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Home , Hoya (plant), Hoya carnosa

� theindoorgarden

Wallflower or Belle of the Ball? IT'S NOT THE MOST POPULAR AROUND, AND THAT'S A SHAME. IS PRETTY, FRAGRANT, DROUGHT-TOLERANT AND EASY TO PROPAGATE. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?

BY LINDA GARTZ

s there a perfect houseplant? Ellen Zachos thinks it's the hoya, sometimes called the wax . "II love the variety and succulence of the foliage that makes them drought tolerant and low maintenance. They have beautiful , many are extremely fragrant, and I'm fond of -so I can hang them in my windows. It all adds up to the perfect plant." Ellen is coordinator of the gar­ dening program in continuing edu­ cation at the New York Botanical Garden. She likes hoyas so much, she wanted to share-so a fewyears ago, she gave Chicago's Lincoln Park Conservatory its first hoyas. But she's .kept plenty forherself. Ellen grows more than 100 of hoya's 200 or so spe­ cies in her home. This kind of dedication to the hoya is unusual, at least in the Chicagoland Flowers of resemble tiny area. Michelle Wheeler, horticulturist shooting stars (above). Other hoyas have for Good Earth Greenhouse in River flattened, star-like blooms in clusters, such as H. 'Silver Pink' (right). Forest says, "They're not trendy. We some also come from and the don't get much of a call for them." Himalayas. Growing in dappled sun­ That sentiment was echoed repeatedly light means hoyas can find happiness as in my informal poll of several widely , but they do require some disbursed local garden centers-though sun to thrive and blossom. most carry at least a few off and "The biggest mistake people make on during the year. with hoyas is over-watering and put­ So what will it take to transform this ting them in a dark room," says Regina wallflower into the belle of the house­ Gardino of Gardino Nursery Corp. in wide-range of colors and sizes. They plant ball? We just have to get to know Delray Beach, Florida, whose website often bloom fromspring to fall, but her a little better-to let her irresistible features twelve varieties of hoya. "The species like or Hoya features speak forthemselves. more light you give hoyas, the more lobbii, with its two-tone pink , Culture they will bloom for you." can bloom year-round. "Hoyas have Hoyas share an exotic pedigree. And you do want to encourage to be a certain age and pot-bound to Tropical epiphytes in nature (meaning blooming since the flowers are just bloom," says Zachos, "but there's no they grow on or attached to another one more fabulous feature of this hard and fast rule as to when." living plant), they originate primarily underappreciated plant. Hoyas bear "It really depends on the species," in the understory of rainforests in from twelve to several dozen star­ says Regina Gardino. "For example such far-flunglocales as , China, shaped, waxy flowers hanging in Hoya multiflora [with flowers that look , and the , but (like small umbrellas), in a like tiny shooting stars] will bloom

18 CHICAGOLANO GARDENING • MARCH I APRIL 2007 theindoorgarden in 4-inch pots but the Hoya imperialis [with wide, open, star-like flowers] will take two or three years to bloom. Most of the hoyas we sell will bloom in one or two years." An unobstructed eastern exposure (no trees, awnings, blinds, etc.) is usu­ ally ideal, but a southern exposure can work too. "I have lots of my hoyas in southern exposure, but they're usually the variegated type. Some may fadesomewhat in full sun, but if that's all you've got, just put up a sheer curtain or move them a little away P HOTO COURTESY OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOYA SOCIETY from the window," suggests Zachos. mineral oil to a soap solution in a Adding artificial light (fluorescent shop fixtures aren't good enough) is 6-inch dish pan and covering both another possibility if your indoor sides of the leaves for 15 minutes. "The oil is needed to penetrate the space is really light deprived. bugs' mealy covering," she says. Most advice cautions against removing the little nub (the ) Propagation that's left over after the flowers fall Cuttings are the ideal way to propa­ offsince many hoyas will reset their gate these , and Zachos has devel­ blooms from this nub. To be safe, leave oped her own special method. "They the peduncle in place, although some readily produce roots and long vining species are said to create new ones for stems. Take a cutting 4 to 6 inches long each new blooming cycle. and break off the bottom two leaves. Then let it sit on a shelf for six to eight Picks for Beginners hours to form a callous. After it hardens So which species makes the most off, wrap the cut end in a moist paper sense for beginners? Zachos recom­ mends any Hoya camosa. "It's ideal towel and put it in a zippered plastic for a beginner, both because it's easy bag. Blow it up to seal in the moist, to grow and easy to find. Hoya bella is poofy air. Check it regularly to be sure petite and pretty. In a 4-inch pot, it's the towel is staying moist (spray with water if not). When you see roots good for a small amount of space. Also beginning to form, remove the paper good for limited space is Hoya curtisii. towel (don't damage the roots-it's ok It's got leaves a little smaller than a to include a bit of the towel) and plant dime and gets a red tint in the sun. it in a soilless potting mix." Hoya lacunosa's flowers are small and not showy, but it has a great fragrance." Add "easy to propagate" to all Regina Gardino would add Hoya of hoya's other alluring traits, yet it multiflora, H. pachyclada, H. australis, remains relatively unknown. Lois H. 'Silver Pink', H. diptera, and H. kerii McDermott, buyer for the indoor to the list forstarting out. plants at Pasquesi Home and Gardens, Barrington and Lake Forest, says, "It's Pests not a very popular plant, but people As faras pests are concerned, Jan love them when I explain how hardy Kehe, indoor plant buyer for Geimer they are and how little care they Greenhouse in Long Grove, says, actually need. You can either hang them "Mealybugs seem to be the most or let them grow up a small trellis. You common problem. If you catch them don't have to worry about transplanting early, they're easy to get rid of. You them because they like to be pot-bound. can use a soap solution on a cotton They can make people without much of swab and dab at the cotton candy-like a green thumb feel successful." growths. Or you can use a systemic in Well, what are you waiting for? It's the soil as a prev�ntive measure every time to ask the hoya to dance! � six weeks." Ellen Zachos suggests adding a little

CHICAGOLAND GARDENING • MARCH I APRIL 2007 19