2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
A visitor from the Asian tropics is not a frequent visitor to our homes. Those who are lucky to become the owner of Hoya do not cease to admire its wax star-shaped flowers, which adorn the plant for a long period, and evergreen wax leaves
Rod Hoya
More than two hundred species of evergreen climbing or climbing plants are united by the genus Hoya. The name of the family immortalized the name of an English gardener who lived at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, who was engaged in the cultivation of tropical plants in the garden of the English duke.
Hoya's ability to climb poles is used for vertical landscaping. Sometimes the plant is grown as ampelous. The attention of flower growers is attracted by its leaves and flowers, similar to miniatures molded from beeswax. Abundant and long-lasting flowering presents the world with star-shaped flowers of various colors.
Cultivated varieties
Of the huge number of natural species of Hoya, which lives in the warm Asian tropics and on the mysterious mainland, Australia, only two species are mainly grown in the indoor greenhouse culture:
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Hoya is beautiful (Hoya bella) - an evergreen erect shrub turns into a creeping plant when its stems become longer than 30 centimeters. Then it can be used as an ampelous plant with hanging branches covered with green fleshy small oval leaves. Depending on the type, the saturation of the green color can be different. In addition, the leaves can be variegated, covered with a pattern. Umbellate drooping inflorescences are collected from 8-10 fragrant flowers. The surface of the white-pink flower petals appears to be covered with wax. The core of the flower is pink, red or purple.
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Hoya meaty (Hoya carnosa) - in natural conditions it is a large liana. In an area with a mild climate, it can be grown in the open field, using it as a decorator for walls and other unsightly objects of a summer cottage. Shoots release aerial roots with which Hoya deftly clings to the support.
Shoots are covered with dark green oval leaves, located opposite to them. Two varieties have been developed with variegated leaves and less abundant flowering. The inflorescences-brushes of Hoya fleshy are collected from 15-20 slightly aromatic stellate flowers. The flowers are painted in shades from white to flesh-pink with a red heart.
Growing
Fleshy hoya is somewhat easier to grow. As a rule, an arc is installed for it as a support. Beautiful hoya is grown in hanging baskets and pots.
Hoya, grown in shady tropics, loves diffused light, and direct sunlight leaves burns on the leaves. Sharp changes in air temperature are contraindicated for her, and the best temperature for growth is 24 degrees. Do not experiment by bringing the temperature below plus 10 degrees. If the more stable Hoya fleshy can survive it, then for the beautiful Hoya this experiment will end in failure.
The plant does not like high humidity and excess water. In the summer, it is enough to water twice a week, and in winter it is watered once every 10 days or once every two weeks. In summer, she needs air humidity, and therefore it should be sprayed at least once a week, protecting it from moisture on its wax flowers. Summer air humidity can be maintained by placing the plant pot on damp expanded clay or damp pebbles.
In the summer, watering is periodically combined with mineral feeding, observing the proportion of 3: 1: 2 (respectively - nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium).
Transplant and maintenance of appearance
When the entire volume of the pot is filled with roots, the plant is transplanted into a larger container, filling it with well-drained soil.
The inflorescences are removed when all of its flowers have withered. A good sprinkling of the leaves is sufficient to maintain the appearance of the leaves.
Reproduction
Spring time is suitable for breeding Hoya. You can sow seeds using peat-sandy soil by transplanting the mature seedlings into personal cups with standard potting soil mixture.
And you can use apical spring cuttings, layering or propagate by grafting.
Diseases and pests
When creating comfortable conditions for the plant, excluding a lack or excess of moisture, Hoya does not cause much trouble. It can be affected by mealybugs, which are dealt with by removing them with a swab dipped in alcohol.
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