Plants in Growing Purgatory 🤷‍♀️ why won't they grow!?!?

[@natjoy22]

Thoughts: I think your El Choco wants more light and more humidity. The Tortum wants less light. Can you switch the El Choco and Tortum living spots in your home? And the Hoyas want more water (I wasn't seeing much Hoya growth from any of mine until I started watering more often). And I LOVE your hair!!! On a side note for Emma Keeps Growing, THANK YOU for putting out the perfect 20 minute video. I got a new stationary bike and I've committed to short workouts while I watch KZbin, so I peddled my legs off while watching this video! Bye bye 247 calories and 6.73 miles in 22.34 minutes! 🙌

[@joyellacuna4541]

Your hair looks great by the way! Maybe it’s the temperature or feed causing some of these to not do anything? I have some plants in the same boat all winter. My only guess was temperature or maybe some of my plants are focusing on root growth. Also you cracked me up with the “I don’t really have any conclusion for any of these” 😂

[@blackburned]

Maybe consider light too, all great thoughts!

[@AshleyGrows]

Ahhhh your hair looks SO GOOD!!!

[@joyfulgirlrecovery7526]

When the end bits of my Hoyas dry up it’s usually underwatering 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@tessie7e777]

Until recently I was primarily an outdoor gardener, so here are my thoughts based on that background. After planting a bush or tree, often nothing happens for a while until the roots have fully spread out. The rule of thumb outdoors is that the root systems are about the size of the foliage. Obviously, that doesn’t seem to be the way it is with many of these tropical plants, but I guess it just makes me generally more patient regarding growth. I definitely find with Hoyas that they do nothing for a few months as they adjust to my home and then suddenly they have an unexpected growth spurt. Also regarding Hoyas, listening to some of the serious Hoya collectors, I think we tend to think all Hoyas need the same treatment, whereas some actually like cool nights, some need humidity, some don’t like too much light. Maybe something in that rambling will be helpful to someone 😂

[@Carey.S75]

With the clemensiorum being a large leaf hoya it is a slow grower because the plant uses an awful lot of energy to grow those huge leaves. All my big leaf hoyas are the same. Once it's established and on a secure trellis it will suddenly start to grow slightly quicker. The tortum is sensitive to light and can burn quite easily. Also, it is quite a thirsty plant that doesn't like to totally dry out, but can also get root rot quite quickly. It's just a matter of getting the watering right. Mine had to be restarted twice until I got the watering and light levels correct. It's all a learning curve and this great community always has helpful people. Good luck 🤞 🪴💚

[@cynd-al]

does having the fungicide all over the leaves possibly affect photosynthesis? like cleaning dust off helps improve this in plants? could be these are more sensitive to the lack of light actually hitting the leaves surface

[@DaphneTriesPlants]

That’s what I was thinking 🤔

[@bethanylaska3734]

I start fertilizing again in March every year, and it usually gives everything a boost coming out of winter slow grow season.

[@blanchegodwin4648]

My Hoya compacta showed first sign of growth in months when it got a whiff of spring in the air 😁. Hang in there. Your hair color is outstanding!! Definitely your color ❣️

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

I have no tips, only sympathy. Many plants in my collection are doing nothing at the minute, because I can't keep my hands off those juicy, juicy roots, and repot after purchase. It took a while for me to acknowledge the pattern. Now I am trying to mend my ways. My latest acquisition has made it to one week (and counting) in it's original pot! By the way, you look incredible! I've been noticing this healthy rosy glow on your face lately. Your overall health seems improved, good for you!

[@Darkwitch1312]

I do the same thing. My latest lasted 3 days before I repotted them. But there have been a few plants I didn't report immediately only to find out they had some kind of fabric wrapped around their roots and it was killing them. Also the last plants I bought I noticed when I got home were all in bone dry, hard as a rock soil.

[@melanieg.9092]

I always repot immediately but don't notice a slowing down of growth. Maybe it's that your up potting to much? I try to keep them rather snug at first because I'm a chronic overwaterer 😅

[@pinstripesuitandheels]

The fabric plugs is actually why I started repotting immediately. However, many of my plants have had failure to thrive regardless, or because of the repot. My goal is to let the plant acclimatize for two to three weeks and see how the soil behaves. Then I plan to have a gentle look at the roots. If I spot any serious problems before those weeks of acclimatization, I'll repot then. I think it all very much depends on your personal style of plant care, your habits, your environment etc. I've come to notice that every good answer to a plant care question starts with 'It depends'.@@Darkwitch1312

[@KC-gj4bi]

Emma I think your poly needs water more often to prevent dry dead ends

[@katherinejones8544]

H. Compacta is SUPER slow grower. It was a year before mine did anything and it lives in a south facing window. It is more thirsty than other hoyas, and I have seen more growth since I started using a fertilizer with more magnesium.

[@torquess454]

Lookit that hair! Gorgeous when you let her down!!! ❤ my compacta grows really slow, took about 8-9 months to start for me, the variegated one hasn’t started yet been about a year, doesn’t help that I keep overwatering mine cause the lack of growth means less water use…my decirsiva, REALLY SLOW. Chopped and propped one last spring, just potted up the cuttings, still next to NO GROWTH, all under lights and get feed etc

[@carolstuff]

Although they’re in purgatory, it’s weird that they look so good. Hope they’ll surprise you & perk up this growing season. Thanks for sharing Emma!

[@GoodGrowing]

let's hope 🤞

[@tynatheunicorn]

Hi, wit the el choco, it's definitely a light issue! give it more light and it will be the plant of your dreams 💚

[@Synfonya]

My regal shields started pushing out leaves when the temperature got a bit warmer!

[@msladyjune3285]

Hair look great. El Choco never let dry out more than half way and maybe need a pot up. It have large roots. 🪴

[@ciarrasmith1715]

For the compacta, they really like to root down a lot and then eventually it will start to vine a bit from the growth point and it shouldn’t be quite as compact as it currently is. Patience is key with those ones unfortunately 🤪

[@monicatrolio1152]

I have 2 variegated hoya compactas, one in a west facing window getting full blast sun and the other in a north facing window with not as much sun. The one in the west window has pumped out so much growth vs the one in the north window. I would suggest putting it closer to the grow light. d ( ' - '

[@MultiDragon1313]

Heavy sulfur use could be slowing growth by clogging up the parts of the leaves that convert light into energy/food

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Emma, do you think they are not warm enough? Maybe the Sulphur treatment is having some kind of effect on them. I am able to keep my plants in my plant room around 72F in the winter and I do fertilize them during that time because they are always growing. I also have them all under grow light for at least 15 hours a day. And we know those hoya are slow anyway. Hope you can solve the mystery and I LOVE YOUR HAIR!!

[@TheROGHIB]

You look amazing! I love your hair.

[@whataboutmyplants]

My variegated Hoya compacta is a slow grower too, but what seems to have jumpstarted its growth has been blasting it with light! Try moving it right up to your grow light!

[@GoodGrowing]

hmm okay maybe I'll move it even closer! thanks for the tip!

[@meredithdavis5167]

I love that you keep it real - no forced optimism! Also, you're rocking that haircut!

[@tropicalsupnorth6658]

All my plants continued growing all winter, the alocasias just keep getting new leaves without loosing older ones. 99% are near south facing windows so I do fertilize with a weaker solution. I have written before that you should check your tap water quality. Hard water is bad for plants, and if your water supply is connected to a water softener then you can’t use that water for plants as it will have too much salt in it. Sodium in water confuses plants that they have enough water, so the roots don’t take up the water and nutrients. I installed a reverse osmosis water filter and have never looked back! My water before RO was about 300 ppm, now it is 7ppm (almost like distilled water). Of course with RO water you need to add CalMag and weak fertilizer to be able to feed the plants.

[@NorthbertR]

Hi Emma. Thank you for the video. I think R. Decursiva is a crawler, maybe it doesn't like being in an upright position? Gorgeous collection, btw :-)

[@mwatson4970]

Agree about your hair looking nice like that, as I can finally tell it's just a strip like Rouge NOT half/half like Cruella (sorry! Still love ya). And I kind of like when plants don't grow as it keeps me from having to find bigger space for them 😊. For the hoya compacta, mine is not a slow grower at all but it does need a lot more direct light than my other hoya (i.e. a few inches away from grow light) and has grown with sunstress almost half it's length. Not sure abt regal shield being in semi hydro's effect, but think most of my alocasia do prefer 8-12 hrs bright indirect light instead, only one- a prop- being in semi hydro (leca/perlite) and now with 3 strong leaves.

[@heatherstephens9295]

I’m sure the Tortums really like warmth - it’s a real challenge in winter to keep them alive for me 😢

[@Purrs_and_plants]

Hey Emma, I have a theory for the tortem and polyneura, they are maybe being underwatered??? The polyneura is a thristy hoya and it looks like its new growth had dried up. Maybe check for dry rot with those two? Idont have the decursiva but if my tetra is anything to go by, sometimes they just dont propagate well, I have loads of tetrasperma cuttings that have literally been in water for around a year and have never rooted or pushed a new growth, yet when its growing, its like a weed, IDK they are weird!! Keep growing!!

[@CinnaSpicey]

from watching my mother with her hoya compacta they tend to be very slow growers from what i observed. Also it might be focusing on growing roots. I noticed whenever that hoya is in a new pot. It stops growing its vines for a long period till it roots get snug in the pot again then it will focus on leaves. Its a weird plant. Also they tend to be a little picky where they get light. But I also think hoyas in general are slow growers. My mother never was able to get her hoya compacta to flower. Its not an unhappy plant. She had two hoyas for over 30 years. She only got one to flower twice in its entire life.

[@nuclearrabbit9821]

Gurllllll, your hair looks soooooo cute ❤️

[@anitajones7090]

Not all Hoyas are slow growing, but my Compacta Carnosa hasn’t done anything in years 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@electrickin]

Love the hair and the video! Was not to surprised to see hoya compacta haha! But was surprised to see philodendron! Love the video! 🌱💚

[@GoodGrowing]

aww thanks! and yeah the philodendron really surprised me too... like I can understand a hoya being slow but miss el choco better pick it up!!

[@MsGoosebuster]

I put my polyneura in semi hero and it’s gone nuts with growth. I think it’s a water loving Hoya if that helps at all 😊

[@oryctolaguspumpkin]

My Polyneura did nothing for many months. I followed all the advice I found online and nothing gave me new growth. It spent Summer in my window (North of England but in direct sun) and still I got no new growth. For added context it was in the same spot my succulents live and they were super happy. I tried lower light and got no growth. I tried higher humidity and got no new growth. In desperation I tried the only other thing I could think of and stuck it right under a Pianta light. It's now giving me new growth everywhere! It shouldn't have worked- it's a thinner leaved hoya but it apparently wants the level of light you'd get on the surface of the sun!

[@mwatson4970]

Same!😂

[@tess5564]

Wow! You look gorgeous! Your hair is so beautiful and shiny. I am having this problem with a couple of plants too. So thank you for this video

[@NicoleInga]

Your hair looks so good !!

[@ThatGirlShelbyy]

I've come to the conclusion that Hoya Compacta are just THE slowest growers ever. My 2 regular green ones have barely grown in over a year either. So it's definitely not just the variegated ones!

[@mwatson4970]

Keep at it! The chocolate scented blooms are worth it!!❤

[@PureAussiegirl]

I bought a Stromanthe Tricolour 5 months ago from an online plant store. It had 3 leaves. It still has 3 leaves. It has not done a thing! I'm in Australia and it has gone through spring and summer nothing! It looked nothing like the picture when I bought it. I received a full refund from the seller. So it sits and sits doing nothing. I ended up buying another one from another seller because they are so beautiful . This one is growing as it sits next to the 3 leaf wonder doing nothing.

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

For your Hoya put it in an XL ziploc baggie to increase humidity and if you have a nubby on a stem cut that to increase growth hormone. What have you treated it with for pests? My Hoya get flat mites and spread so I spray with sulfur liquid several times throughout fall and winter so they can be pest free by spring and cleaned up. I also use systemic granulars which have made a huge difference

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

So I need to add the sulfur treatment was a three or more spray treatment plus the systemic granules. Hoya need a lot of light too. Hope this helps. Good luck

[@GoodGrowing]

the spots on everything are sulfur treatment because of flat mites

[@leanneneal2009]

Love your hair really suits you x

[@The.weaving.witch.]

My tortum did that when I had root rot. Since I rehabbed it, it's been growing like crazy. They are super thirsty beasts tho

[@GoodGrowing]

okay interesting, maybe I'll pull it out and have a look.. thanks!

[@7sins_of_life]

I have my regal shield in my dirty south facing window (can't clean it, too many plants in the way xD) and it's thriving. It's in Pon as well. So it shouldn't be too much light thats the issue for yours ^^ My rhaphidophora decursiva took about 6 months to start growing (water prop and then leca) from it's new growth point. They take ages with getting started. I can't say much about their general speed of growth, because of that.

[@GoodGrowing]

oh okay interesting! maybe they just struggle starting anew 🤷‍♀️

[@PetraEmmy]

Do you have access to orchid spray by miracle grow? Your rings look AWESOME! Nice choices 👏👏👏🌸❤

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

I have a beautiful big full long lush Cebu blue pothos. I went through 2sulfur treatments. After awhile it seemed that some leaves were turning yellow as the treatment was too hard on it. But it was still ok. Then I did did my monthly water/alcohol spray on the leaves a month after the sulfur and a week or so after that it started getting orange yellow irregular spots on the undersides of the leaves and then another week it turned yellow on the top. I’m thinking it it a rust fungus. Did another sulfur treatment. Made sure it was in good ventilation area. Still spreading so sprayed with water/hydrogen peroxide. Removing all affected leaves and now it’s not as lush. I’m so bummed. Still researching and will take pics and try to send to people to see what they know

[@mariaverina]

My scindapsus pictus has been doing absolutely nothing for the last 3 months. It is so frustrating 😤 same as one of my pink aglaonemas...

[@angelicalopez6645]

Good morning from California Emma , I love the content of your KZbin channel. I purchased a Hoya polyneura broget on January of this year and just yesterday I noticed new growing of two baby leaves. It is on front of my south facing window and pretty soon weather will improve for all my plants because of Spring. I was feeling the same about this plant I didn't know what was going wrong with it, maybe just give it a little more time and it will wake up from dormant period. Keep up the good work on your plant channel🌱🪴

[@tpoulson1]

If in doubt, I whack everything in stratum. Your hair is looking fabulous, by the way. As are you!

[@mzwtch]

Raph Descursiva is a crawler...maybe it'd be happier horizontal? I say that as if mine is doing anything at all...it's been working on a new leaf for months lol. Love the hair!

[@zuzia7628]

I guess almost all of us have team of stubborn plants :) My imported hoya undulata is like frozem for 5 months already. But compacta grows like crazy. My cebu blue also does not want growing at all. No idea what is the reason. Will see when full spring comes.

[@michaelkerley452]

I found that the poly if given really intense light and I have my broget in tree fern fiber mix right under a light and it drinks heavy and just explodes growth. I don’t have it in anything but room humidity. It has not bloomed but it went from one node to a huge plant in under 3 months.

[@Beanster459]

Obsessed with the hair!! Slay miss girl!!

[@GoodGrowing]

naw thanks!

[@emsies8116]

I was surprised Regal Shield was on this list as I am very new to the plant hobby and have one of these and she's HUGE, she pops out leaves all the time and I really do nothing to her other than water and fertilize as needed and having her plonked near a window.

[@melanieg.9092]

Same, not the hugest leaves on mine yet but the rate of growth is double my other alocasia🤔 She also loves a lot of light imo

[@sarahneedom9661]

Maybe they're like, you know, I'm content and like where I'm at in terms of growth, and I think I'm just gonna stay like this. 😆 Of course, I'm totally joking for anyone who might think I'm serious. But we all need a laugh every now and then about situations like this. Sometimes you can look at a plant that stalls like this and just chuckle because it's like, well you're not dying so...🤷🏼‍♀️😆 I will say that they do at least look content, they don't necessarily look unhappy. The el choco red did put out a leaf that's comparable to the others and not smaller, so there's a plus. Hopefully when the season changes things will grow better. 🤞🏻💚

[@tarrenkittie1532]

I've been on the struggle bus with my philodendron fuzzy petiole, the new growth keeps coming in rotting or getting funky damage. I just repotted it in to a chunkier mix. Hopefully it will bounce back 😄

[@GoodGrowing]

I've got my fingers crossed for you!

[@loriesmith9350]

Well, if you figure that one out, I would love to know😅😅

[@tarrenkittie1532]

@@loriesmith9350 I got it on a moss pole and got a handle on keeping that moist, it seems to have helped. The new leaves are still small, I've been trying to get it to root into the moss pole and so far it hasn't worked. The new growth isn't getting stuck any more since I moved it into my hot humid kitchen though.

[@joanneklaus9242]

Emma you’re not alone. My Hoya Sunrise has been “frozen” in time since 9-4-23. I’ve checked the roots twice & they’re alive. I added some tree fern fiber & moved it further from the light in my grow tent.. 🤷‍♀️My Macrophylla did the same, had a small growth spurt, and now seems stuck again.. it got too tall for the grow tent so maybe it’s mad it got booted out..🤷‍♀️

[@ewhat10]

Try putting your sunrise into straight coco husk or coco husk mixed with perlite and maybe a little bit of coco coir (or tree fern fiber). I have a carnosa that wouldn't grow and I switched it out of its soil and it took off. Almost all of my hoyas are in coco husk now (a few are in pon, which is meh) and they all grow fast. I just check them every weekend by squeezing a piece of husk and if there's any moisture, I leave it for another week. If it's dry, I submerge the pot in water with a diluted fertilizer. My sunrise has 3 peduncles about to bloom and the more just starting to form.

[@joanneklaus9242]

@@ewhat10 Thanks! I’ll try it..🍀💚

[@valerieclark5695]

I have a slow growing Rhaphidiphora Decursiva myself. I have had it since June of 2022. It is under plenty of artificial light and should be fine. About two months ago I cut one of its branches back as it had a couple of empty nodes, and a little green stub grew back about a month later. Here in March, it's still just a stub. It is way bigger than it was when I bought it, but after about six weeks it just slowed down. It did grow two fenestrated leaves last summer, the first fenestrations it got. I fertilize and think good thoughts but my RD is just a slowpoke. I have heard that R. Tetrasperma is way faster growing than the rest of the genus. Believe it.

[@Sarah-zk4je]

I cannot for the life of me master alocasia- they can never keep more than 3 leaves, or just die back into corm stage where I have to restart them from scratch. My not even touching it category is succulents and calatheas- they always seem to die in a long drawn out way.

[@OlanaMissura]

Decursiva is just slow, I believe, no comparison to Tetrasperma. It also takes a long time to root, and a long long time to recover from being cut. Tortum is also just slow, esp slow to recover from a cut, but also from any change in the environment. On regal shield I'd check the roots, every time my alocasia seemingly didn't do anything, it turned out that the roots were slowly or speedily rotting away. Hoyas just have their own ideas about life 😂

[@lindaedwards4632]

Your Hoya compacta variegated is a very very slow grower for anyone I know with the plant ☹️I’m shocked with your decursiva, mine is a beast! It is growing across my living room floor. Your hair is looking great 😀🇨🇦

[@chrislynch1011]

🇦🇺 Plants in growing pergutory!! 😂 I burst out laughing! While I can't help you, I can only keep you company and hopefully that makes you feel better 😊 I've had my Billietiae for 7 months and Nada. Not one single new leaf. It had great light, good feed. I got sick of it and tossed it in the humidity unit. It's only been a week or so, so no idea if that's going to help. I did check the roots at some point, didn't have a great system, so maybe it's just busy growing roots. My Epipremnum pinnatum had also been a pain, grew a couple of leaves and then all I got were runners! It was growing next to my standleyana which has grown perfectly 🙄 cut the runners back, moved out to a brighter location and I'll wait and see. I'm not expecting massive growth as we're heading into autumn but it is the brightest spot in the house. I love how you show the cons side of gardening, there's absolutely no point in pretending that issues don't happen.

[@AshleyGrows]

My plant in growing purgatory is my damn philodendron sp Colombia 😭

[@loriesmith9350]

Hoya hindu rope is slow! Extremely ssslllooowwww😮 Even the plain green is slow as well.

[@fabiennebovis-higgins7149]

Your hair looks 🤩

[@GoodGrowing]

thank you 🥰

[@heathermc5557]

I would cut those Hoyas back definitely. So cute and hate when they take long for new growth 💚🌱

[@my8precious]

Just wondering what happened to your variegated frydek?

[@GoodGrowing]

it withered away completely 😭

[@my8precious]

@GoodGrowing oh no!!!!😭 I also have one that is now down to one leaf only.. I'm so desperately hoping it won't die

[@simplydee4522]

📣 Emma, your hair is giving you sassy vibes😅

[@shannoncarr7338]

Id love to stop giving hoyas roots rot..they have to be waterd at the perfect time or your fcked hah

[@joyfulgirlrecovery7526]

Dragon Tail Plants are slow slow slow growers

[@shannoncarr7338]

Just downsize ur stressy plants that make u sad.

[@DieDieEla]

Sorry, could watch this Video. Although your hair looks good, it bothers me a lot, that every 5 sec your Hand Plays with it "look my new hair", i am really sorry, and i knoe its a me Problem, but i cant focused on the plants nor your words