What is it that makes hoyas so irresistible that buying your first hoya often leads to having 40 in the few months to follow? In this listener favorite of the Best of Growing Joy series, I am bringing back a conversation with Doug Chamberlain of Vermont Hoya. Doug is one of the most beloved Hoya experts online, and we dive into their dazzling diversity, surprising care quirks, and intoxicating flowers.
Doug makes a very strong argument that every person in the world should care for Hoyas and know all the specifics that you need to know in order to get your Hoyas thriving and ideally blooming. So whether you're new to Hoya or you're already knee-deep in gorgeous leaves and peduncles, this conversation is going to leave you inspired to grow joyfully and with confidence.
In this episode, we learn:
- [00:00] Doug's Plant Parent History and introduction to Hoya and his Ideal Hoya Setup
- [11:11] Where hoyas live in nature
- [14:00] Why are hoyas called “the wax plant”
- [15:20] Where Hoya got its name
- [15:40] General Care Guidelines for All Hoyas
- [16:29] Doug's Setup Up (and humidity hacks)
- [19:50] What does a sunburn look like on a Hoya leaf?
- [21:00] Best Watering Practices for Hoya
- [24:00] Words of encouragement from Doug when you have a hoya fail
- [25:30] If Hoyas like to be potbound
- [26:26] How to pot up a hoya
- [27:50] Best potting mix for a Hoya
- [32:00] What is a peduncle?
- [33:50] What is bud blast?
- [34:27] Why does a hoya bud fall off before it blooms?
- [35:15] How to get your hoya to bloom
- [38:00] How frequently does a Hoya bloom
- [39:00] Is there a hack to force Hoya to flower?
- [39:30] 5 Easiest Hoyas to Care for
- [44:20] Rarer Hoya's for Advanced Plant Parents
- [47:10] Matchmaking for the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personalities!
- [53:00] How to fertilize hoyas
- [54:00] Propagation tips
- [57:00] Tips for stimulating leaf growth
Mentioned in our conversation:
- See photo gallery for names and pictures of all Hoyas mentioned
- KLN Concentrate Rooting Hormone
Struggling to keep your Hoya blooming all year round?
Check out the full show notes and blog for expert tips on making your Hoyas grow successfully!
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