A pot plant that produces interesting, beautiful flowers, with a minimum of attention is the hoya. Hoyas are also known as wax flowers and can be grown as house plants as well as in bush or green houses.
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They also grow very well in sheltered, outdoor areas. Hoyas originate from Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia.
Hoya carnosa is the most common variety, producing flowers that vary from white through to a delicate pink colour and having a sweet perfume, particularly evident on summer nights. Hoya australis is a native Australian variety.
Many varieties of hoyas are available, producing flowers ranging in colour from white through to deep crimson. Flowers are generally produced in clusters of individual blooms and range in size from a couple of centimetres across to larger ones that can reach about six centimetres in diameter.
The individual florets that make up the flowering heads also vary greatly in shape and colour and are often glistening in appearance.
Hoyas also produce a wide variety of leaf shapes, making individual plants even more attractive. Some leaves are long and thin, while others are broader and flatter. Leaves are generally fleshy in nature, allowing the plants to withstand some periods of dryness.
Most hoyas flower during the summer months, with peak flowering times being at the beginning and end of the warmer months. A shaded position with good light is ideal. Plants that are growing in positions that receive low levels of light will generally fail to flower successfully. Protection from frosts and cold winds is a requirement.
Some hoyas take several years to commence flowering, while others come into bloom while still quite young plants. The application to the soil of a fertiliser that has a high proportion of potash will encourage flowering.
Many hoyas have a twining growth habit which is ideal for displaying their mainly pendulous flowers. Plants should be grown in a good quality, free draining potting mix.
Plants resent the disturbance of their root systems, and generally seem to flower more prolifically when the plant has become somewhat pot-bound.
Hoya flowers are produced on a stalk which remains on the plant and produces flowers over many seasons. For this reason, gardeners should, in general, void picking hoya flowers as this will reduce the numbers of flowers produced by the plant.
However, an older plant that has become woody and less productive of flowers can be reinvigorated through the removal of excessive flowering stalks and woody stems. Initial subsequent flowering will be delayed but ultimate flowering will be enhanced.
Care should be taken to avoid the milky sap produced when cutting hoya stems as this can be an irritant to some people.
Propagation of hoyas is achieved through placing tip cuttings that have been allowed to rest for several days so that the stems seals over, into a light, free-draining mixture.
Individual leaves with a short stem attached can be planted out as tip cuttings. Aerial layering, and planting out seeds straight after collection are other methods of propagation.
Some of the more interesting varieties of hoyas that are available include; Indian rope, red buttons, krimson princess, pink silver, shooting stars and fish fail.
The names of these varieties are often descriptive of the growth habit or leaf shape or colouring. Many plants available commercially have descriptive photos and information attached to the plant, indicating the preferred position for optimum growth.
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