Hoya is often called "wax ivy" (for wax-coated leaves) or "honey ivy" (when the plant blooms, the apartment is filled with the aroma of honey).
Reproduction at home
For breeding hoy use in three ways:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- seeds.
How to grow from seed?
The ripened seeds are slightly dried and sown in a substrate with good breathability (for example, with the addition of sphagnum moss, pieces of sackcloth or felt). The ability to germinate in seeds quickly disappears, they should be sown fresh (no later than 1 year after harvest).
By the end of the week, the seeds germinate and require careful care:
- drying of the substrate should not be allowed;
- it is impossible to overmoisten the soil;
- lighting should be good;
- should be treated with a fungicide for prophylactic purposes (Bordeaux mixture). The use of drugs containing copper is strictly contraindicated.
You can sow seeds into sphagnum moss, wrapped in a nylon net: moss is wet, seeds germinate through the mesh cells. Seedlings are transplanted into the pots along with the moss, the roots are not damaged.
After about 3 months healthy seedlings are transplanted into separate pots. About 80% of plants can be grown from seeds, if the percentage of germination is less, then the seeds have lost their germination or the roots of seedlings rot.
What do the seeds look like?
Seed pods are not formed at the hoi grown in apartments. There are no insects that pollinate hoyu in our latitudes. Small hoya seeds have lightweight "parachutes", resemble dandelion seeds (look the same "fluffy")
When to plant?
Regardless of the season, you can sow hoi seeds, if they are fresh and not lost germination.
Reproduction by cuttings
This method is the most popular, while creating favorable conditions (high humidity and the right temperature) rooting occurs well.
Rooting cuttings can be in several ways:
- In water (leaves are removed from the knots on the handle, treated with the root hormone and placed in water). The container is placed in a warm place (22 degrees), maintain high humidity (you can cover with plastic wrap, a greenhouse is formed). After 2 weeks, the emerged roots are noticeable; they should be transplanted into pots without waiting for them to grow long (become brittle, break off).
- In solid substrate (porous soil mixture, perlite, peat tablets, vermiculite, sphagnum moss) cuttings are planted after treatment with a powder that accelerates root formation. Humidity should be maintained (excess water should flow out), protect from moisture evaporation (regularly spray or cover with glass).
For rooting hoi peat tablet should be moistened, put the dried cutting in the depression of the tablet, top cover with a package (creating a mini hothouse). After 2 weeks, roots will appear, can be planted together with a tablet in a pot.
- Rooting step by step instructions in breathable ground:
- cut stalks with 2 knots should be dried;
- to fill in the plastic container soil with high content of peat;
- put the cutting in the ground (before the internode), lightly water it;
- cover the container with holes for ventilation;
- put in a warm place (22 degrees) before rooting.
When is it best to propagate by cuttings?
You can multiply hoiu by cuttings of shoots of the previous year any time of year except winter.
From sheet
This method is time consuming and can not always be crowned with success. Before planting, the leaf should be treated with a growth stimulator (kinetin, adenine sulfate). Leaves can remain for long periods of time even after the appearance of a powerful root system. In order to grow hoyu from a leaf, it is necessary that the leaf has a piece of cutting (the growth point is in it).
Trying to multiply hoyu leaf, plant it must be in a cramped pot, periodically feed up. Some flower growers managed to get shoots after stimulating the hoya leaf with roots (the substrate was dried, the temperature was lowered, good lighting was created). The growth of the shoot was observed after the first year of leaf life.
How to root?
For better rooting, you must follow the recommendations:
- take short cuttings;
- plant several cuttings in one pot;
- take for rooting healthy cuttings;
- rooting occurs more quickly at a temperature of 22 degrees;
- spraying required (humidity should be high);
- place pots near to increase humidity;
- interfere with the soil (in large hoi) 1 node with leaves and 4 nodes in small species;
- the growing end of the cutting must be placed in the ground, not cut;
- as long as the stalk is green, one can hope that it will take root;
- do not rotate the cuttings in the process of rooting;
- when placed in a warm place, an increase in 2-3 weeks is noticeable;
- in some species grows a long shoot, which must be tied up.
An adult plant will need support to make it easier for the vines to grow.
A photo
Next you will see a photo of the seed and breeding of Hoi: