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I got this Hoya a month or so ago from Lowe’s and then all of a… | Hoya Hoarders | Planta community

Ashley

I got this Hoya a month or so ago from Lowe’s and then all of a sudden the one side died and I have since removed it. Should I keep the plant on the trellis or grow it a different way? Looking for any advice to keep it alive!

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8 comments

  1. Adrian

    Hey there 👋 I rescue houseplants from box stores as a hobby and as someone who’s used to running through a pretty specific inspection and rehabilitation process to save their plants, I’d recommend checking the roots out if you haven’t. It’s very possible it wasn’t potted in the right soil, or the roots are distressed or rotted, causing the drop in leaves, so it might need a smaller pot upon inspection. If you’re unsure if the roots look okay from the looks of it, feel free to attach a photo and I’ll try to help you determine if they’re alright. Hope this helps.

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    • Ashley

      Hello Adrian! Here is a photo of the roots. Everything looked good to me but I noticed the soil is still very moist and it’s been a while since I last watered it.

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    • Adrian

      The exposed roots look good, but I think you’re right that the soil might be the culprit here. About how many days does it take for it to dry out? And are you waiting until the soil has completely dried out between waterings?

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    • Ashley

      Yes it seems like I last watered it two weeks ago and it’s still pretty moist so i don’t know if the soil is holding water for a long time or if the plant just isn’t soaking it up. I have even tried placing it in front of an open window without direct sun trying to increase the airflow.

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    • Adrian

      I’m thinking the soil isn’t well-draining enough, and taking too long of a time for the plant to dry out. I do agree with Micheline too that you might find a hidden plug or cage surrounding the roots if you remove enough of the soil, so it wouldn’t hurt to check if that’s the case as well. If you find any of the roots are damaged or rotted, snip them off and soak the roots in a bowl with hydrogen peroxide for 20-30 minutes, gently pat the roots dry, and get some Bonide’s Rooting Hormone Powder to help the plant grow new roots back faster. It’ll also help with any potential shock from the repot. I currently have my Hoyas in Espoma’s Organic Cactus and Succulent Mix, but if you can find a Hoya specific or epiphytic/bromeliad soil mix, I’d recommend repotting your Hoya with that.

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    • Ashley

      Thank you so much for the help!

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  2. Micheline

    I got the same hoya at a big box store (just in a different pot). It had a foam plug at the base- between that and the soil it had root rot. propagated cuttings and the new props did great. Another person suggested that hoya roots may be bad and still look white. If you rub the root and the white sheath comes off/ the root crumbles. Maybe they were wrong, but what they said seemed true: the roots on mine looked fine, but they weren’t good and my plant was dying. Someone with more experience- can you share your thoughts about that?

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    • Ashley

      Oh good to know about the roots. I will have to further investigate today!

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