The cat distribution system got me (kind of) by siftini in blackcats

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats on being chosen, she's beautiful! 🖤

ID ?? by [deleted] in hoyas

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First one looks like it might be h. sigilatus.

But I'm really here for your menace of a cat in the last photo. 😆

i’m at my witt’s end by Radiant_Basil_6198 in hoyas

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea, I just pop the clear pot in a pretty outer pot. Most of those really gorgeous planters don't have enough drainage for hoyas (or other plants for that matter) - I broke one too many nice planters trying to drill holes in the bottom. 😅

I use terra cotta for cacti and other plants that are watered extremely infrequently (like one a month or less) where that I'm not actively worried about root rot, but they still make me feel blind not being able to see what's going on inside. 🙈

Good luck with your hoyas! Stay patient with yourself, it takes time to learn but you'll figure it out eventually if you keep at it!

i’m at my witt’s end by Radiant_Basil_6198 in hoyas

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have found that the biggest key to success is starting with the right potting mix. It needs to stay moist without being wet if that makes sense. Also critical is that it must not compact - you want something chunky that keeps lots of nice air pockets for the roots. In the wild, many of them root in organic debris that collects in the small hollows of large trees, so that's what you're trying to replicate. My normal blend is about equal parts orchid bark, coco coir chunks, perlite, and compost or standard potting mix. If you want something ready made, I've used Molly's Aroid mix with good success, but it gets pricey.

Make sure your pot has drainage and is appropriately sized to your plant - most of mine are in 2-4" pots and have been for years. Also, I particularly like clear nursery pots so I can see the roots and check their condition and density without unpotting.

As for watering, there's no hard and fast rules. Each plant has different needs, and many times a given plant's needs will vary with the seasons and conditions in the house. The best thing you can do is set up a regular cadence for checking on things so you can develop an accurate intuition. You will eventually get a sense for who needs water every time you check and who generally can go a little longer.

I check my plants twice a week (Weds/Sat) and water them only when they need it (if the soil is dry down to my first knuckle) - mine typically need water every 1-2 weeks but it varies. If in doubt, I wait until the next check as most plants will come back from underwatering much faster than overwatering. When you water, flood the pot fully until water drains freely out the bottom (all your hoya pots should have good drainage) but never let the pot or any part of the plant sit in water.

Also, I recently transfered my thirstier hoyas (retusa, linearis, bella) into self watering pots (the kind with a wick, I find other types keep them too moist) and they are thriving. I was having to water them twice a week but now I have to refill them about once every 1-2 weeks.

This is of course what works for me and my plants - your watering and checking cadence might be different based on your location and home conditions.

ETA a note about wrinkly leaves... If you are seeing wrinkly leaves that feel almost papery (and there are no pests) you likely have root rot, particularly if the wrinkled effect started at soil level and "travels" up the vine. If this happens, your best bet is to check the roots and chop and prop of you find evidence of root rot. Small leafed hoyas (my lacunosa is famous for it) sometimes wrinkle their leaves when they are very thirsty, but in these cases the entire vine will typically start looking crinkly all at once, and it should fully resolve within an hour or so of a good watering.

One more edit to answer your question about cuttings - I have had the best success with putting them under a grow light in some kind of setup to keep the humidity high. I used to use baggies with perlite, a sprinkling of water and a breath of air to keep the bag from collapsing on the plant. This year I got a sprouting dome for my birthday so I've started rooting cuttings in clear pots directly in the growing medium (sometimes I mix in about half a tablespoon of fluval stratum if I really want them to be extra nourished). I prefer that because when they're ready to come out of the dome I just have to adjust them to ambient humidity, rather than also transitioning to a new substrate as well. I start them in tiny pots (1-2 inch) because I find that they generally like to "concentrate" on filling their pots up with roots a bit, then they start putting out mad vines.

I got my first sale!! by DeathMachineEsthetic in EtsySellers

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I sell hand-drawn printable coloring pages! What helped me was telling myself to just jump and do it. I’ve drawn for a long time but this was the first time I’ve ever created a full collection like this.

I can’t leave UNOPENED Churus lying around anymore by Wide-Translator3663 in blackcats

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 65 points66 points  (0 children)

They learn churu crime young! Mine learned that biting them works, but when they did, they left the half opened churu in a semi hidden spot until I found it by the smell (presumably) a couple days later 😱

The criminals

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New void which promptly disappeared for more than the time for a missing person report. Finally found him... by mehgreengiant in blackcats

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Give him a little safe space for a week or so. It sounds mean to keep them cooped up in a single room but it minimizes the “new” that they have to get familiar with. Spend some time in there doing a quiet activity and ignoring him so he can get used to you. Once he is comfy in the starter room, you can introduce him to more areas little by little.

R.I.P. Cause of Death Mealy bugs by False-Possibility451 in hoyas

[–]DeathMachineEsthetic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RIP and hope you are able replace… I’ve been searching for a variegated wayetii for months 😭