Why Does Hoya Shed Leaves? Home Care. Photo

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Why Does Hoya Shed Leaves? Home Care. Photo
Why Does Hoya Shed Leaves? Home Care. Photo

Video: Why Does Hoya Shed Leaves? Home Care. Photo

Video: Why Does Hoya Shed Leaves? Home Care. Photo
Video: Plant Clinic Ep 4 | Troubleshooting Hoyas & Hoya Care Guide 2024, March
Anonim

Once I went to visit a friend, I was shocked by the beauty of white inflorescences on one of the plants. They were like an exquisite toy, made by a skilled jeweler - waxy luster and absolute symmetry of the petals. "This is hoya!" - I was amazed. But before she did not pay special attention to her, because she had never seen her flowers. Of course, soon this tropical vine appeared in my collection. But growing hoya I ran into a problem. Some leaves first changed color and then began to fall off. I found the reason. Why hoya sheds leaves, I will tell in this article.

Why does hoya shed leaves?
Why does hoya shed leaves?

Content:

  • Hoya types
  • Hoya conditions and care
  • Why does hoya shed leaves?

Hoya types

Having received a new young plant as a gift from a friend, I began to look for which species it belongs to. The inflorescences seen helped to determine. It turned out that I have the most common fleshy hoya (Hoya carnosa). I was glad that she is unpretentious and requires very little attention.

She comes from the tropics of Sri Lanka, Asia, Polynesia, the Philippines. It belongs to succulents, it is able to accumulate moisture, it develops in nature, relying on the trunks of taller plants or trees. It does not parasitize, but simply seeks support.

Of the many naturally occurring hoya species, only a few have taken root as houseplants. It:

  • Beautiful Hoya (Hoya bella) - a very decorative dwarf type of hoya;
  • Hoya multiflora (Hoya multiflora) - has up to 40 flowers in each inflorescence and lemon scent;
  • Hoya majestic (Hoya imperialis) - pink-red flowers are collected in hanging umbrellas;
  • Kerr Hoya (Hoya Kerrii) - as Hoya carnosa, very popular, has large leaves in the shape of an inverted heart.

The conditions for caring for all indoor types of hoya are almost the same. Therefore, my advice will be useful to flower growers who grow not fleshy, but other types of hoya.

Hoya meaty (Hoya carnosa)
Hoya meaty (Hoya carnosa)

Hoya conditions and care

In nature, the hoya climbs high, clinging to the trunks and branches of trees. During tropical showers, it tries to store life-giving moisture for the future and almost never sees bright sunlight. It is clear that the hoya will require similar conditions from the owners who grow it in the apartment.

Temperature

The plant is thermophilic, it is comfortable at temperatures of + 18 … + 27 degrees all year round. But nevertheless, the hoya reaches its greatest decorativeness not in the heat, but in the cool - about + 20 ° C.

Bases of problems the flower will live for several days at + 15 ° С, but a longer stay in such a room or further cooling disrupts the work of the roots and can lead to the death of the plant.

Lighting

Being in direct sun, the vine gets severe burns, but it needs good lighting. Placing on a southwest or southeast window with light shading or on west and east windows without installing screen protectors is the best solution for hoya.

She needs to choose a place of residence immediately and for a long time. She really does not like moving, especially during the period of budding and flowering. If disturbed at this time, she will most likely begin to shed leaves, buds and flowers.

Watering and humidifying the air

In the organization of watering for hoya, it is necessary to take into account 2 points: the vine does not tolerate waterlogging and in winter it has a dormant period. By October, after the end of flowering, watering is gradually reduced, reducing to rare moisture when the earthy coma dries out almost completely. From the beginning of March, they begin to increase the frequency and volume of irrigation. But all the same, watering for hoya should be moderate, and only after the top layer of the substrate has dried.

I noticed that even periods of artificial drought with a delay in hydration for 2-3 days are useful for hoye. But not during bud formation. I do not adhere to a strict irrigation schedule, I check the condition of the soil. If it has dried out to the length of the phalanx of the finger, then it's time for watering. Water should not be allowed to accumulate in the pan, from its stagnation the roots of the plant begin to rot. I remove the excess with a regular sponge.

This vine really appreciates rubbing leaves or taking a warm shower. A mandatory point - the pot must be closed for this time from water ingress. I tighten it on top with cling film or gently tilt it after a shower, pouring out the excess. After this procedure, the flower is not watered for about a week.

Hoya Kerrii
Hoya Kerrii

Top dressing

In the case of hoya, you should not get carried away with complex fertilizers. In winter, they are not needed at all, during the flowering period I water my vine with "Kemira" once a month. Dosage in liquid form - half a measuring cap for 2 liters of water, or 0.5 teaspoon of granules in a three-liter jar. I immediately pour out the excess, the solution is suitable for use only during the day.

I heard the opinion that these lianas take well the mineral gel for orchids "Agrecol". I haven't tried it myself, my handsome man is still blooming, not up to experiments. About once every 2 months I water it with water from the aquarium. That's all the feeding. Hoya fleshy does not like oversaturation, shedding buds and leaves.

Transfer

This is a very crucial moment. It is carried out with a frequency of once every 2-3 years, as the soil depletes and the root system grows. This was where my mistake lay, for which the plant paid off with the loss of half the leaves. It turns out that after the transplant, the vine cannot be watered for about a week. And I also chose a pot too big. And succulents do not tolerate when there is no support for the roots.

It's good that my flower turned out to be tenacious, and my friend suggested the cause of the ailment. I did not transplant again, but arranged a "dry period" for my hoya and sprayed it with "Epin" once every 14 days. It belongs to natural biostimulants, increases endurance and resistance to external factors, the plant becomes stronger, regeneration is accelerated. One ampoule is enough for 5 liters of water, the solution is only good for 48 hours.

When choosing a substrate for planting, you need to take into account that the roots need air, so a drainage layer of fine expanded clay is required. For hoya, I compiled the soil myself, mixing peat, humus, sand and garden soil at a rate of 1: 1: 1: 2 and added a handful of chopped bark there. In the proposed mixture, the vine took root well. Next time I will try a substrate for palm trees or orchids.

Hoya beautiful (Hoya bella)
Hoya beautiful (Hoya bella)
Hoya multiflora (Hoya multiflora)
Hoya multiflora (Hoya multiflora)
Hoya majestic (Hoya imperialis)
Hoya majestic (Hoya imperialis)

Why does hoya shed leaves?

After observing the hoya, I realized that it reacts by dumping green mass to many factors:

  • frequent change of residence;
  • chronic waterlogging;
  • lack of light;
  • depletion of the soil;
  • the onset of a dormant period;
  • decay of roots;
  • too spacious a pot;
  • improperly selected soil;
  • the appearance of pests.

By the way, the plant can warn about many problems. For example, thin leaves indicate the need for watering. If they are dense and fleshy, wide in diameter, then the plant has made a sufficient supply of moisture and you can wait with watering.

Yellowed and deformed young leaves and shoots inform about the appearance of pests. Decay of the roots is clearly indicated by falling leaves, the appearance of a grayish bloom at the base of the stem near the ground.

Having found out the cause, it is quite easy to eliminate it and keep the plant healthy. My hoya bloomed in the fourth year. The flowers opened up and gave off a wonderful honey scent, and transparent droplets of moisture glittered on the edges of some of the petals. I was again captivated by the restrained beauty of the plant.

Only now you have to ventilate the room more often. Due to the rich aroma, I moved the pot from the bedroom to the hall. Fortunately, the rooms are located on one, southeast side, so the move went unnoticed by the plant.

Now my meaty hoya is healthy and full of strength, all the leaves are in place and are not going to fall off, which I sincerely wish for your vines.

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