Hoya ciliata

[Subrosa]

First bloom on this Hoya ciliata that I got in my last order from the late Ted Green about 2.5 years ago. It was a 5 node unrooted cutting when I got it.. These are a bit tricky to propagate, as unlike most other plants the newest growths don't root easily. Using more mature growth gives better results.. The flower smells like peanut butter. This is a species in the Eriostemma group, which some consider a separate genus from Hoya. They're known for fuzzy leaves and enjoying more sun than typical Hoyas, and for not being the easiest things to grow as houseplants, although ciliata is considered the easiest of the group. They're known for needing to be rather large before they bloom, and this one has about 50' of vine all told.

[Subrosa]

Btw, the plant was put into semi-hydroponic culture once it rooted in perlite. As Eriostemma like some calcium in the mix, I added a couple of large handfuls of pelletized chicken grit to the LECA.

[Louis_W]

Wow impressive plant. Looks like you keep it on the edge of too much sun where a little burning is almost inevitable. That's how I do my cattleya too!.

Still too small to bloom or are you expecting flowers any time?

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Wow impressive plant. Looks like you keep it on the edge of too much sun where a little burning is almost inevitable. That's how I do my cattleya too!.

Still too small to bloom or are you expecting flowers any time?

First pic shows the first flower it's produced for me.

[Louis_W]

Oh right! Sorry, I missed that somehow!

[Diane56Victor]

Peanut butter eh? Sounds like my kind of plant!
Great colour.