Hills' Hoya Page

Hoya Lacunosa and Lacunosa "Tove"

Type: Lacunosa leaves approximately 2.5-4cm long, "Tove" up to 6cm long. Named for the lacunose appearance of the leaves - lacunose means pitted.
I bought these plants mainly because they are promoted as good bloomers. The Lacunosa, top, came with a peduncle but it has lost that now. I wait this year to see if they will surprise me! The Lacunosa "Tove" apparently was named by a Danish nursery owner after his wife. It took me nearly six months to root this one, probably me being rubbish more than anything, but now it's growing. The new leaves and growth are red, quite attractive.
Both Lacunosa species are suitable for hanging, and branch like nobody's business.

Hoya Lauterbachii

Type: Leaves up to 11cm, extraordinarily furry!
I managed to trade for this plant, somehow. I was the happiest bunny ever when I got this plant, and still treat it with reverence... I know I will have to wait a few years for blooms, but I just love it for the fuzzy leaves... Mine sits in the warm tray in my front room where all the afternoon sun comes in and seems to love it there, even in early winter... although I'm thinking it's going to need a bigger pot! This plant really likes it WARM - it sulked all through the winter, looking horribly wrinkled, and only now it's warmer again is it looking filled out and is looking much healthier. Keeping it on a heat mat through the winter is probably what saved this plant for me. Next winter I'm going to consider leaving it in a clear plastic bag to keep the warmth up.

Thanks to Carol from Aloha Hoyas for this information... Hoya lauterbachii is an Eriostemma - a 'section' (man-contrived, of course) that are considered terrestial - they generally are growing along the forest floor looking for something to climb up. Once they find it, they scramble up until they get into their preferred light in the tops or near tops of the trees, then hang down and bloom. When they hang down, all the way, they hit the ground and scramble along the forest floor looking......etc. I find they are happiest in a shallow pot (rather than deep...I use a lot of bulb pots) and I let them go UP something. To bloom they want a lot of very HIGH light - even direct sun and warmth. I think that if you 'give it the bit' and let it climb UP something in your greenhouse you should see blooms.