Hoya camphorifolia

Hoya camphorifolia is a gem of a plant.  Easy to root from cuttings, very quick to grow and flower.  It is one of the first Hoyas I ever managed to get to flowering.  I grow this one warm, bringing it inside in fall once the nights drop down consistently into the 50s.  It is also one of the few Hoyas that I actually give true shade to.  Watering is to keep is gently, consistently moist.

If you are familiar with growing orchids, basically this one likes cultural conditions very similar to a Phal.

I bought this as a rooted cutting from SRQ, and it had bloomed for the first time about a year later. Since then, it blooms all summer long for me. The flowers are on the small side, but very cute. I have heard reports that the fragrance is less than desirable, akin to dirty socks, but I have never detected any scent from the flowers.  It is simply a great Hoya, especially for newbies who want something a little different from the carnosa complex.

Edit - 8/11/12

Here is an updated picture of the whole plant, showing about 10 penduncles blooming or close to blooming at the same time.

Brassavolas

I've made a string of Hoya posts, so it is time for some orchids.  Today I'll cover the Brassavolas I have.  I only have four of this genus, acaulis, nodosa, culcullata and subulifolia.  Out of all of them the acaulis is the one I'm having some trouble with.  I mounted it shortly after I received it, and it sat there sulking for a year.  Just a week ago I noticed a new growth and new root branches, so maybe it has decided to live.

Brassavolas belong to the Cattleya alliance, and I grow mine warm, very strong light and allowing to dry out in between waterings.  Two are mounted, and two are potted right now.  By very strong light, I mean direct sun for about 4 hours during the summer.  This picture is B. nodosa, also known as the "Lady of the Night" orchid due to it's very strong perfumy fragrance that is only at night.  A common orchid, and included in the average orchid grower's collection.

The Brassavola to the left is B. subulifolia, also known as B. cordata. I have trouble blooming this plant, I don't find it as easy to grow and bloom as B. nodosa. This plant requires almost direct sun all day to grow well and bloom. It is in a net pot, with Hydroton as the media. I don't think I'll ever get it out of there. But it seems happy enough right now.

And the picture below belongs to B. culcullata, a recent aquisition for me.  Again a lovely night time fragrance, which imo is more delicate tha nodosa's fragrance.  More like jasmine.  It is currently potted, but once done blooming, I will mount it.  Hopefully it doesn't sulk for a year like the acaulis did.

Hoya polyneura

Hoya polyneura is considered by many to be a cool growing Hoya.  I've not had trouble with it here in Florida though.  It seems to not mind our hot and humid summers as long as it is watered often.

I do leave it outside year round down to freezing temperatures. Watered a little less often in the cooler temperatures of winter, and given bright sunlight during the coolness of winter, shaded light during the heat of summer. It seems to require more fertilizer than the typical Hoya.

This Hoya is relatively easy to grow, as long as you pay attention to the plant.  When it needs watered a little more often, the stems droop.  When it needs fertilized more, the leaves yellow.

This is one of the Hoyas that I am experimenting with growing in S/H.  The cuttings rooted very well in S/H, and continue to grow quickly.

I've only flowered this once, last fall.  Hopefully as it continues to grow, it will continue to flower well in the fall.

Semi-Hydro

I thought I'd talk about growing in Semi-Hydro (S/H).  This technique was developed by First Rays, and if you haven't had a chance to check out his site, well it's one of the best out there.  It was developed for growing orchids, but I have to admit, I've killed every orchid I ever tried in it.  But the Hoyas, especially the ones that like to be kept on the moist side, grow bonkers in it.  Here are a couple pictures of a plant that I received a little over a year ago named Hoya multiflora.  I do suspect though that it is really Hoya javanica.

After only a little over one year, growing in S/H, this plant has bloomed numerous times, and is about 24 inches tall already.  I have tried about 20 different Hoyas in S/H.  Most just recently so no results yet.  But interesting, Hoya cumingiana, which when grown traditionally, needs to dry out well in order to bloom, is growing and has bloomed in S/H.

Summer is here

Well it has been a while since I wrote anything.  The next couple days I should have a lot to add though. With summer arriving, the Hoyas are growing and blooming away.  I'm going to be putting together a Hoya list, of all the Hoyas I have soon.

But, here is one I have had for almost three years now.  I received it from SRQ Hoyas (which I can't praise enough).  It bloomed for the first time last summer, and this summer it is putting on a show.  The frangrance of this Hoya is odd to me.  Kind of smells like rotten oranges and cinnamon mixed together.  I have seen others describe it as a mixture of dill and cinnamon.  But no matter the fragrance, it is a vigorous plant for me.  I currently have it potted in coconut coir in a 5 inch pot with slits on the sides.  I allow it to dry out completely before watering again, and it gets full sun from about 10am to 2pm.


Hoya cumingiana







Hoya cumingiana close-up







 

Hoya cumingiana close-up



Dendrobium aberrans

I received this plant in bloom from Tropical Orchid Farm about a year ago.  This is it's first rebloom with 9 spikes. D. aberrans has a delicate sweet fragrance, and is a nice compact grower.  I decided to mount it horizontally, and am hoping that it thrives well enough to take over the mount someday.  It grows outside during the warmer months, but is brought inside and grown under lights after the nights start dropping down into the 50s (F). 

Dendrobium hodgkinsonii

An interesting Latouria Dendrobium, hodgkinsonii is suspected by some to be a natural hybrid.  I acquired this plant in March of 2011 from Michels Orchids at the OSWP show.  This is the first rebloom, with 3 spikes.  I water and fertilize year round, although slightly reduced in winter.  It is also grown under warm conditions.