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Hoya bella losing leaves

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  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    thanks. it's been in that pot for a very long time. the soil is pretty moist, but also, i've read that yellowing leaves is a sign of over watering. if it was only a few, i wouldn't worry, but it does seem to be quite a lot, and also above perfectly healthy leaves, not just at the ends of stems. would it be worth taking those stems as cuttings if i remove the yellow leaves? i don't want to lose healthy leaves. perhaps if i repot it, i can persuade some of the trailing stems to move round a bit. also, if i use a terra cotta pot, that might help with the overbalancing. but then it would dry out more quickly. i'd like very much to get rid of the stones on the top if i can.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Possibly the compost has lost its structure - sunk, and become compacted. Try repotting into a gritty, barky mix (say 50% compost, 25% grit or perlite and 25% orchid bark). And yes a terracotta pot is a good idea.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    Loxley said:
    Possibly the compost has lost its structure - sunk, and become compacted. Try repotting into a gritty, barky mix (say 50% compost, 25% grit or perlite and 25% orchid bark). And yes a terracotta pot is a good idea.

    thanks. i'll get nice pot for it. i have perlite and orchid bark. do i need any special kind of compost? is this peat-free one okay, do you think? i wanted peat-free and organic, but i couldn't find one that was both.



  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    i have everything else i need now. please can someone tell me if this compost is ok? thanks.





  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    here's one cutting i've already taken. will it root on its own, or will i need to do anything?


    and is it ok to take cuttings from below where the yellow leaves are, where there are still green leaves?


  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    well, i've taken the bull by the horns, as it were. here's the newly potted Hoya bella. :)
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    help! there are yellowing leaves again. i'm really worried.



    and none of the cuttings i took are rooting at all. could i add some rooting powder? cuttings of all the other plants i took are doing well, but not the Hoya. looking at the jars they're in, i can see one has some mould at the top of the water, which explains that one...



    ...but the other jar looks fine, but still has no roots yet.



    any advice very gratefully received. thank you.

  • Sadly my Hoya Bella of many years succumbed to the heat last year.  I failed to keep up with the watering, but it's hard here as we don't have mains water and daren't empty the water tank! I used to watch the leaves and when they begin to turn from green to more grey is the time to water.
  • ColmOColmO Posts: 101
    i'm very sorry to hear of the sad passing of your Hoya bella. this is one of two plants that i have that were from my late mother (the other is a Spider plant), so i'm quite desperate to keep it going in some way, even by cuttings. all the yellowing leaves are at the top, near the pot, so i wonder if i should take some more cuttings? the ones i've already taken aren't doing well, which is why i was wondering if i should try some rooting powder. or is there a better way to grow roots than in water?
    it doesn't seem to take up any water, though the soil seems pretty dry. have i perhaps repotted it badly? should i be watering it from the top? i usually water all my plants that way unless they don't like it.

  • Some soils become water resistant when very dry and I suspect this might be what has happened with yours. The best thing is to dunk the whole rootball in a bucket of water and leave it there until it is completely soaked. Then lift it out and allow it to drain thoroughly and keep in a pot with good drainage. The leaf colour should tell you when it is ready for a drink :)
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