A Visit with Hoya versteegii

[@RA-tl9mg]

Hermosa hoya señor, lo admiro mucho por su dedicación para cuidar sus plantas gracias por los bonitos videos

[@cececola]

Thank you for continuing the videos and website for Vermont Hoyas. Everytime I'm sad about my Hoyas, I just read your blog and often watch your videos. It really inspired me to do better. Your insight and love for these plants is awesome 💯 thank you so much for your passion 😌❣️

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much; your very kind comment made my day❣❣

[@icke11234]

By now, you've actually managed to turn growing Hoyas into an art form. Congrats for yet another highly impressive result, Doug!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much! I give it my best shot; sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. This time it did.

[@samtata5632]

Been a wishlist hoya for a couple of years since I first saw Surisa’s photos. I think yours is the most spectacular specimen . I just knew it could look this beautiful . Good job , Doug . Thank you for choosing this species . 🏆Best In Show🏆

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you for the kind words Sam. Truthfully, this species was unknown to me and was not on my radar as I seldom look at Facebook, but a very nice woman named Mandy sent me a 2 leaf cutting and said that I needed to give it a try.

[@melmd3357]

What a magnificent hoya specimen, Doug! Both the foliage and blooms make for a spectacular plant. The long tubular shape and color of the flowers remind me of stephanotis blooms. I hope I come across this hoya so I may also add it to my collection one day.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much Mel! It is probably in the top five of the most striking specimen plants that I’ve personally grown. All my best to you!

[@connorhalliday7304]

This one's on the list but the talk of the strain of plant care really resonates. Absolutely gorgeous plant

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you Connor! Yes, somedays are better than others, but there is no doubt that the strains of all of this plant care get to me sometimes. I keep trying to figure out a way to downsize the collection to make it more manageable, before I give it up altogether, which I'm trying to avoid.

[@connorhalliday7304]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas I'm early in my Hoya journey Julie Kennedy keeps reciting yours (and her) wisdom to me, she's a patient soul haha. I was just watching the video of your realisation of flat mites which I had at a similar time, a particular low point in plant care! I've never treated with sulfur but use oil and soap. I guess you better figure out how to downsize, you would be a big loss to the community if you quit completely!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@connorhalliday7304 Thanks for the words of encouragement Connor!

[@carolrolfsacredsagehoyas1654]

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods... hope the flooding didn't/hasn't affected you. We're dealing with smoke filled skies with so many fires here in the mountains of NE Washington and surrounding areas with no rain for months. Seems it just goes from one extreme to the other. Your versteegii is absolutely stunning!! It's been on my list for awhile as has the clememsiorum (that leaf!!) but I just can't fit in any more plants in right now. I need to get ruthless I guess. I'm also trying seeds for the first time so that adds a bit of pressure to find room as they get bigger. I would assume you've been getting seed pods on your outside Hoyas? As always, a great video Doug, take care! 💚

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Hi Carol, great to hear from you! It has been a very, very, wet summer in Vermont, but fortunately where I live there is no chance of flooding. I have not noticed any seedpods forming on any of the outside Hoyas this year. An insect has to work pretty hard to find the flowers. They have to find their way inside the greenhouse first, and then make a successful pollination. It does not happen too often; probably once every couple of years is my average. Overall, I would have to say that I have had a pretty good summer as far as growing Hoyas. I, like you have a severe lack of space, and more importantly, the time to care for so many plants. I need to be ruthless in my culling, which is always hard! Have a great rest of the summer and we will catch up more later!

[@juliekennedy6658]

What a fabulous plant Doug! Mine blooms regularly, but I can get it to grow a leaf at all. I think it’s produced 3 in the last 2 years😂

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you Julie! You were my inspiration to get this one flowered! It is hard to know what gets this one to grow leaves as it does seem to be one of those Hoyas that puts out a lot leafless vine. I think that letting the vines reach for the ceiling before wrapping them around the trellis seems to have helped mine put on a few extra leaves.

[@pascali_rose]

That's a beautiful versteegii! I love your clemensorium too! Have not seen anyone else's clemensorium having dark edges like yours.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I guess the dark edges are caused by the relatively high light conditions. It came from the Liddle Nursery in Australia many years ago.

[@garretthall9508]

This one has been on my wish list for years, I doubt I will ever get a chance to own one so this video is even better to me, thank you so much for the time you’ve put into this community 💚

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you for the kind words Garrett! I think this plant will be available for a reasonable price within a couple of years, and hopefully you will get a chance with it.

[@703Laura]

Thank you for all the content and helpful information. What a very beautiful plant. I agree with you it's a real beauty. I have been watching one or two of your videos almost every day catching up to date from your earlier videos, I am really enjoying the old funny Production names and oh my those singing Canada Geese and the Cat turning off the light switch... LOL . I also am learning so much! I can't help but wonder as I watch the older videos, when you comment about "not being able to grow this plant" I always think FLAT-MITE (that is the video I found your fantastic channel searching KZbin for hoya pests) if only you knew then what you know now about those pests... all those plants and all your tricks and potions. I could go on and on, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to video and explain all your hoya adventures.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much Laura for leaving such a nice comment! A lot of water has gone under the bridge since those early videos went up. I enjoyed putting all of those little touches in like the Canada Geese and cats. In those days, I figured that the only ones who would see the videos would be my family, and to get them to watch, I had to put in those funny intros. It is unfortunate that these flat mites have found our Hoyas, and cause so many problems. They just did not exist when I started with these plants almost 20 years ago, and they were so much easier to grow then. I am finding now that even Hoyas that used to be dead easy like a carnosa, begin to fail without spraying. I would have to think hard if I was just starting out now, if I would get into Hoyas; between the inflated prices for starts, and wide variety of pests that attack them, I might choose something a little less demanding. Still I have enjoyed the journey; I wish you the best of luck in your plant journey as well!

[@lyndaforbes6311]

I’m just in love with this Hoya!!! I’m going to be looking for it for sure!! Thanks so much for posting this!!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

You're welcome Lynda! Thank you for watching and posting the comment. I hope that you can find one of these plants in the not too distant future.

[@BreaktimeTraveler]

Truly special. Thank you for sharing as always!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you for watching!

[@yesno7060]

Really pretty plant. Reminds me of "Hawaiian wedding flower". Stepthanosis, or something. One of my first attempts at growing, from seed. Thanks again, Doug. My hoyas survive. Tough plants.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thanks for leaving the nice comment, and Happy growing!

[@abrachupacabra]

Thanks to your videos I now have Stenakei, Versteegii and Deykeae ❤❤❤ so happy

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I am so happy that you were able to obtain such difficult to find species Abra. I wish you the best of luck with with your new Hoyas!

[@MyBookishEmpire]

Wow Doug! I am so glad this flowered for you! I know one day when mine blooms it will be worth the wait!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you Wil! I hope all is going well with you!

[@kristiemowry3267]

wonderful that we have you Doug growing these incredible hoya. Wishing you continual good health for both you and your plants.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much for the kind words Kristie, and congratulations on getting the first comment in! All the best for you and your plants as well!

[@susangage9140]

Wow the blooms resemble stephanotis!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Hi Susan, they certainly do look like stephanotis!

[@pattheplanter]

That was my first thought. The pollinator is almost certainly a moth. I really need to know what it smells like.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@pattheplanter I have heard on Facebook that it has a beautiful scent, but I honestly can't detect one. It must only have scent in the dark. For the heck of it, I pushed a bunch of cat whiskers into the flower a number of times in the off chance that would pollinate it. I think it would be like winning the lottery to pollinate it that way, but worth the shot just in case.

[@pattheplanter]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas In my experience Stephanotis gets stronger scent after about 6pm until about 4am. I am pretty sure the moths come at night in Papua as well. The Facebook post was about it having the best scent of any Jasmine (in the broadest sense), wasn't it? Almost convinced me to spend a ridiculous amount of money on it. Best to wait until it gets reasonably priced.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@pattheplanter Yes, I suspect that this is one that will greatly drop in price; within a couple of years, it will probably sell for around $40.

[@TREnergeticCreations]

What a great collection. Thanks for sharing, Doug!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

You're very welcome!

[@sheilacasper2030]

Wow! Beautiful leaves and the flowers are very unusual. Lovely

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much Sheila!

[@amberclear7016]

I don't know how I missed seeing this video. Thank you for this, Doug.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

You're welcome Amber! Hoya versteegii is probably one of the best Hoya introductions in the last 10 years. At least it is one of the showiest.

[@anjelevil]

Stunning Hoya, will be adding to my wishlist! Love your videos

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you so much Anjelina; I appreciate it!

[@sandiesorchids9387]

You have some beautiful hoyas

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you Sandie!

[@ruvirodriguez-so8er]

Amazing! One of my favourite leaves. Baby leaves are super fuzzy , fast grower for me in pon under T8.. just waiting for her to bloom , hopefully soon. Thanks for sharing , Doug

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Good luck with your little beauty, and hopefully it will flower soon for you Ruvi!

[@taimiseltaillier4952]

I love this Hoya, I have ordered one and I hope it will grow well for me. You’re so right, not only the blooms are beautiful but the foliage is also unique and interesting!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

The best of luck with your H. versteegii as well! This one does not want to go totally dry, and should be watered when still slightly damp. I got mine down to a routine where it would get watered well once a week and it seemed to like it.

[@taimiseltaillier4952]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas I think I will move it eventually to a self watering pot using a very chunky media mix, I find most of my thirsty Hoyas grow well in self watering pots and I don’t have to worry too much about watering it too often. Thank you for your feedback, it truly helps a lot because not all Hoyas have the same growth habit.

[@couls5005]

What a lovely versteegii and clemensiorum specimen, Doug! Those foliages looking so amazing, thank you for sharing them. They remind me of your Hoya stenakei, is it doing well? I haven't seen much about it in your blog

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

My Hoya stenakei is the nicest looking plant in my collection; it is even nicer than the versteegi, but I can't seem to get it to put on a peduncle, let alone flower. It is part of the Macgillivrayi Group, but seems much more reluctant to grow peduncles. I have to keep telling myself to be patient!

[@susangage9140]

I think I need one!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I agree! I think everyone needs one!

[@jaigalarza4950]

I try to grow one in my early stages of collecting hoyas. It was a single leaf with not 6, and my lack of experience made me lose it. I can't wait to have a 2nd chance

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

It is hard when all you have to work with is a one or two leaf cutting; there is no room for error. I have lost many a Hoya that way! Best of luck with obtaining another better cutting to try again!

[@isaacluhrs8200]

Great looking plant! You may remember me from emailing you 2019 before the Pandemic about collecting pubescent Hoya sp. anyway I still grow in average house conditions but no longer only in terracotta I now use plastic pot in pot self watering type pots but rarely have sitting water in them. I agree with you about this Hoyas leaves they are amazing! They get so Big and hairy and just awesome. It looks like I saw a plant in your tent that I have been growing for a few years that I received as ‘Cebu City’. Can you share with me what you know about this Hoya? I can send you a picture of it if it will help.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Hello Isaac, I've never grown Hoya sp. Cebu City; I had to look it up and I found a couple of photos from sellers on Etsy. Whatever you saw in the tent was definitely not that one. The only thing that I can find in my tent that looks kind of like it is Hoya sp. Sulawesi #1, but it is not pubescent. Feel free to email me photos if you want me to look at yours.

[@KamilaTajemnicze]

leaves are insane! congrats:-)!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Thank you Kamila!

[@helgedonath1524]

Hello Mr. Chamberlain! Another nice video with an interesting style. Versteeg must have had a knack for interesting, beautiful species. I also have a versteegii, a Cryptocoryne versteegii from Papua New Guinea. Does the species in your video come from there too? Greetings from Germany from Helge

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Hi Helge! Hoya versteegii does indeed come from Papua New Guinea, and was named after Gerard Versteeg, the same person your Cryptocoryne was named for!

[@Propqueen]

Absolutely stunning! You should sell me a cutting! 😝

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I am hoping to sell cuttings of this one in 2024. Have a good day!

[@Propqueen]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas COUNT ME IN! And you do the same today!

[@NelliSmith]

Hi Doug! Not relevant to this specific video but I'd love your thoughts on the H. sp Tanggamus and how similar the flowers are with Callistophylla. I didn't find the tang on your website. If you don't have one, I'd love to send you a cut off my tang (Im in Colorado). It's currently flowering (which are beautiful). The leaves on the tang and call are very different but the flowers look, almost, exactly the same. I know they come from neighboring islands in Indonesia so i wonder if thats why the leaves are so different but the flowers are the same. Your Clemensiorum is SO pretty my goodness!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Good morning! Congratulations on flowering your H. sp Tanggamus! This plant has not really been on my radar so I had to look it up. It is a beauty, and while I really appreciate your offer of a cutting, I'm afraid that I simply don't have the room for another Finlaysonii type Hoya at this time. I really wish that I had more room, but at this point I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed with everything that I have to care for. All my best and keep up the great growing!

[@christineexley585]

These leaves!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Yes, it really is all about the leaves with this one!

[@toniballesteros838]

I love this hoya. I just got one myself. Any special care tips you recommend for this beauty?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Don't let it go totally dry, and try to get it on a regular watering schedule. Use a clear pot so you can tell what is going on with the roots. Bright light and good humidity. That is about all I've got. One more thing, let it grow towards the ceiling before wrapping around trellis.

[@toniballesteros838]

Thanks so much! It’s in coco chips right now, is there a better substrate for it, in your opinion?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@toniballesteros838 My plant was grown in almost 100% coco chips and you can see the result. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better substrate.

[@wvh4039]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas what is the temperature range for this species? I'm able to buy a cutting so I really would like to know 🙂

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@wvh4039 I can only tell you that my plant thrived with night time temps getting as low as 58 degrees F and Daytime temps of as high as 84 degrees F. I am sure that it would do well from 55-90 F.

[@cassandraCC]

🌿💮🌿💮🌿

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

🌿💮🌿💮🌿

[@cassandraCC]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas BTW: Be careful what you wish for, best advice EVER :D

[@lwhite9322]

I love all your hoyas? Do you sell cuttings or seeds? Tks

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I don’t sell seeds, and only sell a few rooted cuttings occasionally on eBay under erbtarzan24. When I list them, they are usually sold within a few hours so they are hard to find.

[@lwhite9322]

@Doug Chamberlain would live to know how to watch so I don't miss out

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@lwhite9322 I wish I could help you out, but I list plants very irregularly. There is some kind of way to get notifications from eBay, when I list, but I’m not sure how to go about setting it up.

[@ROMANS.12.2-USA]

Hi Doug! May I ask, which fertilizer are you using and how often do you fertilize? I’m trying not to buy multiple different fertilizers that probably don’t work out well. Also, do you use worm castings? Thanks!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I use two products Jacks 20-20-20 at a 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water and I use something called Liqui-Dirt of which I add about 5oz of prepared mix to that same gallon of water. I generally use this mixture most every time I water. Every couple of months, I will flush the pot with plain water. Hopefully this helps!

[@ROMANS.12.2-USA]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas it really does! Thank you so much! Do you stop feeding during the winter? Thanks again :)

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@ROMANS.12.2-USA I cut the above amount to half on Hoyas that are on the windowsills, but if they are grown in my high light grow tents I use the same amount as I do in the summer.

[@BreaktimeTraveler]

I’ve just received this one, a top wishlist plant and I’m looking forward to growing it out to flower like yours! What were your conditions you’ve been keeping this at?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I am keeping this plant totally under artificial conditions. It is under a very bright LED light in a humid grow tent where the humidity rarely drops to less than 70%. I fertilize with nearly every watering and never let it go totally dry. My plant is getting ready to flower for the 2nd time now and has at least 30 buds on a single peduncle. At some point, I need to try this plant on a windowsill to see how it does, but I am afraid to mess with it, as it looks so good.

[@BreaktimeTraveler]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas Thanks so much Doug. That was immensely helpful. I'm putting this back into my humidity chamber and increasing the light. You are always a wealth of information.

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@BreaktimeTraveler I’m glad that I could be of help! Good luck with your plant!

[@karenmyers9146]

Do you ever pollinate your own Hoyas and if so could you do a video on it?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I have tried many times over the years to pollinate my Hoyas and have never been successful. Quite frankly I don't think that I have the patience for it. This is something that takes hours of work using magnification, and I think it is best learned in person from someone experienced in doing it.

[@plantyhappyandneedcoffee]

Does it like to stay evenly moist? High humidity?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Yes to both of those. I have only grown it that way and it does extremely well. I have only grown it in high humidity grow tents, and have yet to experiment with it in ambient conditions. I recently started my large plant over from cuttings, and it is doing very well. I grow it in mostly coconut husk chips.

[@plantyhappyandneedcoffee]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas do you sell cuttings at all?

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

@@plantyhappyandneedcoffee I only sell rooted cuttings periodically on eBay during the warmer months under the name erbtarzan24. They usually disappear so fast that they are hard to find.

[@nunyabiznass9665]

Hiya Doug. Hope you are doing well. Do you know anything about Hoya Clinton? I was hoping you know the difference between Clinton and Chelsea. Thanks!

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

I have never grown Hoya Clinton, but I’m told that it has bigger leaves and larger flower clusters than Hoya Chelsea.

[@4theloveofhoyas]

Hello thank you so much for this video. I’m struggling with my hoya verstegii right now. Any care tips??

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Hi Vanessa, Hoya versteegi is very slow to get going, but when it is ready, it grows rampantly. My plant has always been grown artificially in a high humidity tent under artificial lighting. I have learned though that when the plant gets to a certain stage, it only wants to flower, and will cease putting on any new leaves. I have had as many as 16 peduncles full of flowers at one time. My plant needs to be restarted now, because it no longer looks that great with many blemishes on the leaves. All I can tell you is to stay with it; one day it will really start growing well for you.

[@4theloveofhoyas]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas thank you so much Doug for your response

[@4theloveofhoyas]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas Mine is in a tent as well so hopefully she will make it ☺️

[@CindyMay]

Beautiful Hoya! Do you have any cuttings for sell? Thnx Doug

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

Right now I only sell a few rooted cuttings here and there on eBay under the name erbtarzan24.

[@CindyMay]

@@DougChamberlainVTHoyas I will check it out Thank you

[@kath_168]

💚

[@DougChamberlainVTHoyas]

🐸❣️