HOYA
ONYCHOIDES
Hoyas
are tropical vines that grow better if kept above 50°, even though some
species tolerate near freezing temperatures for a while. They grow in the
shade and don't need a lot of water. Keep the soil slightly dry. Wet soils
can kill a Hoya fast. Hoyas are very good indoors and are very popular for
that reason. They don't like big pots and bloom better when root bound. Some
people grow them in hanging baskets and let them cascade. Others use a small
trellis to wrap the vines around. Hoyas are epiphytes, like orchids, therefore
the potting soil has to be porous. I suggest that you get a good quality potting
soil and mix about 1/3 of an orchid mix (bark, perlite, charcoal.) Fertilization
is average. Once Hoyas start to bloom they do so almost continuously but more
in during the warm weather. Some Hoyas are also very fragrant and some species
even smell like chocolate.
Hoya onychoides
A slow growing Hoya with
clusters of many deep maroon claw shaped flowers.
FAMILY
: Apocynaceae
ORIGIN : New
Guinea
SIZE : epiphyte
vine
LIGHT
REQUIREMENTS : bright
shade/partial sun
WATER
REQUIREMENTS : average
MIN. TEMP. : low
50's
FLOWER : warmer
months of the year / delicious fragrance at night
