Hoya carnosa complex

I really have no idea whether these following plants are all closely related, but they look like it, so I'll put them all here in one post.  Also, I pretty much grow all these under the same conditions, except for one - fungii.  Most of them get very bright light, allowed to dry completely between waterings, and left outside in the winter down to freezing temperatures. Fungii though is kept shaded, and more even waterings, although I do let it stay outside with the rest in winter.

Since fungii requires different culture, I'll start with it.

Hoya fungii

     

Hoya carnosa - regular

Hoya dasyantha

Hoya Ban Nong Noy

And Hoya rubra



Hoya cagayanensis

I received a cutting of this plant going on three years ago.  It has grown very quickly in that time, but it never bloomed.  This summer I put it outside in a little more light.  Whether it needed that extra light, or it was just finally ready to bloom?  But I'll keep it in the extra light from now on just in case.  This is one I do bring inside in the winter, and due to its height, it doesn't get much sun during the winter.  So I keep it a little dryer during that time.  In the spring/summer/fall though while it is outside, I do try to keep it a little moist.  It is currently growing in a fine orchid bark mix, when it is due to be repotted, it will be switched over to my Turface/Perlite mix.

I also started a cutting in S/H and it is growing well, hasn't bloomed yet.  As for rooting cuttings, cagayanensis is one of the easiest for me.  Just stick the cut end in S/H rooting set up and within a week, it has little nubs starting.  One thing to point out is the leaves on this plant are very different.  They are shimmery, it is hard to catch that in the photos, but in person, they are very intriguing.

Encyclias

I don't grow many Encyclias, not sure why though, as I find them just wonderful orchids.  Although many of them look alike at first glance, when you take a moment and really check them out, you find charming differences between them.  And really, the fragrance so many of them have, alone is worth growing this genus. Many consider their culture requirements to be similar to Brassavolas.  Very high light levels, warm to hot conditions, dry out well in between waterings.  I have a couple Encyclias - profusa and parviflora that I have always followed this advice.  Funny these two haven't bloomed for me.  But other Encyclias that I leave outside year round, with cool to cold winters (see my below Vandaceous post for description) have bloomed.  Oh well, as I have learned, more than one way to grow an orchid.  I'm going to just place the pictures here in a row of the few I have.



Enanthleya Middleburg 'Maj'   (Cattlianthe Bactia x Encyclia phoenicea)



Encyclia alata x Encyclia tampensis

Encyclia Lee Ward (E. adenocaula x E. tampensis)

Encyclia Lee Ward (E. adenocalula x E. tampensis)

Catyclia Florida 'Pine Knot'  (C. dowiana x Encyclia cordigera)

Catyclia Florida 'Pine Knot' (C. dowiana x Encyclia cordigera)

Encyclia phoenicea

Encyclia alata

Dendrobium convolutum

D. convolutum is a Dendrobium in the Latouria section.  Many of the Latouria section Dens prefer to be grown under warm conditions, and do not like to dry out completely.  D. convolutum thrives for me under these general conditions.  Intermediate level light, slightly under typical Cattleya levels seem to give my plant the best growth and flowers.  This plant, while still small for it's species, puts out spikes for a couple months in the summer, therefore it is almost always in bloom during the warmer months.  The individual flowers last for weeks, and are very interesting. Here are a few different views of the plant.

Hoya blashernaezii IML 1631

I received this plant in September of 2011, so less than a year ago.  I find it an amazingly fast grower.  For example, I took a cutting in January to test it in S/H, and look at it already, 7 months later.

This is in S/H, I just have the plastic pot set inside a net pot for hanging.  Also, this is my first set of flowers.  Interestingly, the original plant this cutting was taken from is growing well, but hasn't bloomed yet, nor even started a penduncle.  So glad I decided to try this one in S/H.

I've only had this plant for a year, so I'm not sure what the best growing conditions are for it.  Last winter, I brought it inside to be kept warm, and most of the growth started  after it was put back outside in spring.  I think for now, I'm not going to change anything.

Hopefully it will continue to grow well, and I'll see more of these absolutely lovely flowers.







Edit 9/8/12 - so a month ago I complained the original plant hadn't bloomed.  It must have heard me, because it decided to start growing a few penduncles.  Growing in Turface/Perlite mix, kept moist.

Cold tolerant Vandaceous

Most people will tell you Vandas need constant warmth in order to grow well, and that is true of most Vandas and their close relatives.  But there are some that don't.  Here are three I grow that I leave outside year round, unless a frost/freeze is forecasted.



Neofinitia falcata



My average night temperature is 35 - 40F in mid winter, and those temps last about 6 weeks.  But during the day, the temps do rise to 50 - 60F.  I hang them where they are somewhat protected from rain, but also where they get a lot of direct sun.  While these get watered every day in the summer, with the rest of the Vandaceous, in the winter time, since it is cold outside, I water them maybe twice a week, during the warm part of the day.



Vanda cristata



I rarely fertilize during the colder months, maybe once every two weeks, as since they are outside in the cold, their growth is slowed. But as soon as the weather warms up in early spring, they are put back into the daily watering and minimum twice a week fertlizing process.

Vanda Bill Burke is a primary hybrid between V. denisoniana and V. cristata.  While V. denisoniana is a known warm grower, this hybrid has performed well for me after spending the last two winters outside.  Guess the V. cristata passed along it's cold tolerance.

Vanda Bill Burke

Hoya limoniaca

One of my favorite Hoyas, a very fast grower, and it was quick to bloom.  I grow this one two ways.  The original plant is in coir right now, but when it is due to be repotted, it will be moved to a Turface/Perlite mixture.  The other way is in S/H.  The semi-hydro plant is also allowed to hang naturally instead of being wound around a trellis.  Both bloom often in the summer.

These plants both receive a lot of sun, warm conditions, and the one to the left is kept evenly moist while actively growing, and allowed to dry slightly in winter.

By a lot of sun, it is receiving direct sun from a little after sunrise, until about 2pm during the summer.  Unfortunately in winter, I cannot give it that level of light, which is why I reduce watering somewhat.