an east window. Wait til yours blooms and you will be even more in love with the Hoyas!
Thanks for a great H-day contribution,
Helen Mac, ABC Wednesday Team

Shady Gardener said...

Nanka, Thank you for your visit. I appreciate your leaving a comment... even if you don't garden. :-)

Hello helenmac. Aren't you so fortunate to have your mother's hoya? I'm happy to receive your encouragement. Thanks!

Pat said...

Hooray Hoya !
You did a nice job of bringing this plant to life.Have one tropical plant I bought this past winter and swore I'd remember the name.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Patsi, Thanks for the support. :-) Why don't you post a photo to see if someone could help with the ID?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I enjoyed your post. I had a hoya plant many years ago. I don't remember what became of it.

Those African violets are good looking. I can't keep them happy.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Sue, Do you remember if your hoya ever bloomed?