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What are these black dots on my rope Hoya? 😭 I removed this branch,… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Sandytoes

What are these black dots on my rope Hoya? 😭 I removed this branch, I don’t see any movement from these black dots or on the plant itself but there are so many nooks and crannies. Thinking I’m going to repot it and sock the plant in Castile soap because although I treat her every now and then I can’t really get every leaf covered due to the curls. I want to save her, one of my favorite plants, before it’s too late 🤞🏻 Also might just grab a couple clippings to propogate in case this goes south

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4 comments

  1. Kameron 🌿

    Heyyy, you’re handling this way better than you think. Rope Hoyas are dramatic little creatures, and those black dots look more like a fungal thing than bugs, especially since nothing’s moving. The curls make it annoying to treat, so your plan to repot and do a diluted Castile soak is actually solid. Just rinse her after so she doesn’t get soap burn. Grabbing a couple clippings is smart too — not in a panicky way, just in a “I’m not losing this plant without a fight” way. That’s exactly how you should be thinking. Keep her somewhere warm with good airflow while she recovers. She might look rough for a bit, but that doesn’t mean she’s done. Hoyas bounce back harder than they look. Goodluck! Also just so things don’t get worse - No fertilizer, overwatering, or doing too much to ‘Revive’ the plant.. from my experience it does more harm than done. Let her do her thin.

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    • Kameron 🌿

      Oh and if you do suspect pests, stay away from any oils to prevent them. Like Neem oil, horticultural oil etc. Rope Hoyas tend to trap residue within their curls and can suffocate the leaves.

      1 like
    • Sandytoes

      Oh wow, thanks for all the good info and optimism! I have looked all over the plant with a light up magnifying glass and see no signs of pests so I’m hoping you are right 🤞🏻 it was just this one branch and I plucked it out. The rest of the plant looks good from what I can tell.

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    • Kameron 🌿

      Oh then you’re in a good place, just watch to see if it spreads.. it usually doesn’t but keep an eye. And being optimistic is all we can be these days! But pests don’t seem to be the issue, mind if I see the rest of the plant x

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