What's more, the sizes, colors, splashes, protruding veins on the leaves from the same hoya plant can vary dramatically depending on the growing conditions, which makes hoyas fascinating, like a mystery to be solved.
I love my Hoyas, but I only get the ones that LOOK beautiful to me. I don’t care about blooms, rarity, etc. I care about esthetic and if it brings me joy
Exactly!! Chances are it won't be blooming most of the time, so I make sure to get ones that I actually like the foliage, since it'll only be those leaves probably 90% of the time for me at least 😂 I'm newer to Hoyas so it'll be probably a while before I get any blooms lol
Agreed! I love my hoyas, they're the easiest plants I own. And I also don't give a toss about rarity and stuff like that, I have them because I like the way they look.
For me it's a huge bonus that most come in small cuttings. I have both the joy of growing a plant myself and also, due to limited space, I can control its growth however I like. In addition to that, it's one of the best genus for plant collectors. The variety and differences between hoyas is mindblowing.
That aloe behind you is stunning Harli! I agree, Hoyas are definitely mealy magnets, but I absolutely love them 😅. To combat the mealies, I keep a few bottles of 70% isopropyl alcohol around the house to spray them directly. I also shower my Hoyas a few times a year.
My mom has mealy bugs on her hoyas. I’ve been trying to help her by removing them every time I go over but it’s hard to keep up. Do you dilute it or just spray it directly?
@@em5140diatomaceous earth is fantastic for discouraging mealies. Sprinkle on the potting mix. If you have a bad infestation on the leaves spray with Groventine (systemic) & sprinkle with diatomaceous earth as well. Problem solved 👍
@@em5140from what I’ve read you do 70% alcohol to 30% water And sprayed directly onto the plant and also the backs of the leaves. I did this to one of my lipstick plants, and it worked great.
Same! I'm obsessed! I disagree with so many of the things Harli has experienced. My hoyas have never gotten pests, they are thriving in a north window, they look amazing, and they are so easy to know what they want. I don't ever have sap leak from the flowers which is odd... I do have the white sap if I cut the plant though.
@@anniewiebe my hoyas are very easygoing too. I personally have never experienced mealy bugs on mine fortunately. I get the sap leak only on my wayetii but no others. It’s just a slightly sticky clear residue. The wayetii is probably my favourite flower too, I love the smell. The flower mess is not the end of the world to deal with imo as I love the blooms, but I also don’t have 100-150 of them. I have 15-20 😋
Love my Hoya. They are so beautiful on my shelf and window sills. So easy in my opinion, water every other week and enjoy the new leaves and flowers when they come. I do agree about mealies, but I don’t let them touch so they don’t spread. You were my gateway to Hoya, during the pandemic. But opinions change - to each their own. Love you even if we disagree. ❤
Aww. My Hoyas are my favorite plant children, basically for all the reasons you stated minus the mealy bug issue. I’ve only had that issue once and was able to remedy pretty quickly and I’m not the best plant up-keeper with my 4 kids. I love the runners that shoot out because I know my babies are about to put on a spectacular show with their new beautiful leaves coming in. Only one of mine has bloomed (Krohriana) and it smells beautifully and very strong as you stated. I have not had an issue with sap droppings from it through and it has been pushing out blooms consistently since May (now July). I do have a few of my Hoyas in lower light situations and they have been doing fine. I wouldn’t say they are thriving, but they are growing, just at a slower pace. I keep mine for the foliage so, I don’t mind if they don’t bloom, but the blooms are a nice bonus when they do! I’m sorry yours have been a negative experience for you. 😢
I love tiny plants because I can keep more of them in small spaces and so hoya work really well for me. I am really intentional about only getting hoya where I love the foliage in some way whether that is that they're variegated or fuzzy or have a cool growth pattern. I hear you on the drawbacks though! My multiflora blooms a lot and they drop everywhere and make a mess.
I guess your hoys are probably quite confused how you want them to behave. You hate them blooming because it's messy, but then, you also complain that it took too long for them to bloom. 😁
I do like hoyas, especially veiny and prehistoric looking ones. None of others plants can give that vibe. I do cut flowers because I get them only for their leaves. When I cut them I just hold and press a paper towel to stop the sap leaking.
I’m so glad you mentioned your troubles with Mealy bugs and Hoyas! I have been dealing with the same problem for years. No matter how good I am with keeping up on systemic treatments, topical sprays, or even just rinsing the leaves, at least one Hoya in my collection has mealy bugs.
All of your cons do not outweigh the pros. Mealys are not the worst pest. They are lower maintenance than a lot of other plants and less likely to die and that is HUGE. Getting small cuttings and being slow-ish growing means you have more! For me, growing something from a small plant is so rewarding. Waiting for blooms for 1-2 years is so rewarding! I love the wait. For me, It is not satisfying to buy a full plant from the store. I want to experience the plant's journey and take pride in its growth. I am mad at my philodendrons. They take up so much space, the leaves are always getting stuck, they need moss poles which are ugly and high maintenance and get spider mites and thrips.
I’m a complete hoya head! I can’t stop won’t stop 😂 but, the ones I have that bloom often- they are so beautiful, love the blooms and the smell- but dang they make such a mess!
Never even thought about how systemics are taken up by the plant when watered and yeah I don’t water. my Hoyas very often so that is a very interesting little piece of information there to keep in mind
I agree with your list of hoya issues. I especially don't like the mealies and the mess after flowering. I will slowly be reducing my collection if I can get rid of the plants. I don't like giving them away because of the original cost I put out and also because I worry they won't get into a good home, but it is getting harder to find people who want them. I think their massive popularity is coming to an end. Oh, another thing, after a while the flowers start looking alike. It is cool that they bloom, but really? the flowers just don't compare to most plant's flowers.
I appreciate this video but I’ve never had a problem with mealy bugs and my Hoya collection. I think you just got one bad plant and it infected your entire collection. I love my Hoya!! They are so sturdy, beautiful, varied, have gorgeous funky smelling blooms, and they’re just so fun to grow and observe!
I love this video and you have completely valid points. There’s something about Hoyas that make me so so happy though. I still love them and want more. 😄 I don’t want the cat pee smelling one though. 😂
I just bought my first two hoyas, and this was the video I needed. I thought I had seen enough videos and read enough articles to prepare me to care for them. I can just stop at two and see how it goes.
I agreed 100% with you on this one. At one time I had 35 species, looking to get more. Then one day, I realized that they were growing so long and so fast. Where could I hang them? How can I keep them out of my way when dusting? They were not flowering-just growing. Vines everywhere!! That was it for me. I now have only 4 species, and they flower at different times of the year, and I love it! Thank you for your wonderful video. I truly enjoyed it.
Love your channel even though I disagree with your position on Hoya. I had to cut back on my Philos in lieu of Hoyas because I appreciate the show growth and smaller footprint. I hate moss poles but I don’t mind cute trellises.
I love Hoyas, but only for the leaves- the blooms are very rare for me, they're messy and don't last long anyway. For consistent blooms I'm all about the glorious lipstick plants, my all time favorite plant! My pride and joy, a giant gracilis lipstick plant, starting blooming before Christmas in 2023 and hasn't stopped since. I'm just waiting to see if it's going to be a year round bloomer!
The down falls are the mealy attraction they have. Thru just pop up and then disappear. Treat, don’t treat, you’re gonna have mealies once you see them.
I got my first Hoya last summer and love them. Haven’t had mealys but struggle with flatmites from a Hoya from home depot or Lowes and struggle to rid of them and those flatmites spread
I am a Hoya person❤ I love them when they're a little tiny, I love to watch them get bigger. I think through the perfect thing for a cabinet, Not all the sap is white. Only certain type of hoya most of them are clear. I've never had trouble getting him off. As long as you just wipe it off as soon as it gets on, maybe it was drying on you. But it's o k not to like the same plants as some people. I personally find it so rewarding to start with just a few leaves and like a year later. Maybe two years you have a big plan and remember how you started... It's a real achievement. Play a definitely get into your heart. By when I first saw them. I didn't like them I thought they all looked the same. When I saw them in person. I saw that how different they were in. The more deeper I get into collecting the more completely unusual ones I have. There are some Hoya that when people come in my house. That's the first thing they go for, For instance hindu rope especially varigated.😮 All the Non plant people be like what is that. Otherwise my florida beauty probably gets the most attention. I have a tendency to collect. Sunscreers.. So I have such a colorful collection, That I have underwrite and cabinet. I don't find the blooms messy because they just don't come. That often like once a year depending on the plant. There are people that would do anything to see a bloom on their hoya. But I get it. There are plants that I don't like. Are they annoying me? And I don't collect them anymore. But for me hoya is not it they're probably my number one love. An I started out a begoina person. One of the worst advice I found out after 9 years of working with Hoya is people saying not to water them? I actually treat oil like every other house plant. Especially now that I have a lot of them in bark. And they really need to be watered every week. The biggest issues I had was getting that rot. That happens when you're roots. Get too dry out and you suddenly water it and then they're mush. The great thing about it is it can be rerouted is long as the stem is still hard.. I also have never had a mealy bug in my house and I have been growing a large collection for almost 10 years, I've had hoya for 9 years I've heard that they love Hoya. But I treat all of my plants with a homemade solution that has soap and alcohol and peroxide. And essential oils. And I do it for the first few days. It's in my house. I keep it separate. I sometimes change the soil. Usually wait two weeks before I add it to the rest of my collection. It's OK not to love Hoya because there's plenty of other Hoya youtubers that will help you out with your addiction. Anybody who's reading this. One of the biggest things I've learned from being a Hoya. Grower is every different variety is different, They can grow and act in need. Completely different things than last hoya you may have had. They do not need bright light across-the-board. Some of them actually grow and shade and they get bleached out and ugly and spotty when you put them in bright lights.. Do you research before you give it what you've maybe given your other hoyas. I've actually given some of my hoyas too bright light where they quit growing because they were just so miserable.. Anyways, I think they can actually be quite difficult to learn the nuances of and if you want a challenge. If you're growing quite rare varieties for me, it's quite fun to learn all the different things about them and dive into it all.. I didn't use to love trelis, but now I've seen how much it benefits the Hoya. And how they get super big leaves. And if you are a big leaf lover it's worth it.
I literally just uploaded a video this morning of my hoya collection and my only gripe was the dreaded mealy bugs AHHH! I only ever bought 2 hoyas, my entire collection was built from swapping with other youtubers and friends. I often pass on clippings as well - no need to pay $80 for a plant when you can share with friends. They were passed on to me, so I will pass on to other friends. Agreed they are messyyyyy but they are worth it haha.
Years ago you briefly mentioned not enjoying the smell of Hoya flowers and then hoyas became a topic you really didn’t talk anymore. This video helps me understand your complicated experience/feelings. So you went from 150 to 30? That’s anazing. There is a lot of diversity in the Hoya world. I’d love it if you could do a co-lab with a big time houseplant Hoya grower who grows them on a ‘trellis.’ I can’t even imagine how they do it and they never show it! Mostly you see videos of hoyas growing in Dixie cups. 😂 The topic of Hoya flower fragrance is interesting. I like the way some Hoyas smell, but I had one that bloomed and I got physically ill. It’s fascinating.
Hey Harli, I agree with all of your thoughts. I was gifted about 50 Hoya. Tiny cuttings. Now that I moved they are all putting out all these long strands because they love the humidity. Their blooms are messy, but I was excited to see my first bloom. I’m growing most of mine in PON. I don’t know if that helps.
Hi Harli, sorry for the late reply. I love Hoya and this year was the first time I have been struggling with those stupid mealy bugs, I never noticed that they were in those plants when I bought them and that is why I am wondering when i bought a new one that it must have had those in the roots and that could be why they came out and messed up alot of my Hoya. I have been treating those stupid mealy bugs for awhile and some of the Hoya that survived are coming back but the ones I lost I would like to get them again. I agree that those Hoya that blossom some of them drip sap and then they fall off and I have to clean up that mess. Thanks for this video, sending love and hugs,😍 bye!! 🪴🍂🌹🌺💜💜💜
Just beginning to dive down the Hoya rabbit hole. Over 200 plants and now HOYAS! Crazy but I like the different leaves and they’re small so I can fit in more of them in the space of one Philodendron. Went from a handful to 30 almost overnight. Maybe I need to slow down.
Those lanky runners you were talking about are actually one of my favorite things!! LoL I love my Hoya so very much. I do not go crazy with lights, unless it is winter. So, mine may grow slower than some other collectors. However, I am perfectly okay with that. I have seen my patience really pay off. 🌿🌼
I was a diehard Hoya Head....WAS !!! At one point i had over 400 , i live in the Florida Panhandle, so from Sping to very late fall they loved life... but come Winter when i had to bring them in... DRAMA!!! I had multiple humidifiers, super chunky soil mixes, big a$$ grow tent with with 20 Barrina T8 growlights, multiple fans, room temperatures between 80°-85 ° , still DRAMA. Between mealybugs and constant care i got sick of them in under 2 years. Final straw was when I got sick for a week and dozens dropped dead , even with a knowledgeable plant sitter helping take care of them for me. I traded some for Cactus and other Succulents and trashed the rest.
This video affirms what it’s like to have a Hoya collection. I’ve been battling mealy bugs all of June. Long twisty vines. Blooms dropping and sap. All of it. I definitely have easier plants that I’m happy with. A plain green philodendron. An aloe. A Monstera Adonsonii. Rubber tree plant. Etc. Easy, easy stuff.
Also, the other day I found a Thai sunrise the other day at a local plant store for $25! I wanted to message you so bad haha I instantly thought of you! And yes I definitely bought it lol
The 1:59 mealybug issue is the reason I like to repot as soon as they come in but that backfires because it sets them back and it takes a while for them to recover 😅
Funny, your videos got me into Hoyas! Haha. Definitely agree with your points. Ascetically though, I love a Hoya on a round trellis so I'm willing to deal with the mealies and all the other mess.
Agreed on everything! The thing that I don't like is that at least here in the uk they seem to go dormant in autumn and winter. And I've also found them to be quite picky, like if one is throwing out leaves consistently then I move it even just one meter it will stop putting out leaves for like two months -_-
I really like Hoya, as most are very vocal about when they need watering. Any plant that tells me when they need water is a plus in my book! With the exception of the kerrii series…their leaves are so super thick they seem way more succulent than other Hoyas. I don’t like them on a trellis either, and prefer to let them trail. They really love very high light, all of mine are in my west facing window getting direct sun.
Totally thought that the title was click bait! For once, I’m bummed that it’s not but I appreciate what you are saying. I’m still in my Hoya era. They are one of the only plants that do super well in my environment.
I'm trying a new pest management technique Drown the plant for hours. Not sure how well it'll work yet, but the plants appear to survive, and if the pest can't be in water for super long, it should die. Is a bit messy with removing the soil and all, but literally gets in all the small spaces I've been putting my small hoyas in terrariums/vivariums. Them being smaller is an advantage then! Have to be careful when trimming when cutting, I use a paper towel to catch the sap. I live in a cold area, so lot of my plants grow really really slow (need to look up which hoyas grow better in cold enviroment...), so terrariums also can help most of them grow bit faster as they tend to be a bit hotter and more humid then rest of house. (50s to 60s year round, we just had a heat wave that was officially called when ~78 degrees was forecasted, ended up being 85F one day! aka average temps in some other areas of the US lol Most homes don't have AC here cause we only get one or two heat waves a years, so it being "that hot" is a concern).
I can relate! I used to have a really big Hoya collection and I technically still do, but I’ve tapered it down to my liking. Like yourself, I’m not a fan of the large random vines. I ended up keeping all my Hoyas with dainty little leaves that look good draping over a pot, rather than climbing.
I haven’t tried this on Hoya sap, but rubbing alcohol is great at cutting through other kinds of sap. We have a lot of pine trees and a leaky maple tree around our house, and the rubbing alcohol cuts right through it when it gets stuck to us. Might be worth trying :)
I love Hoyas! But I agree with the mealybugs. I only have 4 and don’t plan on getting anymore lol they are just so unique and I love that they are unpredictable in growth (sun stress, vining, etc..)
I do love Hoya- I will be sure to keep my collection small after watching this. I love their foliage- the do take FOREVER to grow if they are small. My Hoya Retusa is the fastest growing Hoya that I own. I loved this video- you’re hilarious 😂😂😂❤
I only have a handful of Hiya, but I do really like them. However they do take FOREVER to grow! I usually get them for the foliage & not the blooms because of that. So far mine have been easy to care for… I will consider keeping my collection to a minimum though after see this. You are toooooo funny! Love your videos 😂😂😂❤
I’m with you on EVERY reason but ESPECIALLY the mealybugs! They’re the reason I will never buy a Hoya again because I’ve had them on 5 hoyas and never on any other type of plant 😅
It's so strange with approx. 60 hoyas I've never had any pests. Watering is super easy as I have them all in self watering pots and and also have a pretty dark house so I have one shelf with grow lights but the rest are just sprinkled throughout the house. Of course I bought mostly plants I thought were pretty with or without flowers. I also didn't keep anything that was super slow or took too much care.
I love my hoyas, but you raise some good points. Also, I've been preaching that systemics don't really work with hoyas for quite some time. Glad to hear someone else with the same experience. One thing I will say is the Bonide granules are ineffective in my opinion, but the liquid concentrate systemics that have a higher percentage of the active ingredient was much more effective. BioAdvance Complete Insect killer worked much better for me. But even with that, there are still mealies hanging about.
Mine have a higher rate of root rot than any other genus I own. I realized I like the bella-type better that branch rather than ones that keep going on one vine.
Yeah, I’ve got mealies hiding amount my plants. I clean one and then I find them on another plant, not even near each mother. But it’s not a bad thing. I clean what I can on each one.
Haha I've felt this way about Hoyas ever since I learned what they are, just not my thing. But it's funny to hear a professional plant person say all these things because it's such a beloved genus. I much prefer begonias!! 😊
Omg yes! I’m down to like 6 Hoyas!!! I’m so sick of the mealies!!!!!!! I just threw a well established one away yesterday it was covered in mealies and it’s just now worth it! 😫 But I feel ya on the Hoyas! I use to loveeeee them.
When I started my Plant Parent Life, I heard several times they were extremely susceptible to pets AND NOW I'M TOO TERRIFIED lol. This helped me solidify my choice to just refrain from hoyas either forever or until I have like a balcony or something lol.
I agree with all of this. And the vines that grab on to things and wrap and settle are visually odd but the mealy is really so annoying. I feel like it’s in the DNA … w some of mine, they are never fully eradicated … thank you for all the awesome content.
I like the look of Hoyas, but got rid of them for these reasons: 1. had to keep them away from my other plants as I was afraid they’d get pests; 2. when I had them beautifully sun-stressed, a day of low light caused them to lose their color; 3. I couldn’t tell if the bumps & unique textures on leaves were normal or scales. Thanks for being honest about Hoyas Harli!
I really like hoyas but imo they’re not as easy as everyone says. Their roots are super delicate so even though they like to dry out, if you neglect them for too long, the roots will start to die off. Then when you water them again, the dead roots will start rotting…the result is a sad-looking hoya that just never seems to bounce back, no matter what you do and it dies a slow death. This happened to me with at least 5 hoyas before I figured out what I was doing wrong. 😅 I have never had a pest issue with mine (knock on wood), but I definitely wouldn’t call them easy. I only keep a few but I consider them my select “intermediate” plants lol, the rest of my plants are really easy care. I also have enjoyed splurging on a couple that were already really big and healthy, instead of little ones. Normally I like growing them up from cuttings but it’s nice to have hoyas that are more mature without having to wait 3+ years lol.
I love my Hoya’s. They are my preferred succulent. But they take sooooo long to grow. In my experience they love the chunky soil. I only have 3 Hoyas but they all have different water and light needs.
I have krimson princess, queen, pubicalyx, and mathilde. What i love abt them are colors, shapes & still alive in my care coz i killed 100% of my succlents, herbs, and when i switched to indoor plants, 85% died. With my black thumb, i just relized these are the only hoyas thrives on me, plus pothos, etc. for u, it's like loving & now not loving/liking..
Yes, I try to get them to bloom by spraying on the orchid spray and letting the soil dry out. Ima bout ready to prop alot of them and just get rid of them. So Yes, pls give me any Ideas with a video.
My Hoya Caudata Sumatra just bloomed for me last week…it was so fluffy! I am selective to the foliage….if it appeals to me, I buy it. I’ve been able to get some decent sized Hoyas reasonably priced at a greenhouse about 20 min from my home. Plants are very clean, I’ve never had a hitchhiker in any of the plants I purchased from them, but I still treat them. There’s another plant store that I used to frequent but their plants usually have pests so I don’t go there anymore. (I inspect them at the store.) Some Hoyas grow slow, others grow fast. My pubicalyx is going crazy right now and the blooms look and smell wonderful!
These are all really valid reasons. I only have 2 hoya and they were both cheap and bought them with already multiple vines. The messiness is why I got rid of my gianr string of hearts. Always had leaves and flowers on the floor. And with my maranta it's getting annoying too with rhe flowers😅 I used to have a lot of climbing plants. Mostly Philodendron. And for the past year, I've gotten rid of most of them because I hate the upkeep and looks of mosspoles. It's sad because I do really love my Splendid, El Choco, Jose Buono, Verrucosum, burle marx variegata and billietiae but they grow so fast and I need to extend the poles and then repot again and then chop and extend and it's just too much. So lately I've been focusing more on Alocasia and Anthurium since they don't need poles and do great on pon (my Philodendron, hoya and monstera also do great on pon). I'm keeping just a few ones on poles that I really like but they will probably slowly fade out of my collection. Used to have around 120 plants. I'm down to about 40 and I like this way more. Just more breathing room and I get to really enjoy every new leaf.
I love my Hoya. I keep it super simple though and only keep my faves - obovata, rotundiflora, and Matilde. And mine never bloom, so I've never had to experience the sap. :) I had a hindu rope once and it was beautiful, but it was a total mealy haven, so it got the boot. It wasn't worth the hassle. Obovata though - chefs kiss....my favorite plant of all time. It's just perfection.
Still love Hoya. Love when they bloom or shoot out new leaves or vines. I like how wild and unpredictable they are 🧡🌿
I agree 😁
What's more, the sizes, colors, splashes, protruding veins on the leaves from the same hoya plant can vary dramatically depending on the growing conditions, which makes hoyas fascinating, like a mystery to be solved.
@@HeartleafkaylaI agree as well!
Yes!
Nothing looks better than a large, bushy, glossy, sunstressed hoya...or large glossy hoya leaves on a bamboo trellis 💚
I love my Hoyas, but I only get the ones that LOOK beautiful to me. I don’t care about blooms, rarity, etc. I care about esthetic and if it brings me joy
Exactly!! Chances are it won't be blooming most of the time, so I make sure to get ones that I actually like the foliage, since it'll only be those leaves probably 90% of the time for me at least 😂 I'm newer to Hoyas so it'll be probably a while before I get any blooms lol
Agreed! I love my hoyas, they're the easiest plants I own. And I also don't give a toss about rarity and stuff like that, I have them because I like the way they look.
For me it's a huge bonus that most come in small cuttings. I have both the joy of growing a plant myself and also, due to limited space, I can control its growth however I like. In addition to that, it's one of the best genus for plant collectors. The variety and differences between hoyas is mindblowing.
I find it tricky to know when to water them. And I would love a video about encouraging them to bloom ❤
That aloe behind you is stunning Harli!
I agree, Hoyas are definitely mealy magnets, but I absolutely love them 😅. To combat the mealies, I keep a few bottles of 70% isopropyl alcohol around the house to spray them directly. I also shower my Hoyas a few times a year.
This is exactly how I got rid of mealies on my hiya princess. Maybe I didn't have a lot, but they were pretty easy for me to eliminate.
My mom has mealy bugs on her hoyas. I’ve been trying to help her by removing them every time I go over but it’s hard to keep up. Do you dilute it or just spray it directly?
@@em5140diatomaceous earth is fantastic for discouraging mealies. Sprinkle on the potting mix. If you have a bad infestation on the leaves spray with Groventine (systemic) & sprinkle with diatomaceous earth as well. Problem solved 👍
@@em5140from what I’ve read you do 70% alcohol to 30% water And sprayed directly onto the plant and also the backs of the leaves. I did this to one of my lipstick plants, and it worked great.
@@em5140 I spray it directly and I’ve never had a problem with leaf burn.
No one can convince me otherwise, hoyas are my favourite genus. But I’m still going to watch this video 😅
Same 🤣
Same! I'm obsessed! I disagree with so many of the things Harli has experienced. My hoyas have never gotten pests, they are thriving in a north window, they look amazing, and they are so easy to know what they want. I don't ever have sap leak from the flowers which is odd... I do have the white sap if I cut the plant though.
@@anniewiebe my hoyas are very easygoing too. I personally have never experienced mealy bugs on mine fortunately. I get the sap leak only on my wayetii but no others. It’s just a slightly sticky clear residue. The wayetii is probably my favourite flower too, I love the smell. The flower mess is not the end of the world to deal with imo as I love the blooms, but I also don’t have 100-150 of them. I have 15-20 😋
Les Hoyas! Faciles dans mon cas à cultiver!
Love my Hoya. They are so beautiful on my shelf and window sills. So easy in my opinion, water every other week and enjoy the new leaves and flowers when they come. I do agree about mealies, but I don’t let them touch so they don’t spread. You were my gateway to Hoya, during the pandemic. But opinions change - to each their own. Love you even if we disagree. ❤
Me: Oh my gosh I’m really starting to love Hoyas!
Harli: Hoyas suck.
😂😂😂
😂 I still love Hoyas and want more
Aww. My Hoyas are my favorite plant children, basically for all the reasons you stated minus the mealy bug issue. I’ve only had that issue once and was able to remedy pretty quickly and I’m not the best plant up-keeper with my 4 kids. I love the runners that shoot out because I know my babies are about to put on a spectacular show with their new beautiful leaves coming in. Only one of mine has bloomed (Krohriana) and it smells beautifully and very strong as you stated. I have not had an issue with sap droppings from it through and it has been pushing out blooms consistently since May (now July). I do have a few of my Hoyas in lower light situations and they have been doing fine. I wouldn’t say they are thriving, but they are growing, just at a slower pace. I keep mine for the foliage so, I don’t mind if they don’t bloom, but the blooms are a nice bonus when they do! I’m sorry yours have been a negative experience for you. 😢
I love tiny plants because I can keep more of them in small spaces and so hoya work really well for me. I am really intentional about only getting hoya where I love the foliage in some way whether that is that they're variegated or fuzzy or have a cool growth pattern. I hear you on the drawbacks though! My multiflora blooms a lot and they drop everywhere and make a mess.
I guess your hoys are probably quite confused how you want them to behave. You hate them blooming because it's messy, but then, you also complain that it took too long for them to bloom. 😁
I am a Hoya ✨girlie✨ my favorite genus. I’ll never leave my girls
I do like hoyas, especially veiny and prehistoric looking ones. None of others plants can give that vibe. I do cut flowers because I get them only for their leaves. When I cut them I just hold and press a paper towel to stop the sap leaking.
I’m sorry but I will love the hojas for ever; the blooms, the sun stressed leaves, different leave shapes. Just love them
Girl this is so funny. Your old Hoya videos are what made me fall in love with them lol I still absolutely love them but you’re right, they suck🫠
I’m so glad you mentioned your troubles with Mealy bugs and Hoyas! I have been dealing with the same problem for years. No matter how good I am with keeping up on systemic treatments, topical sprays, or even just rinsing the leaves, at least one Hoya in my collection has mealy bugs.
Burtoniae smells like buttered popcorn to me. And yes, it is very strong and easy to catch a whiff even a room away 😂😂😂
All of your cons do not outweigh the pros. Mealys are not the worst pest. They are lower maintenance than a lot of other plants and less likely to die and that is HUGE. Getting small cuttings and being slow-ish growing means you have more! For me, growing something from a small plant is so rewarding. Waiting for blooms for 1-2 years is so rewarding! I love the wait. For me, It is not satisfying to buy a full plant from the store. I want to experience the plant's journey and take pride in its growth. I am mad at my philodendrons. They take up so much space, the leaves are always getting stuck, they need moss poles which are ugly and high maintenance and get spider mites and thrips.
Harli, I forgive you for trash-talking hoyas only because you left that burp in LOL! Epic! 😆
I’m a complete hoya head! I can’t stop won’t stop 😂 but, the ones I have that bloom often- they are so beautiful, love the blooms and the smell- but dang they make such a mess!
Never even thought about how systemics are taken up by the plant when watered and yeah I don’t water. my Hoyas very often so that is a very interesting little piece of information there to keep in mind
I agree with your list of hoya issues. I especially don't like the mealies and the mess after flowering. I will slowly be reducing my collection if I can get rid of the plants. I don't like giving them away because of the original cost I put out and also because I worry they won't get into a good home, but it is getting harder to find people who want them. I think their massive popularity is coming to an end. Oh, another thing, after a while the flowers start looking alike. It is cool that they bloom, but really? the flowers just don't compare to most plant's flowers.
I appreciate this video but I’ve never had a problem with mealy bugs and my Hoya collection. I think you just got one bad plant and it infected your entire collection. I love my Hoya!! They are so sturdy, beautiful, varied, have gorgeous funky smelling blooms, and they’re just so fun to grow and observe!
I love this video and you have completely valid points. There’s something about Hoyas that make me so so happy though. I still love them and want more. 😄 I don’t want the cat pee smelling one though. 😂
i’m gonna need a sansevieria & aloe video!!!
Love hoyas will always be my favorite plants❤
I just bought my first two hoyas, and this was the video I needed. I thought I had seen enough videos and read enough articles to prepare me to care for them. I can just stop at two and see how it goes.
Not me thinking the thumbnail and title was clickbait lmao
You know what they say about hoyas "first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap"
Diatomaceous earth sprinkled on the potting mix stops mealy bugs & other sucking insects. It’s amazing!
Great to know. Thanks
I will not stand for the Hoya slander! 😅
Multiflora has no smell. I’ve sniffed several times.
I learned some things about Hoya that no one has talked about. I still love my HKQ and HKP so far, but Thank You! 😊
I agreed 100% with you on this one. At one time I had 35 species, looking to get more. Then one day, I realized that they were growing so long and so fast. Where could I hang them? How can I keep them out of my way when dusting? They were not flowering-just growing. Vines everywhere!! That was it for me. I now have only 4 species, and they flower at different times of the year, and I love it! Thank you for your wonderful video. I truly enjoyed it.
Love your channel even though I disagree with your position on Hoya. I had to cut back on my Philos in lieu of Hoyas because I appreciate the show growth and smaller footprint. I hate moss poles but I don’t mind cute trellises.
I love Hoyas, but only for the leaves- the blooms are very rare for me, they're messy and don't last long anyway. For consistent blooms I'm all about the glorious lipstick plants, my all time favorite plant! My pride and joy, a giant gracilis lipstick plant, starting blooming before Christmas in 2023 and hasn't stopped since. I'm just waiting to see if it's going to be a year round bloomer!
The down falls are the mealy attraction they have. Thru just pop up and then disappear. Treat, don’t treat, you’re gonna have mealies once you see them.
I got my first Hoya last summer and love them. Haven’t had mealys but struggle with flatmites from a Hoya from home depot or Lowes and struggle to rid of them and those flatmites spread
I am a Hoya person❤ I love them when they're a little tiny, I love to watch them get bigger. I think through the perfect thing for a cabinet, Not all the sap is white. Only certain type of hoya most of them are clear. I've never had trouble getting him off. As long as you just wipe it off as soon as it gets on, maybe it was drying on you. But it's o k not to like the same plants as some people. I personally find it so rewarding to start with just a few leaves and like a year later. Maybe two years you have a big plan and remember how you started... It's a real achievement. Play a definitely get into your heart. By when I first saw them. I didn't like them I thought they all looked the same. When I saw them in person. I saw that how different they were in. The more deeper I get into collecting the more completely unusual ones I have. There are some Hoya that when people come in my house. That's the first thing they go for, For instance hindu rope especially varigated.😮 All the Non plant people be like what is that. Otherwise my florida beauty probably gets the most attention. I have a tendency to collect.
Sunscreers.. So I have such a colorful collection, That I have underwrite and cabinet. I don't find the blooms messy because they just don't come. That often like once a year depending on the plant. There are people that would do anything to see a bloom on their hoya. But I get it. There are plants that I don't like. Are they annoying me? And I don't collect them anymore. But for me hoya is not it they're probably my number one love. An I started out a begoina person. One of the worst advice I found out after 9 years of working with Hoya is people saying not to water them? I actually treat oil like every other house plant. Especially now that I have a lot of them in bark. And they really need to be watered every week. The biggest issues I had was getting that rot. That happens when you're roots. Get too dry out and you suddenly water it and then they're mush. The great thing about it is it can be rerouted is long as the stem is still hard.. I also have never had a mealy bug in my house and I have been growing a large collection for almost 10 years, I've had hoya for 9 years I've heard that they love Hoya. But I treat all of my plants with a homemade solution that has soap and alcohol and peroxide. And essential oils. And I do it for the first few days. It's in my house. I keep it separate. I sometimes change the soil. Usually wait two weeks before I add it to the rest of my collection. It's OK not to love Hoya because there's plenty of other Hoya youtubers that will help you out with your addiction. Anybody who's reading this. One of the biggest things I've learned from being a Hoya. Grower is every different variety is different, They can grow and act in need. Completely different things than last hoya you may have had. They do not need bright light across-the-board. Some of them actually grow and shade and they get bleached out and ugly and spotty when you put them in bright lights.. Do you research before you give it what you've maybe given your other hoyas. I've actually given some of my hoyas too bright light where they quit growing because they were just so miserable.. Anyways, I think they can actually be quite difficult to learn the nuances of and if you want a challenge. If you're growing quite rare varieties for me, it's quite fun to learn all the different things about them and dive into it all.. I didn't use to love trelis, but now I've seen how much it benefits the Hoya. And how they get super big leaves. And if you are a big leaf lover it's worth it.
I literally just uploaded a video this morning of my hoya collection and my only gripe was the dreaded mealy bugs AHHH! I only ever bought 2 hoyas, my entire collection was built from swapping with other youtubers and friends. I often pass on clippings as well - no need to pay $80 for a plant when you can share with friends. They were passed on to me, so I will pass on to other friends. Agreed they are messyyyyy but they are worth it haha.
What the name of your CZcams channel? I love plant content. Especially Hoya content
@@robinprice6879 It's my profile, Nicole Deanna Orchids :) Thank you!
@@robinprice6879 Nicole Deanna Orchids :) It's this profile Thank you for the support!
Years ago you briefly mentioned not enjoying the smell of Hoya flowers and then hoyas became a topic you really didn’t talk anymore. This video helps me understand your complicated experience/feelings. So you went from 150 to 30? That’s anazing. There is a lot of diversity in the Hoya world. I’d love it if you could do a co-lab with a big time houseplant Hoya grower who grows them on a ‘trellis.’ I can’t even imagine how they do it and they never show it! Mostly you see videos of hoyas growing in Dixie cups. 😂 The topic of Hoya flower fragrance is interesting. I like the way some Hoyas smell, but I had one that bloomed and I got physically ill. It’s fascinating.
What I got from this is that maybe I'm lucky I haven't had a hoya bloom yet. 😂 I still want an Obovata too.
Also, your dress looks so good on you!
Hey Harli, I agree with all of your thoughts. I was gifted about 50 Hoya. Tiny cuttings. Now that I moved they are all putting out all these long strands because they love the humidity. Their blooms are messy, but I was excited to see my first bloom. I’m growing most of mine in PON. I don’t know if that helps.
Hi Harli, sorry for the late reply. I love Hoya and this year was the first time I have been struggling with those stupid mealy bugs, I never noticed that they were in those plants when I bought them and that is why I am wondering when i bought a new one that it must have had those in the roots and that could be why they came out and messed up alot of my Hoya. I have been treating those stupid mealy bugs for awhile and some of the Hoya that survived are coming back but the ones I lost I would like to get them again. I agree that those Hoya that blossom some of them drip sap and then they fall off and I have to clean up that mess. Thanks for this video, sending love and hugs,😍 bye!! 🪴🍂🌹🌺💜💜💜
Just beginning to dive down the Hoya rabbit hole. Over 200 plants and now HOYAS! Crazy but I like the different leaves and they’re small so I can fit in more of them in the space of one Philodendron. Went from a handful to 30 almost overnight. Maybe I need to slow down.
Haha! I’m having the same experience although I don’t have nearly as many as you. I adore them though
Those lanky runners you were talking about are actually one of my favorite things!! LoL
I love my Hoya so very much. I do not go crazy with lights, unless it is winter. So, mine may grow slower than some other collectors. However, I am perfectly okay with that. I have seen my patience really pay off. 🌿🌼
thank you!! I've been interested in hoyas recently but knew nothing about them! also loved the pet safe clip🤣💗
I was a diehard Hoya Head....WAS !!!
At one point i had over 400 , i live in the Florida Panhandle, so from Sping to very late fall they loved life... but come Winter when i had to bring them in... DRAMA!!! I had multiple humidifiers, super chunky soil mixes, big a$$ grow tent with with 20 Barrina T8 growlights, multiple fans, room temperatures between 80°-85 ° , still DRAMA. Between mealybugs and constant care i got sick of them in under 2 years. Final straw was when I got sick for a week and dozens dropped dead , even with a knowledgeable plant sitter helping take care of them for me. I traded some for Cactus and other Succulents and trashed the rest.
This video affirms what it’s like to have a Hoya collection. I’ve been battling mealy bugs all of June. Long twisty vines. Blooms dropping and sap. All of it. I definitely have easier plants that I’m happy with. A plain green philodendron. An aloe. A Monstera Adonsonii. Rubber tree plant. Etc. Easy, easy stuff.
Your title made me spit out my water this was so good!
Also, the other day I found a Thai sunrise the other day at a local plant store for $25! I wanted to message you so bad haha I instantly thought of you! And yes I definitely bought it lol
The 1:59 mealybug issue is the reason I like to repot as soon as they come in but that backfires because it sets them back and it takes a while for them to recover 😅
Funny, your videos got me into Hoyas! Haha. Definitely agree with your points. Ascetically though, I love a Hoya on a round trellis so I'm willing to deal with the mealies and all the other mess.
Love your Dragon Tree in the background!!!!
Agreed on everything! The thing that I don't like is that at least here in the uk they seem to go dormant in autumn and winter. And I've also found them to be quite picky, like if one is throwing out leaves consistently then I move it even just one meter it will stop putting out leaves for like two months -_-
I really like Hoya, as most are very vocal about when they need watering. Any plant that tells me when they need water is a plus in my book! With the exception of the kerrii series…their leaves are so super thick they seem way more succulent than other Hoyas. I don’t like them on a trellis either, and prefer to let them trail. They really love very high light, all of mine are in my west facing window getting direct sun.
Totally thought that the title was click bait! For once, I’m bummed that it’s not but I appreciate what you are saying. I’m still in my Hoya era. They are one of the only plants that do super well in my environment.
I'm trying a new pest management technique
Drown the plant for hours. Not sure how well it'll work yet, but the plants appear to survive, and if the pest can't be in water for super long, it should die. Is a bit messy with removing the soil and all, but literally gets in all the small spaces
I've been putting my small hoyas in terrariums/vivariums. Them being smaller is an advantage then! Have to be careful when trimming when cutting, I use a paper towel to catch the sap. I live in a cold area, so lot of my plants grow really really slow (need to look up which hoyas grow better in cold enviroment...), so terrariums also can help most of them grow bit faster as they tend to be a bit hotter and more humid then rest of house. (50s to 60s year round, we just had a heat wave that was officially called when ~78 degrees was forecasted, ended up being 85F one day! aka average temps in some other areas of the US lol Most homes don't have AC here cause we only get one or two heat waves a years, so it being "that hot" is a concern).
Where did you get the planter behind you!? Gorgeous! Also the one your obovata is in!?
The one behind me is here www.anthropologie.com/shop/terracotta-tall-rim-planter?color=010&size=3011 the obovata one I can’t rmemeber where I got it 😓
Can’t wait to see you style your thrift finds!!!
I can relate! I used to have a really big Hoya collection and I technically still do, but I’ve tapered it down to my liking. Like yourself, I’m not a fan of the large random vines. I ended up keeping all my Hoyas with dainty little leaves that look good draping over a pot, rather than climbing.
I was too, I do have a few left in my collection. I got rid of the ones that always got mealy bugs.
That aloe behind you is spectacular in that pot!
I haven’t tried this on Hoya sap, but rubbing alcohol is great at cutting through other kinds of sap. We have a lot of pine trees and a leaky maple tree around our house, and the rubbing alcohol cuts right through it when it gets stuck to us. Might be worth trying :)
Yes please! Would love any Hoya content. I’m new so I’m still enamored
I love Hoyas! But I agree with the mealybugs. I only have 4 and don’t plan on getting anymore lol they are just so unique and I love that they are unpredictable in growth (sun stress, vining, etc..)
I do love Hoya- I will be sure to keep my collection small after watching this. I love their foliage- the do take FOREVER to grow if they are small. My Hoya Retusa is the fastest growing Hoya that I own. I loved this video- you’re hilarious 😂😂😂❤
Haven’t even watched yet, but they’re MEALY BUG FREAKING MAGNETS!!!!!!!! 😠 lol
I only have a handful of Hiya, but I do really like them. However they do take FOREVER to grow! I usually get them for the foliage & not the blooms because of that. So far mine have been easy to care for… I will consider keeping my collection to a minimum though after see this. You are toooooo funny! Love your videos 😂😂😂❤
Hoya shepherdii. Those blooms smell so bad. Have cuttings in water in my kitchen window
My Hoya Australias is 11 feet long I don’t know what to do with it ?
Share it with _ME!_ 😂😂😂
Prune it back?
@@GreenWitch1 Do you know how *_hard_* it is to cut a really long plant? How _emotionally_ hard that is. I mean, THAT is her _baby!_ 😂😂
@@Digitalhunny It’s not hard at all for me & Steven is probably a man 🤔
@@Digitalhunnyand me!!!
Now that Harli G has said this, hopefully this is the start of the end of this "Hoya Craze".
Much love to everyone. ❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing this, I was wanting another Hoya and maybe I’ll think twice 😅
I’m with you on EVERY reason but ESPECIALLY the mealybugs! They’re the reason I will never buy a Hoya again because I’ve had them on 5 hoyas and never on any other type of plant 😅
It's so strange with approx. 60 hoyas I've never had any pests. Watering is super easy as I have them all in self watering pots and and also have a pretty dark house so I have one shelf with grow lights but the rest are just sprinkled throughout the house. Of course I bought mostly plants I thought were pretty with or without flowers. I also didn't keep anything that was super slow or took too much care.
I love my hoyas, but you raise some good points. Also, I've been preaching that systemics don't really work with hoyas for quite some time. Glad to hear someone else with the same experience. One thing I will say is the Bonide granules are ineffective in my opinion, but the liquid concentrate systemics that have a higher percentage of the active ingredient was much more effective. BioAdvance Complete Insect killer worked much better for me. But even with that, there are still mealies hanging about.
Mine have a higher rate of root rot than any other genus I own. I realized I like the bella-type better that branch rather than ones that keep going on one vine.
Yes I’d like to see how to get Hoyas to look. I only have one that bloom.
Yeah, I’ve got mealies hiding amount my plants. I clean one and then I find them on another plant, not even near each mother. But it’s not a bad thing. I clean what I can on each one.
Haha I've felt this way about Hoyas ever since I learned what they are, just not my thing. But it's funny to hear a professional plant person say all these things because it's such a beloved genus. I much prefer begonias!! 😊
Omg yes! I’m down to like 6 Hoyas!!! I’m so sick of the mealies!!!!!!! I just threw a well established one away yesterday it was covered in mealies and it’s just now worth it! 😫 But I feel ya on the Hoyas! I use to loveeeee them.
It seems I heard some plant people said that Madtilde has kind of a weird scent to different people.
When I started my Plant Parent Life, I heard several times they were extremely susceptible to pets AND NOW I'M TOO TERRIFIED lol. This helped me solidify my choice to just refrain from hoyas either forever or until I have like a balcony or something lol.
I’ve tasted the sap on the one plant I have that’s bloomed. No taste. Its my Hoya Multiflora
I agree with all of this. And the vines that grab on to things and wrap and settle are visually odd but the mealy is really so annoying. I feel like it’s in the DNA … w some of mine, they are never fully eradicated … thank you for all the awesome content.
You look stunning in this video🥰
I got a Hoya Carnosa Compacta because of you! But it’s giving me a hard time because I can’t get the watering right.
I like the look of Hoyas, but got rid of them for these reasons: 1. had to keep them away from my other plants as I was afraid they’d get pests; 2. when I had them beautifully sun-stressed, a day of low light caused them to lose their color; 3. I couldn’t tell if the bumps & unique textures on leaves were normal or scales. Thanks for being honest about Hoyas Harli!
As a new plant collector this is good info. I have definitely wondered a few times about bumps and weird looking spots on some of my hoya
I really like hoyas but imo they’re not as easy as everyone says. Their roots are super delicate so even though they like to dry out, if you neglect them for too long, the roots will start to die off. Then when you water them again, the dead roots will start rotting…the result is a sad-looking hoya that just never seems to bounce back, no matter what you do and it dies a slow death. This happened to me with at least 5 hoyas before I figured out what I was doing wrong. 😅
I have never had a pest issue with mine (knock on wood), but I definitely wouldn’t call them easy. I only keep a few but I consider them my select “intermediate” plants lol, the rest of my plants are really easy care. I also have enjoyed splurging on a couple that were already really big and healthy, instead of little ones. Normally I like growing them up from cuttings but it’s nice to have hoyas that are more mature without having to wait 3+ years lol.
All my Hoya plants live outside under my patio, they are huge and all bloom. When I had them in my home, they would get mealy bugs.
So does that mean that they don’t struggle nearly as much with mealy bugs when they’re outside?
Yes, the spiders and ladybugs will eat mealybugs
@@bettyr2065 well that makes perfect sense. Thank you
I love my Hoya’s. They are my preferred succulent. But they take sooooo long to grow. In my experience they love the chunky soil. I only have 3 Hoyas but they all have different water and light needs.
I remember when you cut your vines, i almost cried 😅😅
I have krimson princess, queen, pubicalyx, and mathilde. What i love abt them are colors, shapes & still alive in my care coz i killed 100% of my succlents, herbs, and when i switched to indoor plants, 85% died. With my black thumb, i just relized these are the only hoyas thrives on me, plus pothos, etc. for u, it's like loving & now not loving/liking..
Yes, I try to get them to bloom by spraying on the orchid spray and letting the soil dry out. Ima bout ready to prop alot of them and just get rid of them. So Yes, pls give me any Ideas with a video.
I love Hoyas. And ficus. I’ve got others but as they die out, (if they do) I don’t replace them
My Hoya Caudata Sumatra just bloomed for me last week…it was so fluffy! I am selective to the foliage….if it appeals to me, I buy it. I’ve been able to get some decent sized Hoyas reasonably priced at a greenhouse about 20 min from my home. Plants are very clean, I’ve never had a hitchhiker in any of the plants I purchased from them, but I still treat them. There’s another plant store that I used to frequent but their plants usually have pests so I don’t go there anymore. (I inspect them at the store.) Some Hoyas grow slow, others grow fast. My pubicalyx is going crazy right now and the blooms look and smell wonderful!
Hi, can you please tell me who to get the moss from.
These are all really valid reasons. I only have 2 hoya and they were both cheap and bought them with already multiple vines.
The messiness is why I got rid of my gianr string of hearts. Always had leaves and flowers on the floor. And with my maranta it's getting annoying too with rhe flowers😅
I used to have a lot of climbing plants. Mostly Philodendron. And for the past year, I've gotten rid of most of them because I hate the upkeep and looks of mosspoles. It's sad because I do really love my Splendid, El Choco, Jose Buono, Verrucosum, burle marx variegata and billietiae but they grow so fast and I need to extend the poles and then repot again and then chop and extend and it's just too much. So lately I've been focusing more on Alocasia and Anthurium since they don't need poles and do great on pon (my Philodendron, hoya and monstera also do great on pon). I'm keeping just a few ones on poles that I really like but they will probably slowly fade out of my collection.
Used to have around 120 plants. I'm down to about 40 and I like this way more. Just more breathing room and I get to really enjoy every new leaf.
I love my Hoya. I keep it super simple though and only keep my faves - obovata, rotundiflora, and Matilde. And mine never bloom, so I've never had to experience the sap. :) I had a hindu rope once and it was beautiful, but it was a total mealy haven, so it got the boot. It wasn't worth the hassle. Obovata though - chefs kiss....my favorite plant of all time. It's just perfection.