In case you're searching for a flower that practically glows under the right light, the hoya rebecca is precisely what your windowsill is missing. I recall when I first got my fingers on a little trimming a few many years back; it didn't seem like much more than a several green leaves on the string. But within a few months, it transformed into this stunning, ruby-toned centerpiece that will honestly puts most of my some other houseplants to shame.
It isn't yet another arbitrary hoya, either. This particular one is a hybrid—a cross between Hoya lacunosa and Hoya obscura . Due to that parentage, you receive the best of both worlds: the compact, easy-to-manage size from the lacunosa and that incredible "sun-stressing" ability in the obscura. If you've ever wanted the plant that changes color based on its mood (or rather, its light exposure), this will be the one for you personally.
Getting the Colors Just Right
The real magic of the hoya rebecca will be its ability to turn a heavy, beautiful bronze or even reddish-maroon color. This happens through a process we call sun-stressing. Now, "stress" noises like a bad thing in the human being world, but for specific hoyas, it's such as a healthy tan.
To obtain those leaves in order to blush, you require to provide plenty of bright, roundabout light. I've found that a south-facing window with the sheer curtain is definitely the "sweet spot. " If it's in a spot that's too darkish, the leaves may stay a serious forest green. There's nothing wrong with that, of course—the natural leaves have this lovely silver flecking or "splash" upon them—but you're actually missing out on the show if you don't let it view the sun.
Simply a word of caution: don't move a green flower into direct, scorching afternoon sun at one time. It'll get sunburned, which looks like ugly brown crispy patches that don't go away. Instead, progressively boost the light more than a week or even two. Your herb will thank you by turning these gorgeous sunset shades.
Watering Without having the Stress
One of the particular reasons I tell everyone to get a hoya rebecca is definitely that it's incredibly forgiving. I'm definitely a "forgetful waterer" some weeks, which plant doesn't appear to mind much. As opposed to some finicky tropicals that faint as soon as the soil dries out, this hoya has slightly succulent leaves that store a bit of water.
The particular trick is the particular "taco test. " In case you gently try to bend a leaf and it also feels firm and inflexible, it's hydrated. In case the leaf seems a bit soft or flexible (like a soft taco shell), it's probably thirsty. I wait till the top fifty percent of the garden soil is completely dry before I give it a good bathe.
In the winter, We back off even even more. Since the herb isn't growing simply because fast when the days are smaller, it doesn't require nearly as much water. Overwatering is usually probably the just way you can actually kill this thing, so whenever uncertain, just wait a later date or 2.
The Perfect Soil Mix
You can't just throw a hoya rebecca directly into regular old potting soil and anticipate it to prosper. In the wild, many hoyas are usually epiphytic, meaning these people grow on trees rather than in the particular ground. Their roots need to breathe. If the soil is actually dense or "mucky, " the roots will suffocate and rot.
I love to make a "chunky" mix. It's not an precise science, but I go for: * One part regular planting medium * A single part orchid bark (the small or even medium chunks work best) * A single part perlite or even pumice
This particular produces a lot associated with air pockets. Whenever you water it, the water should run straight via the bottom of the pot pretty quickly. If the water sits on top of the soil for a long time, your blend is probably too heavy. Utilizing a terra cotta pot can also help if you tend to become heavy-handed using the watering can, because the clay wicks away surplus moisture.
All those Tiny, Sweet-Smelling Blossoms
Let's talk about the blossoms, because they are usually honestly adorable. The hoya rebecca produces these small, fuzzy, cream-to-pinkish clusters of flowers known as umbels. They may be little, but they pack a punch in the scent department.
If your plant is delighted and having enough light, it'll eventually start pushing out peduncles (the little comes where the flowers grow). Professional tip: Never cut off the peduncles! Hoyas bloom from your same spot every year. In case you snip them off, you're essentially resetting the clock on your plants.
The scent is not easy to explain, but it's quite floral—sort of like a mix associated with jasmine and cinnamon. It's strongest in night, which is quite common for hoyas. Sometimes I'll walk into my family room in the evening and wonder precisely why it smells so good, only to find a tiny hidden cluster of flowers tucked within leaf.
Keeping Development Under Control
Unlike some hoyas that want in order to climb to the particular ceiling and consider over your house, the hoya rebecca is the relatively compact grower. It has a beautiful trailing habit, that makes it perfect for a hanging basket or even sitting on a high shelf where the vines can dangle down.
That stated, if you want it to look fuller, you can always cover the long, leafless "runners" back directly into the pot. Hoyas often send out there long vines very first then fill all of them along with leaves later on. It may look a bit spindly with regard to a few days, but resist the particular urge to cut those vines! They are searching regarding light and a place to hold. Once they experience secure, the leaves will begin popping out there all along the particular length.
Distribution Is a Wind
If a person want to talk about the love with friends, propagating the hoya rebecca is incredibly easy. I've had the very best luck with drinking water propagation. Just snip off a slicing with at minimum two or three nodes (the spots where the particular leaves grow), draw off the bottom group of leaves, and place it in the jar of drinking water.
Put the jar in the bright spot, and within a few weeks, you'll observe little white roots starting to poke out. Once the roots are a good inch or two long, you are able to pot it up inside your chunky soil mix. I've also had success using damp sphagnum moss inside a prop box, which usually seems to create the roots grow even faster because of the higher humidity.
Working With Uninvited Visitors
No vegetable is totally immune system to pests, as well as the hoya rebecca is no exemption. The primary enemy right here is the mealybug. They look such as tiny bits of white cotton hiding in the areas of the stems or under the particular leaves.
If you observe them, don't anxiety. I just consider a cotton swab dipped in massaging alcohol and dab them away. Intended for a bigger pests, a spray of neem oil or even insecticidal soap generally does the technique. Just keep a close eye upon those tight areas where the leaves meet the stem—mealybugs like to play cover and seek presently there.
Why A person Need One
All in all, the hoya rebecca is definitely just a delighted plant to possess. It's not challenging, it's stunningly beautiful, and it's little enough to fit in even the almost all crowded plant selection. Whether you're the total beginner or even a seasoned hoya head, there's something really rewarding about watching those leaves change from green to deep red because the seasons change.
It's one of those plants that will gives back way more than it will take. Give it a small light, just a little water, and a big home, and it'll reward you along with years of multi-colored leaves and aromatic flowers. Honestly, what more could you ask for in the green roommate?