Why are my Hoya leaves shriveling?
I just got this one recently and nearly all the leaves are shriveling up. It’s definitely not from overwatering so any ideas?
0ft to light, direct
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 weeks ago
23
@Slyvie underwatering perhaps? Can I see a pic of the soil? What kind of substrate? Do the leaves feel soft?
@DreamMachine the soil is actually moist and the leaves feel bendy. I can give u a pic of the substrate tomorrow afternoon!
@Slyvie ok thank you 👍 When was the last time you watered? And when did you notice this happening? It’s possible they were under watered, but then you noticed the underwatering symptoms *after* you watered. Or, they’ve been watering too much or too frequently. (Why do you say it’s not over watering?) When do you decide it’s time to water? Do you wait for the soil to dry out a certain amount? And, when you send more pictures tomorrow, can you show me a picture of the whole plant please? 🤗
@Slyvie ok, that’s makes more sense then 😅 Is your hoya rooted? I ask because I see the floral pins, I use those when I’m starting new cuttings. And did you repot it, or is that the mix it came in? And is that cinnamon I’m seeing?
I’m almost positive that they have had too much water, but they don’t look terrible. It might not have been from you watering but from the soil retaining too much moisture. Since most hoyas are epiphytes and grow on trees they need a really chunky airy mix with lots of air pockets, otherwise the roots can be overwhelmed with water. It’s important to check the soil before watering hoyas, most of them need to be practically dry throughout the whole pot before they’re watered again. For the majority of mine, I water when 90-95% dry.
But now that I say all of that, I’m not sure if it’s the watering, it might be a lack of humidity or too harsh of direct sun . the thing that makes me pause is that they are sitting directly in a west facing window without anything to block those rays, like a sheer curtain. 🤔 That can also cause some stress, since in their native habitat they get more of a dappled kind of light, that is filtered down through the trees first, and they have lots of natural humidity. Your lacunosa looks like some of my cuttings do, if I take them out of their humidity boxes suddenly, and leave them out.
Because I am uncertain, I gotta check with Shannon @SuperbRaspfern because she is SO good at diagnosing problems and I aspire to be half as good, some day! ☺️
I’m almost positive that they have had too much water, but they don’t look terrible. It might not have been from you watering but from the soil retaining too much moisture. Since most hoyas are epiphytes and grow on trees they need a really chunky airy mix with lots of air pockets, otherwise the roots can be overwhelmed with water. It’s important to check the soil before watering hoyas, most of them need to be practically dry throughout the whole pot before they’re watered again. For the majority of mine, I water when 90-95% dry.
But now that I say all of that, I’m not sure if it’s the watering, it might be a lack of humidity or too harsh of direct sun . the thing that makes me pause is that they are sitting directly in a west facing window without anything to block those rays, like a sheer curtain. 🤔 That can also cause some stress, since in their native habitat they get more of a dappled kind of light, that is filtered down through the trees first, and they have lots of natural humidity. Your lacunosa looks like some of my cuttings do, if I take them out of their humidity boxes suddenly, and leave them out.
Because I am uncertain, I gotta check with Shannon @SuperbRaspfern because she is SO good at diagnosing problems and I aspire to be half as good, some day! ☺️
These Hoyas are really finicky compared the thicker leaf Hoyas.
She's definitely overwatered.
Shes dropped a lot of leaves from when you got her. That is what they do when overwatered. She also has kind of floppy stems by the looks of it. While they do hang over the pot sides. They should still be facing a bit upwards where it comes out of the soil.
The repot you did doesn't help. (although I repot when I bring a new plant home immediately). When you repot they go into shock then they hardly drink water. Causing overwatering issues.
Then you get wrinkled leaves that drop. They trick you and look thirsty but it's actually the opposite.
I can also tell, you went up in pot size? These REALLY need to be is a small pot for that size no more than 4 inches. They do much better that way.
I Keep mine in a 4 inch pot. They also grow slooow. So you will need to be patient. The west window will be fine.
🥰 Nadia, you are a sweetheart. I saw a photo of you earlier with pumpkins. They were beauties! Your such a cutie patootie 🩷
I've been battling gophers. We have sooooo many out here and they are addicted to pumpkins. Fortunately, they grow quick and I always get pumpkins growing before the gophers decapitate them at the stems. Then the chickens eat them. They like the pumpkins really young anyway since the skins are thin. I've even puréed a bunch for holiday pumpkin pies.
Here are some my gophers got to today. The pumpkins have become my sacrificial plant. They eat them and I plant more!
She's definitely overwatered.
Shes dropped a lot of leaves from when you got her. That is what they do when overwatered. She also has kind of floppy stems by the looks of it. While they do hang over the pot sides. They should still be facing a bit upwards where it comes out of the soil.
The repot you did doesn't help. (although I repot when I bring a new plant home immediately). When you repot they go into shock then they hardly drink water. Causing overwatering issues.
Then you get wrinkled leaves that drop. They trick you and look thirsty but it's actually the opposite.
I can also tell, you went up in pot size? These REALLY need to be is a small pot for that size no more than 4 inches. They do much better that way.
I Keep mine in a 4 inch pot. They also grow slooow. So you will need to be patient. The west window will be fine.
🥰 Nadia, you are a sweetheart. I saw a photo of you earlier with pumpkins. They were beauties! Your such a cutie patootie 🩷
I've been battling gophers. We have sooooo many out here and they are addicted to pumpkins. Fortunately, they grow quick and I always get pumpkins growing before the gophers decapitate them at the stems. Then the chickens eat them. They like the pumpkins really young anyway since the skins are thin. I've even puréed a bunch for holiday pumpkin pies.
Here are some my gophers got to today. The pumpkins have become my sacrificial plant. They eat them and I plant more!
@SuperbRaspfern oh thank you so much!! So I did repot it and the mix might be a bit too moisture retaining. Should I switch soil mix and pot? And I did recently repot as soon as I got it. Should I put it in ziplock to improve humidity? My other Hoya also looks like this but is recovering after I put it in a terra cotta pot and a chunkier mix!
It's not the humidity. But, high humidity does help them grow faster. So that's up to you. If you have other plants you can cluster your plants together. As each plant release water vapor through transpiration transpiration raises humidity. I sweat and am roasting whenever I am in my plant room. They really increase humidity when together. I live in a dry environment and they do fine.
You can repot, just know it will extend the shock period. So go really easy on the water just enough to moisten the soil. But not soak it.
When it starts putting out new growth, that is the sign shock has passed and you can water normally.
Also NEVER fertilize any new plant or repotted plant in shock, it burns roots. Don't do terra cotta for this particular one. It won't be happy, it will dry out too fast.
The Hoyas with thick leaves store more water in their leaves (just like a succulent). That's why they do fine in a terracotta pot. The thin small leaf varieties don't tolerate drought as well. It can take some time to figure them out. You will get there though.
Because all Hoyas are semi succulent they drop leaves just like a succulent that is overwatered. The cells fill with too much water, the cells burst and the heavy leaves drop off. Don't be surprised if the wrinkly leaves drop off, it's okay if they do. That's just their process.
When you underwater this one you will know the leaves get really dried out and sorta papery. If that happens it will need a drink.
I keep all of my Hoyas in porcelain pots. Just make sure to keep the pots small. The Foilage up top will be flowing down in some varieties climbing up and you may be tempted to go up in pot size. Don't do it, you will regret it. They flower more and stay healthy very snug in their pots.
Some photos of my plant room.
You can repot, just know it will extend the shock period. So go really easy on the water just enough to moisten the soil. But not soak it.
When it starts putting out new growth, that is the sign shock has passed and you can water normally.
Also NEVER fertilize any new plant or repotted plant in shock, it burns roots. Don't do terra cotta for this particular one. It won't be happy, it will dry out too fast.
The Hoyas with thick leaves store more water in their leaves (just like a succulent). That's why they do fine in a terracotta pot. The thin small leaf varieties don't tolerate drought as well. It can take some time to figure them out. You will get there though.
Because all Hoyas are semi succulent they drop leaves just like a succulent that is overwatered. The cells fill with too much water, the cells burst and the heavy leaves drop off. Don't be surprised if the wrinkly leaves drop off, it's okay if they do. That's just their process.
When you underwater this one you will know the leaves get really dried out and sorta papery. If that happens it will need a drink.
I keep all of my Hoyas in porcelain pots. Just make sure to keep the pots small. The Foilage up top will be flowing down in some varieties climbing up and you may be tempted to go up in pot size. Don't do it, you will regret it. They flower more and stay healthy very snug in their pots.
Some photos of my plant room.
@SuperbRaspfern aw why thank you!! ☺️ I was so proud of my pumpkins 😁I’d never grown anything as big before. And it was so rewarding to both carve the big ones into Jack o lanterns 🎃 and make pies with the sugar pie pumpkins 🥧
Dang, your pumpkins are big already!! 😲 Do you have any tricks to slow down the gopher feast?
And now I see, of course it’s overwatering. That before picture is key. 📝
And Sylvie @Slyvie I totally agree re pot size for hoyas! I started my hoya collection a year ago, and most of them are still in 3.5 or 4 inch pots or less, and I’ve already had one Hoya bloom and two other varieties have peduncles. Smaller is best 🤗
Dang, your pumpkins are big already!! 😲 Do you have any tricks to slow down the gopher feast?
And now I see, of course it’s overwatering. That before picture is key. 📝
And Sylvie @Slyvie I totally agree re pot size for hoyas! I started my hoya collection a year ago, and most of them are still in 3.5 or 4 inch pots or less, and I’ve already had one Hoya bloom and two other varieties have peduncles. Smaller is best 🤗
We have sooooo many gophers on our property, even the 2 barn cats have trouble keeping up and they are regularly hunting them. I know they catch some. The other week one slept in the garden and hunted one for me. He left it whole right in front of the gate. They normally eat them and leave me the jaw and teeth on the doorstep. But Will Feral wanted to show me his catch.
I've used garlic balls. Pellets and so many other things but they just can't seem to resist those pumpkins. If you got any other tips I'm up for ideas. Those dudes eat fast!! They don't touch anything else, just the pumpkins. It's not a total loss though because they are still edible even though they are not full grown and the chickens love them green. I've have a ton of them. So, if you don't have any other ideas I will just keep planting them and have them be my sacrificial crop.
I don't buy the kind to carve since my sole purpose of for food. The other day I baked a bunch and then pureed the meat from them to use later. But most are simply chopped up for the flock. They get very excited about pumpkins. And I grew them mainly for the flock. Needless to say the chickens love the variety of snack they get and we also enjoy the plentiful harvest.
This is my kitchen at all times as soon as I can and process they baskets fill right back up. The barn cats are my last 2 pics. Will Feral like to come in for cuddles now as long as the door is left open. He panicked if a door is closed behind him. So we quite literally live in a barn with animals in and out and I love it!!! 🩷
I've used garlic balls. Pellets and so many other things but they just can't seem to resist those pumpkins. If you got any other tips I'm up for ideas. Those dudes eat fast!! They don't touch anything else, just the pumpkins. It's not a total loss though because they are still edible even though they are not full grown and the chickens love them green. I've have a ton of them. So, if you don't have any other ideas I will just keep planting them and have them be my sacrificial crop.
I don't buy the kind to carve since my sole purpose of for food. The other day I baked a bunch and then pureed the meat from them to use later. But most are simply chopped up for the flock. They get very excited about pumpkins. And I grew them mainly for the flock. Needless to say the chickens love the variety of snack they get and we also enjoy the plentiful harvest.
This is my kitchen at all times as soon as I can and process they baskets fill right back up. The barn cats are my last 2 pics. Will Feral like to come in for cuddles now as long as the door is left open. He panicked if a door is closed behind him. So we quite literally live in a barn with animals in and out and I love it!!! 🩷
@SuperbRaspfern @DreamMachine I took your advice and placed it into a chunkier soil mix, smaller pot, and I’m gonna wait to water it until new growth appears or the soil is completely dry! I also found a bit of root rot so fixed that as well!
@SuperbRaspfern oh my goodness, GOALS!! I love LOVE those produce storage baskets 🧺 😱 And what a bounty!
I died at the whole gopher left behind for you 🤣🤣😭 “See Mama? I got one for you. This meal’s on me!” 😂😂
I also have the Ball Home Preserving book!! Also a fan of “Can It & Ferment It.” Each page has both the canning and fermenting instructions, and there’s interesting ones, like Dandelion Jelly. 😋
Unfortunately I have no tricks for gophers, we do not have any in my area, but if I hear anything from someone who’s dealt with them successfully, I’ll be sure to let you know! 🤞 🤞
I died at the whole gopher left behind for you 🤣🤣😭 “See Mama? I got one for you. This meal’s on me!” 😂😂
I also have the Ball Home Preserving book!! Also a fan of “Can It & Ferment It.” Each page has both the canning and fermenting instructions, and there’s interesting ones, like Dandelion Jelly. 😋
Unfortunately I have no tricks for gophers, we do not have any in my area, but if I hear anything from someone who’s dealt with them successfully, I’ll be sure to let you know! 🤞 🤞
@SuperbRaspfern ♥️♥️♥️ Will Feral 🥹🥰
I think I would prefer a gopher left at my door than the last “gift” my cats left me…a baby hummingbird 😭😭😭💀☠️
I think I would prefer a gopher left at my door than the last “gift” my cats left me…a baby hummingbird 😭😭😭💀☠️
@DreamMachine @SuperbRaspfern thank you both so much for your help!! I look forward to making sure this plant makes a full recovery:D
@SuperbRaspfern ack, one quick question 🙋♀️ I’d seen this on other people’s hoyas before, but never experienced it myself until now. Do you know what causes this yellow spotting on the leaves?
This is a large leaf hoya cutting of a finlaysonii hybrid ‘Naga Princess.’ All three original leaves has it. It has only been in 100% humidity in a ziplock bag with dampened perlite to root (for about a month). I checked it all over with my microscope and could find no signs of pests. I’m stumped!
This is a large leaf hoya cutting of a finlaysonii hybrid ‘Naga Princess.’ All three original leaves has it. It has only been in 100% humidity in a ziplock bag with dampened perlite to root (for about a month). I checked it all over with my microscope and could find no signs of pests. I’m stumped!
@DreamMachine I have actually been getting the same thing from a cutting of Hoya densifola- the leaves are yellowing from spots that have been spreading!
It's normal on aging leaves. They will do that as their energy goes to new growth. The yellow spots will grow and eventually the whole leaf can turn yellow before it drops.
So for cuttings it definitely and even some of my strong healthy Hoyas will get them on the very bottom leaves before they naturally drop.
Stress of any kind can cause it on any leaf. It's just a response to giving its strength to other parts of the plant.
Don't stress too much about it because Hoyas will still root with no leaves. I've even propped just a 1 inch node before, bare and it rooted and grew in some sphagnum moss.
@DreamMachine @Slyvie
So for cuttings it definitely and even some of my strong healthy Hoyas will get them on the very bottom leaves before they naturally drop.
Stress of any kind can cause it on any leaf. It's just a response to giving its strength to other parts of the plant.
Don't stress too much about it because Hoyas will still root with no leaves. I've even propped just a 1 inch node before, bare and it rooted and grew in some sphagnum moss.
@DreamMachine @Slyvie
@SuperbRaspfern ahh, okay, well that’s good to hear. Much appreciated ♥️ This cutting has a teeny weeny new leaf starting, really hard to take a picture of, haha, so I suppose it’s time to start transitioning them to a big girl pot (but not *too* big 😅)
@DreamMachine Look at that cute leaf. She looks great. Takes a lot of energy to root and grow leaves! She's doing very well 🩷