My Hoya of the day: Hoya kerrii

[hoyagal Growing]

Hoya kerrii was my second ever hoya, and at one time the most exotic hoya I could think of ever purchasing.  Now, my Hoya kerrii is the most expensive hoya I own seeing as the first kerrii I bought was a novelty plant on a heart shaped trellis for valentines day - $39.99.  That was in 2002.  My dh loves me enough to let me buy my own valentine's day present!!!  Ha!!  Some women get diamonds, my husband sent me off to the nursery (at my request) while he continued to swig his beer!  Heee!
 
A year later, I went back and bought the other two plants - at 40.00 each.  Does it end there? NOT EVEN!!  I proceeded to buy a variegated one for 25.00, and later received in a trade, another variegated hoya from a good friend who just happens to know how much I love kerrii.  Then last year I found another solid green kerrii for 9.99.  I should mention that all of these kerrii's are residing in the same pot.  I fear there may be room for more if I were to happen upon another.  Happy valentine's day honey!!
 
Now this plant is over 8 feet tall, and has a peduncle at ever node.  Hundreds of peduncles.  Today, I found my first cluster of buds on one of the hundreds of peduncles that have formed over the last 6 years.
 
I have my kerriis growing in a south window, and simply can't wait to see my flowers.
 
S

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[jen]

Sara, I can't tell too clearly by the picture, but are the peduncles
typically long, like up to a few inches, maybe longer? My kerrii has
them but has never bloomed - it's and had them since mid-spring, but
nothing is happening yet, no actual buds. I thought maybe the plant
was faking me.

I read somewhere that they could take alot of direct sun so moved
mine, which is outside now, into a sunnier spot. I would love to see
it bloom this year!

[got2...@live.com]

Yes Jen, the peduncles are very long. I have tons of them too, but
like you, thought it would tease me forever!! I have had 2-3 inch
long peduncles at every node (and there are a lot of them now), for at
least 2 years!! Ha! I finally got so that I wasn't even excited by
the peduncles anymore, and found the buds on this one by accident.

I think that kerrii can take a whole lot of light, not to be
redundant, but I mentioned that mine is growing in a south window, and
it gets high light, but indirect as my front porch is covered. I
would love to put my hoyas outside, but our growing season is so
short, and we get sudden freak storms, that it is a whole lot of work,
and a whole lot of risk for very little benefit.

I only have the green, and the regular albomarginate variegated, so I
may just have to look for the pubescent and the centrally variegated
form, just to round out my collection. Really, I think that I own the
worlds most expensive kerrii, so why stop now....Ha.

S

[dmichael]

I have 4 clones of H. kerrii, 3 of which are currently in bloom. I
find this hoya to be a rather fast grower when in season but not so
much so that it will take over your house!!! I grow all of my kerriis
in very bright indirect light and they all thrive there,in fact my
smooth green leaved one is running up towards the rafters of the gh.
It's got a few feet left to go but it's making it's way there!!

This also seems to be a fairly easy hoya to bring into bloom and
produces a peduncle at at least every other leaf node. I've also
noticed that it will push the new buds out so fast that you can have a
cluster of open flowers with a brand new set of unopened buds sitting
right in the middle of it! Something else interesting i've seen go on
with this plant recently is the fact that my reverse variegated clone
is producing aerial roots at every single leaf node and has even
developed some on the peduncles themselves.


Sara I got my reverse variegated clone from Gardino's and it was a
very nice sized plant when I got it.I do have the pubescent form as
well (Ric in Fl) but it is just starting to put on some new growth.

dmichael

[Jennifer]

Lets see if it works sending a picture this way - here is my hoya kerri.
The pot is an 8", so not very big. The vine to the left goes up out of
view, that is the vine with most of the peduncles on it. This plant does
not look very attractive in a hanging basket, it my opinion. It started out
as a very small cutting, and this is all the growth I have gotten in almost
4 years, most of the growth being in the past 2 years, and of course only in
the warmer months. I have moved it into a brighter spot for the summer, so
we will see what happens!

[got2...@live.com]

Jen, it worked!! I had the same trouble that you did with your
cinnamomiflolia picture, and getting it to the right place at first,
but then learned if I went through my email, and hit reply to the one
that came for the topic I wanted to reply to, I could attach a picture
and get it where it needs to go. Ha! People say it isn't rocket
science, but heh.....

I love how your hoyas look outside. Every time I see pictures of
hoyas outside, it almost makes me change my mind, and put mine out. I
just can't though....there are soooo many, and they just "fit" the way
they need to where they are right now.

I love looking at pictures of people's hoyas though, so keep em
coming. Sort of like going to the zoo. Ha.

:)