Features of growing and caring for an amazing flower - Hoya Linearis
Hoya Linearis or linear Hoya is a wonderful climbing plant from the Himalayan forests. Liana is unpretentious in leaving and gently blossoms. It grows in the form of lashes, sometimes growing to six meters.
In this article, we will talk about different methods of growing, reproduction and proper care of this plant. And also you will find out what diseases and pests can attack the Linearis hoya, how to cope with them in a timely manner and how to prevent their reappearance.
Botanical Description
The evergreen liana got its name from Thomas Hoya, a gardener at the court of the English Duke, who was the first in Europe to master the care of exotic plants.
Hoya belongs to the gore plants, consisting of climbing vines. Hoya Linearis is an alpine species, its shoots are thin, light green, covered with linear leaves about 7 cm long and only 2 mm thick with almost imperceptible petioles and an edge turned back. The leaves are densely pubescent over the entire surface and resemble long needles, the distance between the nodes is about 5 cm. Young shoots are very light, almost white.
REFERENCE! Linear Hoya grows in width, not in depth, as a result of which it lacks a powerful root system.The flowers of the creeper are creamy, slightly yellowish, in the form of an umbrella. In the inflorescence there are from 10 to 20 small flowers that have a slight vanilla smell resembling a lily.
Photo
Below you can see a photo of Hoya Linearis:
Growing
Sowing seeds
Getting seeds from a plant is almost impossibleTherefore, it is optimal to buy them in a specialized store.
IMPORTANT! Seeds for planting must be fresh.Germination of the shoot and the formation of the first leaves will take about three months. The young shoot requires careful attention and care, suitable conditions should be created, such as moderate lighting and a stable temperature in the room.
Drying of the soil should be avoided. Fertilizers should not be used in the early stages of growth.. This method of growing Hoya is the most time-consuming.
Leaf propagation
One of the options for growing vines is to plant one leaf.
The leaf must be planted in light loose soil, strictly at an angle of 45 degrees.
To succeed, you have to use a special powder for root formation. Getting Hoya from a leaf is much easier if it is taken from the wild. Under such conditions, there is a greater chance of growing a healthy plant.
Cuttings
The easiest way to propagate plants at home. For planting, the stems of adult plants are used, the cuttings must have a minimum of 2-3 nodes and 1-2 pairs of leaves.
Cut the spine with a sharp and sterile knife.
The pot should be filled with water and wrapped with foil for better rooting. The temperature of the air and water should not be lower than 22 degrees, the humidity is high. Two weeks later, the cuttings will be ready for transplantation..
A simplified version of rooting is the placement of cuttings in a dark vessel and constant spraying.
ATTENTION! When planting, in no case should you confuse the cut end and the growing one.Plant care
- Temperature. Hoya does not like heat, heat and dry air. Leaves in such conditions fade, curl and weaken. In nature, this vine grows in the mountains, so it feels best in a cool room. In winter, the optimum temperature for the plant is 12-15 degrees, and in summer - 22-25 degrees.
- Watering. The flower requires regular watering, it is necessary that the earth is saturated, but the excess water goes into the pan. With excess moisture, the roots may rot. Hoya should be watered with distilled tap water.
- Shine. Hoya Linearis feels good in bright light, but with a small amount of direct sunlight. In the afternoon, the plant must be shaded so that the aggressive sun does not damage the thin leaves.
- Pruning. Liana does not need regular pruning. If you want Hoya to grow wide, you can sometimes prune adult shoots.
- Top dressing. The plant needs regular fertilizing in the growth phase. To do this, from March to September, nutrients are added to the water and watered with a solution twice a month.
- Pot. In nature, Hoya grows even in narrow mountain crevices, so the liana feels comfortable in a pot in which the roots of the plant barely fit.
Disease
Most problems are usually associated with improper care of Hoya:
- Liana dumps the leaves. It happens with excessive watering of the plant. This usually happens in cold weather.
- Burns and yellowing of leaves, as well as cracks in the trunks. Sudden changes in temperature provoke them. Liana does not like both cold and too high a temperature.
- Leaves and flowers may discolor. This happens if you feed the plant in hot weather.
- White plaque on the leaves - a sign of fungal diseases. It is necessary to wash the plant in the shower, if necessary, remove the coating with a sponge and treat with fungicides.
- Liana does not bloom. There can be many reasons for this - from improper temperature conditions to non-compliance with irrigation conditions. A plant may lack nutrients in the soil.
- Decay of the root system. It can happen when water stagnates in a pot. It is recommended to add drainage to the soil.
- Slow growth. It happens due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil.
Pests
Hoya is quite resistant to pests, but under the wrong conditions of detention it can still be infected by them.
- Shield. Sucks life-giving juices from shoots and leaves. The leaves crumble, the liana loses its healthy appearance. At the initial stage, you can treat the plant with an alcohol or soap solution.
- Mealybug. It feeds on the juice of the plant, with a serious infection, Hoya stops growing. At the initial stages, damaged shoots can be cut off, thereby getting rid of the pest.
- Powdery mildew. It is visible on the liana in the form of a whitish coating covering buds and stems. It is necessary to ventilate the room well and moisten the air.
Conclusion
Hoya Linearis is an excellent decoration of the apartment, when flowering it emits a soft vanilla aroma, not capricious in leaving. Subject to the temperature regime, watering and proper lighting, the liana will not cause trouble and will daily delight with its airy flowing appearance.