Hoya Bella - home care

This plant has a special beauty and pleasant smell. You don't have to spend much effort on caring for it. But we must not forget that the flower contains poison that can harm small children. Adults can grow it in the home without fear of any repercussions.

What does it look like, which family it belongs to

Hoya Bella is a representative of the Lastovnev family. The exact name of the plant is Hoya lanceolata Bella. It has a small root system. In the wild, Hoya Bella is an epiphyte. If it is grown indoors, it is preferable to keep the plant in hanging pots. The flower feels good in a large flat container.

Hoya Bella inflorescence

Its stems are thin, flexible, and highly branched. They are gray-green in color. Internodes in the form of well-distinguishable thickenings. The shoots have a large number of leaves. During growth, the branches fall down. Flower umbrellas grow at the ends of the shoots. The foliage is shaped like a diamond. The size of the leaves is 2-4 cm. Their sides have a different color: the top is dark green, the bottom is a green whitish shade.

One of the varieties of the flower

Common varieties

The most popular plant varieties:

• Variegata - differs in the special color of the leaf plates. They are green with beautiful yellow streaks.
• Louis Buis - the leaves of this variety have a characteristic feature - a lighter central part.
• Wee - The foliage of this hoya is smaller than other varieties. They are more abundant, giving the plant a fluffier appearance. This is one of the variegated varieties.

Briefly about the history of appearance

The plant is named after the famous English gardener Thomas Hoya. He worked for the Duke of Northumberland in the early nineteenth century. Thomas was fond of growing tropical plants in the cool British climate.

Is the flower poisonous

The stem, flowers and sap of the plant contain a toxic substance, so it is not recommended to keep it in families where there are small children or pets who like to feast on plants.

Hoya flower

Home care for the Hoya Bella flower

In order for the plant to develop and bloom favorably, it is important to follow the rules that take into account its characteristics. Cuttings are used to plant a flower. Features of the procedure:

1. A flat and wide container is prepared for the flower.
2. A drainage layer and some soil are poured at the bottom.
3. A seedling is placed on it and the roots are carefully straightened. 2-3 sprouts are usually planted in one planter.
4. The plant is carefully sprinkled with a substrate.

It is not recommended to water the flower during the first two days after planting.

Lush bush

Temperature

The plant is suitable for normal room temperature. Hot weather is undesirable for him. Hoya Bella does not tolerate strong winds, drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. Optimum temperature conditions are + 20… +25 degrees.

Lighting

For hoya Bell at home, you need to provide good lighting. However, on sunny days, it is recommended to create light shading for it. In the cold season, when the lighting is weaker, you need to maximize it.

Watering

Hoya Bella does not tolerate completely dry soil. As soon as the surface begins to dry out, it is necessary to water the flower. It is important to ensure that no liquid stagnation occurs in the soil. Otherwise, root decay will begin.

During flowering, watering should be quite intense. After that, it is enough to reduce its frequency to twice a month. It is recommended to use standing water or rainwater for this purpose. Too cold liquid should not be used. It should be slightly warmer than room temperature (by 2-3 degrees).

Spraying

Watering alone is not enough to moisturize the plant. Since the surface of the leaves dries up much faster than the soil, it is required to spray them regularly. Moisture should not get on the flowers. After completing the procedure, it is recommended to wipe the leaves.

Humidity

The plant grows best in an atmosphere with high humidity. To do this, you can do not only spraying, but also place containers with water in close proximity to the flower.

Plant foliage

Priming

A specially prepared substrate is used as a soil for a flower. For him, the land is suitable, which is used in the process of growing orchids. You need to add a small amount of sand to it.

If you prepare the soil for the flower yourself, then to obtain the base you will have to mix 1 part of sand, 1 - peat, 1 - compost and 2 - sod land. It is also recommended to add a little charcoal, moss and chopped bark there.

Top dressing

In the summer, you need to fertilize the soil regularly. For this purpose, a complex mineral fertilizer is suitable, but not in the form of a concentrate, but highly diluted. Too much fertilizer can damage the plant.

Features of growing in the open field

You need to choose a well-lit area in the house, in which there should be no draft. Watering the flower is performed as the top layer of the soil dries. Fertilizers need to be applied three times a year, in the summer - every month.

In wild nature

When and how it blooms

After the appearance of the peduncles, flowering begins after one or two months. During this time, it is not allowed to move the plant to a new location. With good care, hoya Bella can delight with abundant flowering for many years.

Types of flowers

Hoya Bella flowers look like they are made of wax. Their diameter is 1-2 cm. Flowers grow in the form of inflorescences at the ends of the peduncles.

Flower shapes

The flowers of the plant resemble stars. They are white in color and have a prominent inner crown that can be purple or pink. Round inflorescences are shaped like an umbrella. A group of flowers usually has 7-9 pieces.

Flowering period

Hoya Bella flowers have a lifespan of 8 days. They appear throughout May or June. After the faded buds fall off, new ones are soon formed. The flower has a strong aroma with hints of vanilla. It is not as harmless as it might seem and can cause headaches.

Changes in care during flowering

When Hoya Bella grows flowers, she needs more intensive watering than at other times. During flowering, the plant is watered at least three times a week.

Flowers have a waxy hue

Pruning

This procedure is optional for a flower. However, when dry or diseased shoots appear, they must be cut off.

How does it multiply

In practice, several methods of breeding hoya are used. The most commonly used propagation by cuttings.

Germinating seeds

For germination, seeds are planted in the soil in a plastic container. They are covered with foil and watered regularly. Sprouts will appear in two weeks. They need to be seated apart from each other. A week later, the plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Rooting cuttings

Using cuttings is the most popular option for flower propagation. It is necessary to cut off 3-4 cuttings from the shoots in the spring, separating them in the internodes. The bottom pair of leaves is removed. The stalk is placed in a container with soil and watered regularly. Root emergence should be expected in 2-3 weeks.

Layers

To do this, choose a shoot, slightly cut it and wrap it with moss. Regular watering is essential. After two weeks, a root system will begin to grow at the incision site. After that, the sprout is disconnected and planted in a permanent place.

Transfer

The plant can be transplanted if it grows too much, but this should be done no more often than once every three years. A transplant is recommended only as a last resort. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult for the plant to tolerate it.

Hoya flower

Possible growing problems

If you carefully care for the flower, then the likelihood of the appearance of diseases and pests becomes minimal. Bell's hoya must be examined regularly to monitor her health. If you find disturbing signs, you need to take action as soon as possible to treat the flower.

Pests

If a spider mite is affected, the plant should be sprayed with Actellik. To prepare a solution, 15 drops of the composition are dissolved in one liter of water. To combat this pest, it is recommended to increase the humidity in the room.

Other problems

If the roots become waterlogged, this can lead to infection of the flower with root rot or powdery mildew. First, the affected parts of the roots are removed. Then it is necessary to spray with fungicides. You also need to change the topsoil.

Signs and superstitions

There are several beliefs associated with hoya:

• Some believe that the flower enhances sexual activity. Therefore, it is sometimes placed in bedrooms, despite the strong smell.
• It is believed that Bela hoya has a calming and harmonizing effect.
• If the flower blooms well, this indicates that the spouses are faithful to each other.
• Hoya Bella is also believed to soften and settle family conflicts.

Growing in a hanging capsho

Hoya Bella requires minimal effort to grow. Subject to the rules of care, the flower will delight the owner with its unusual beauty for many years.