When is the RIGHT time to repot your gorgeous Hoya?

[@soberplantguy]

I hope y'all are have some summer, planty success stories! It was nice to get a little caught up today with some repots that have just been on the back burner of projects. Let me know how things are going in your collection 😀

[@hugophone3]

Dave, you are an awesome KZbinr. I enjoy your channel, beautiful plants and super realistic, helpful tips. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!!! Now I am working my way through all your videos just to get caught up.

[@soberplantguy]

Wow that's so kind of you! They're variable, to say the least, but I tried in all of them ☺

[@lesajohnson2282]

Every time I see Rebecca I think what a beautiful plant.

[@soberplantguy]

Thank you so much. She really, really is ☺

[@marcosol1091]

Hi Dave, I like watching your videos so much. I learn a lot from them. I am a Hoya lover too and also a middle aged married man, sending you greetings from The Netherlands

[@soberplantguy]

Hey, hey! Good to meet you!

[@sandycucinotti7967]

Your channel is one of my new favorites. You do a great job and I love your honesty and sense of humor.

[@soberplantguy]

Thank you! I'll try to keep both of those up 😅

[@sarahoch2152]

Love your sense of humor and your Obscura!

[@soberplantguy]

Thanks so much! Another vote for obscura 😁

[@bhall3830]

"Backing into parking spots" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I nearly choked on my water laughing so hard

[@soberplantguy]

At the moment, it was the manliest thing I think of..........

[@lucyogutu-lumuli7253]

Always an absolute treat to wake up to one of your videos. Your Hoyas are all so beautiful.

[@soberplantguy]

Ah, thank you so much! But did you not make it to the part where I said I just composted six plants? 😅 Ok, maybe a couple of those were aroids, nonetheless....

[@ceciliapacheco6027]

Thank you Dave sunrise Hoya is wonderful to have ❤❤❤

[@soberplantguy]

💯 😁

[@shirleycovey7309]

My young Sunrise that I got in January is doing well and the leaves are showing a lovely shade of red from sitting in a west facing window. Just happy to see it sprouting new leaves and looking beautiful.

[@soberplantguy]

It's a young bloomer, too. So you aren't going to have to wait all that long 😀

[@marysmith86]

Hi Dave ....don't change a thing for anyone. Great videos, brilliant humour, you don't need a Metallica shirt... 😂

[@soberplantguy]

I don't? Thank God ........ And thanks for the encouragement!

[@TheZophisticatedDove]

"Backing into parking spots" I laughed so hard I cried!!!

[@soberplantguy]

I'm so happy that someone got the joke 😆

[@ceciliapacheco6027]

Good afternoon Dave you have magnificent plants love them all ❤❤

[@soberplantguy]

How nice of you! Thanks so much ☺️

[@leannhillier-jv8wf]

What a way to enjoy my coffee even more in the morning! A video from Dave!!! Yayyyyyy! My thumb is greener because of you! Thank you.

[@soberplantguy]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. I'd had PLENTY of tea by the time I sat down to film lol

[@debbielummus4637]

YAY! The sunrise 🌅 is back in all her glory! 🌿🤸

[@soberplantguy]

I'm glad someone is sharing in my delight!

[@peggymalabuyoc9150]

Hi Dave, So happy to see that your rooted cuttings of your Sunrise Hoya did so well. She’s beautiful again!🥰. Your Rebecca is Awesome. As always thank you for this video and for sharing your beautiful Hoyas! 👌🪴🥰

[@soberplantguy]

Thanks for sticking with the video until the end! Yes, sooo happy. She's going right back where she was thriving before my, oh, let's just call it ignoring clear signs of a problem 🤣

[@newmanmansell760]

Hi Dave😌🙌I enjoyed watching🤲🌟It's just a coincidence that Hoya sunrise is my favourite. I bought mine 4 years ago, and a mathilde. The sunrise has my favourite red leaves, flowers and luscious growth🥰

[@soberplantguy]

Yesss! This plant was so red hot a few years ago. I had a friend grow a ton, and then a short time later couldn't give them away. We plant peeps are a fickle lot, I suppose. Mine is going back into her South-facing window, where she get that low, direct winter sun. Cheers 😄

[@ms.naancy]

Good morning Dave. Woke up at 6:20 and this video was the first thing I saw when I opened my KZbin apps. (I mean not every time but whenever a new video uploaded from everyone I followed). Hope you have a great day and thank you for sharing.

[@soberplantguy]

I hope it doesn't/or didn't disappoint ☺

[@ms.naancy]

@@soberplantguy as always, you’re video are great. Plus sense of humor.

[@melissaharnish9094]

29:56, oh, and I’m excited I just ordered my first Rebecca on your recommendation, can’t wait to see how she grows!

[@soberplantguy]

Yessss! She really pulled up to be the best grower of the year. What a plant!

[@judithkrmrs8533]

Hi Dave, Just wanted to tell you that you have reached Germany with your videos. 😊 After KZbin suggested one of your hoya chores (I mostly watch BasiePlants, HarliG and wildfern) I got hooked! Your pleasant, calm, whimsical, authentic personality made me watch almost all your videos in three days..! 😅 Got a lot of planty chores to do and enjoyed doing them with you! 🌱😎 By the way I Love your attitude about aging/growing and still keeping an Open mind on things! 👍 I'd Love to See your grow tent and prop boxes, and maybe even a full house tour..? 👉👈😏 No pressure. 😉 Keep doing what you love and Loving what you do ❤ best wishes, judith

[@soberplantguy]

Ah, that’s amazing ! Glad I’ve I kept you company 😊 A tent video is a definite yes. Yours usually bore me, so I’m not sure how I’d do my own, that also didn’t bore me 🤣 Thanks for all the kind words. Cheers from Iowa city

[@laurapoore6451]

with coffee in hand early this morning, I turned on my KZbin channel and there you are Dave a new video made me so happy you have the prettiest Hoya. oh, I have a Bella and after I found a spot that it really liked to live it just took off and started to grow like crazy. Yours is beautiful.

[@soberplantguy]

Thanks, Laura! I think Bella and I are coming to an understanding ...!

[@Kimbermoi]

Oh my, those obscura leaves look like they are glowing! I chopped my Australis 'Lisa' this morning to see if it would finally start to grow. Have a great day! 🇨🇦👍

[@soberplantguy]

I mean, if that doesn't knock her out of her complacency 😆

[@paxleidig5327]

Yay! A new video from Dave! 😁 Rebecca is looking particularly stunning today. Thanks for answering my watering question Dave!

[@soberplantguy]

Thanks, Pax! Today there were no flowers for her to spit off with the brief change in venue lol

[@paxleidig5327]

@@soberplantguy speaking of flowers, what can you tell me about Hoya pollination? I have heard that the large Saturnid moths are one of their pollinators.

[@paxleidig5327]

I ask because I have often seen some on my property. (Luna and Polyphemus)

[@soberplantguy]

@@paxleidig5327 I don't know that specific moth, but they are the great pollinators, it seems. I also know from very experienced growers that it is not an easy thing to do by hand. I have no patience for it, at all 🙃

[@paxleidig5327]

​@@soberplantguyyeah, that's why I was hoping to get the moths to do it for me. I understand it takes almost 9 months from pollination to seed dispersal?

[@heatherstephens9295]

Love the sarcasm - gives me a good laugh 😆 I have quite a few recent purchases that I need to up-pot from their tiny pots but waiting until mid September (our spring here in NZ). Even though our winters are nowhere near as cold as yours I’m freezing 🥶 😂😂

[@soberplantguy]

Here in Iowa, we spend the summer complaining about how hot and humid it is, but the moment it hits lower sixties, like yesterday, you see people out in mid-weight winter coats. I swear, there are about ten days a year where Iowans can agree "This is a nice day" 😅

[@hanstera_deliciosa]

The timeliness of this video! Yesssss. 👊

[@soberplantguy]

Serendipity 😁

[@georgeminer266]

You had me at Hoya!

[@soberplantguy]

😆 I appreciate the reference 😆

[@lyndseymoye12]

New subscriber here!!! And yes….I am a female. But I absolutely love your knowledge, good vibes, and dry sense of humor!!! PS….your hoya bella is beating mine by MILES and I’ve had mine for 2 years!

[@soberplantguy]

First, thanks so much! Second, I don't really like men that much, anyway. And third, give up on your Bella. Just tell her that you don't care if she lives or dies 🤣😂🤣 Ok, that might be really specific advice that only worked on mine?

[@Wubblyt]

Your Hoyas are gorgeous as always 😊 Some Other Hoya that grow themselves full quickly from a cutting without propagating are Hoya Curtisii, Hoya Chinghungensis (and of course Lacunosa types, I count Rebecca as one of those) I have a slight problem with seedlings that have the same name as the parent plant. Even if the parent plant has self pollinated, the seedlings can have different properties (is that the word?)… and as the seedlings are being sold and then cuttings of the seedlings are sold…. Someone at some point will forget to add the “seedling” part… Then suddenly there are several different plants with the same name and as a buyer you can get something other than what you think you were buying. As for buying a seed or seedling….. thats very exciting and interesting 😊 I like to use those clear plastic pots with cover pots so that I can peek at the roots whenever I want and I noticed that not all Hoya that want water several times a week (in summer) are filling out their pot examples are Hoya Calycina and Hoya Bella. How would you deal with those? Would you give them a more moisture retaining mix? (Im scared of rot but I think I may change them from pure tree fern to a mix of perlite/coir/bark) Love the “horticultural butter knife” Wondering if Hoyas don’t drop leaves when they are happy… usually when something drops I did something wrong 🤔 (and the peduncles will go first… well first buds, then peduncles) Someone used a chopstick to push soil into the large air pockets, tried it out and it works so well! Mathilda: 1) if the vines can bend upwards… I would wrap (brown plantpacking) paper or something similar around them that keeps all of them upwards while repotting. 2) If they have to stay down….. I would try potting on the side of the table (more messy but oh well). Lay the pot on its side and pack 3/4 of the sides of the pot with soil, lay the plant in and then only having to add soil on one side… 3) Another method that I havent tried: put potting soil around the old pot in the new pot, take the old pot out and put the rootball in (not sure how well that would go with terracotta Recently heard a male youtuber say in one of his videos that he sees Hoyas as Grandma plants… (I couldn’t disagree more) But maybe that is why? Or that you are a male as well and they would prefer a woman? 😂

[@soberplantguy]

I agree with the seedlings, and it's always best when someone takes the time to put their number on it. Well, in a perfect world. My limited experience with tree fern fiber is Holy Moses does it dry out fast. When I had it in the prop box, of course it didn't. Exposed to (my) household conditions--wow. I own all of those plants you mentioned. I much, much prefer to go with a larger pot, and the chunkier mix. That's why I often say that I'm not worried about "over-potting." That's how I do moisture management, anyway. Your ideas for the Mathilde are A- all the way. When I film it and present those ideas as my own, I will upgrade them to A+ ideas. Serious, thank you so much! Fantastic suggestions.

[@Wubblyt]

@@soberplantguy yes added numbers would solve it all! Haha tree fern does dry out faster, but I also don’t have to worry about overpotting or making it too wet, plenty of air pockets but some of those plants…. Just a few of them…. They just want water every other day and I am afraid to forget haha then again its heatwave time currently (In terracotta straight tree fern would be horrible 😂) Maybe Ill uppot them AND put them in a chunky mix 😊 Ill be looking forward to see how you end up repotting your Mathilda. In a multitude of councilors, wisdom is found (and then we can improve on it and make it our own)

[@soberplantguy]

@@Wubblyt I did add tree fern fiber to some of my substrate. Did I document which plants? No, no I did not. But I still have some, so there's time 😆

[@margaretcalifano1617]

I agree on Sunrise being an awesome hoya. I got one at a plant swap for practically nothing and it’s a gorgeous huge thing now. I’m less interested in its sun stressing than the beautiful green leaves. Oddly, I love the smell of its blooms, even though I’m not nuts about lacunosa scent. BTW, I use a butter knife too, and you can get them super cheap at some of the ‘dollar stores’. Also, pushing a small dowel up the drain holes can help with evicting the plant from the pot after it’s loosened. Thanks for the videos!

[@soberplantguy]

Agreed on sun stressing, she's going back into her sunny, southern window soon! And I had forgotten all about "evicting" plans with a short piece of bamboo. Out of sight, out of mind. Thanks for the reminder 😁

[@aqua.scape69]

Hello, I’m a new subscriber to your channel and I am a man. Yes, unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be many men keeping plants. Clearly there’s more women keeping them. Personally, I absolutely love keeping plants. They help keep my anxiety in check by giving me something fun to focus on. I absolutely love your channel. I don’t know how you could attract more men. I just happened across it because I’m a Hoya lover. Best of luck and keep up the good work.

[@soberplantguy]

Hey, thanks for subscribing! Yeah, I was just having a bit of fun with that. I obviously enjoy amusing myself on camera 🤣

[@xeniaboutchard6496]

Hi Dave, another female subscriber, love your videos, they have substance. I think it's the men who are not as interested in plants and if it is, then it's generally outside gardening. Perhaps women have the innate need to "build a nest" and "feel closer to nature" which interlinks with interior design and houseplants. It's a very rewarding hobby once you get into it, but men are slow to take it up and usually focus on other hobbies. With the Mathilde (I'm catching up on videos out of order but if you haven't repotted her yet) - suggest to soak the pot and mixture thoroughly first to avoid damage to vines and roots. Then ask your wife to hold her carefully while you pot her up 💚 Sometimes it takes two 😉 Btw got a Jennifer after admiring yours in every video. Can't wait for her to grow 🙌 And lastly, if you feel like a splurge on a watering can with a thin spout (know you like yours, this one is similar in my view and so striking) The Haws Fazeley Flow (Two Pint) or something else from the top company. Thank you for the content! Love from Australia 🦘

[@soberplantguy]

Wow--those watering cans are works of art! I hope you love your 'Jennifer' as much as I do. As for the 'Mathilde,' it had sooo many buds on it that I delayed repotting. But. I couldn't really keep up on watering, so it blasted all of them but one anyway 🤣 So, I gained nothing 🤣 Thanks for the great suggestion, and nice comment(s)!

[@cydfall4897]

Ooh some of mine are getting some decent roots so this is going to be a helpful one!

[@soberplantguy]

I hope it worked out that way..... 🙃

[@helenesolomon]

Hi Dave, I came across your channel about 2 weeks ago. I was smitten, by both you and your hoyas. Enough said, I'm not a creeper(much). I have watched all of your content since then. I bought a Carnosa and a Caudata 2 years ago and potted them in 4 inch pots and have let them be. I used a mix of regular potting soil and orchid mix. I knew nothing about hoyas except they did not like too much water. Your video is timely as I have been thinking about up-potting them. They seem so happy though. What to do? From what I am gathering you would say to do so. Yes? Between you and other planty youtubers I am going down the rabbit hole. I recently received 6 new hoya. I mostly grow under lights in a 400 sq. ft. studio. I have 78 plants. I have a west facing window about 7 1/2 ft. W by 5 1/2 ft. I want to hang some hoya there. They would be about 10 or so inches from the window which will be somewhat cold in the winter. Of the hoya I now have would any of them be ok in that widow. I do not want to move plants between spaces as they are few and far between. The hoya I have are h. cv.anne, oblavata, publicalax splash, sunrise(sun stressing slightly under lights), kalimantan, and lancunosa silver. I think this is a lot to ask but if you don't ask you don't get! Sorry to be so wordy. 27 years clean. Keep up the good work. I have more hoya on the way. God help me. Thank you.

[@soberplantguy]

I"m only about 19 years behind you 🤣 With those plants you just saw, I was noting problems. It was especially obvious that I was being required to water far more often, and every time I picked them up, they felt light as air. So to speak. I have other Hoya going great in 4" pots and I have no plans to repot, at least this year. So if things look good, and you aren't seeing the *start* of problems, I bet you're fine. Love Hoya Ann, but don't have experience. The parentage would lead me to believe she'll do fine. I know all the rest will, because I've done it with each of those. That's handy! Cheers from Iowa City

[@helenesolomon]

@@soberplantguy Thank you for your prompt response. Blessings to you and your wife.

[@michellechapman8738]

Great information!!! ❤❤❤

[@soberplantguy]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks much ☺

[@JT-qq1fv]

Hi Dave! I stumbled upon your channel by accident and automatically got hooked! I went back and binge watched all your videos from the beginning. And… out of everyone I watch you are the first one I’ve ever commented on so Thank you for allowing me comfort to do so, you seem so easy going and chill I like that lol you make Hoya care seem simple and that anyone can care for them quick n easy… my question to you is for a thirsty Hoya … do you add any extra amendments to your Coco coir, Coco Chunks and Perlite mix? Do you suggest maybe a glazed ceramic pot vs a clay pot? I am a chronic under waterer and new to Hoya collecting I went from a Crimson Queen into the rabbit hole and now accumulating 50 in a span of 3 months All my plants are in glazed ceramic pots and am always biting my nails wondering if I’m over or under watering I have a Hueschculiana that’s wilting I had a Bella Albo that completely melted into mush and I have a Mathilde that I’ve just changed substrates that’s looking weak. Do you think you can make a video explaining if your plant is doing this…. It could be because of this reason or another and what we can do to remedy the situation??? That would be so very helpful ohhhh and I’d love to purchase a Jennifer from you to give her a try please Thanks for your channel and all you do stay chill your doing great!!!

[@soberplantguy]

Thanks for the kind words, and glad you enjoy the vibe. The greatest thing Iv'e read this week is that I make Hoya care seem simple. (It just takes some practice.) If you're a chronic underwaterer, def stay away from terracotta. The risk of dry rot will just be way too high. I loved glazed ceramic. The basalt pots that I prefer are somewhere between glazed and terracotta with their water-leaching properties, for lack of a better term. I do try to be mindful of how thirsty a plant will be. The other factor, for me, is how will it fare over the winter. I'd rather need to water more often now, than face a plant that stays wet and cold over the winter. Where I've made mistakes is combining way too much coir, for instance, and it either retains too much moistures, or it packs down really tight. For me, it's better to have a larger container with my normal substrate and have it hold moisture longer that way. Painting with a broad brush here, but generally: if you're plant are turning to mush, that's almost certainly from overwatering. Underwatering, at least at first, will look more like limp leaves that get wrinkly. Overwatering can show very quickly. In either case, if you see leaves that don't plump back up in time, you've probably got root rot, and get to start the plant over. Not the end of the world. And yes, I have threatened to make a decent Hoya care video, but haven't exactly followed through yet 😆

[@laurajackson8556]

Hi Dave, can you put a list of the different varieties you are showing in your comments to help my terrible memory? 😅

[@mn4169]

Wanted to watch such a video for ages. Thanks Dave, lots of good advise. have a great day and gott to give you your first thumbs up on this video. Cool

[@hennesseyme9112]

Good morning! Thank you for your video on things you use. I purchased the Tezula fertilizer, and I got my first Obovata bloom and I have had this plant about three years. The other Hoyas are pushing out tendrils and the leaves are getting bigger on my Publixx (I think that's the right spelling). I pray it does the same good results on my Anthuriums. I also purchased some Ochiata but will probably use it later, to see how my plants like it. I had no idea coco chips become acidic, but it is good stuff.

[@soberplantguy]

Nice! I love that plant, and was just gifted the the green form, and inner variegated. Very excited. Tezula is great stuff. Doesn't fertilize bomb your plant, so it has long-term, safe growth. I buffered my coco chips recently with cal-mag just because, but I never have before, and it was such a hassle, may never again 😁 Tezula (and GT Foliage Focus) both have cal-mag in the ingredients. Some would say that if the coco isn't buffered it doesn't matter. I've got an awful lot of plants growing in the medium, very well, that I'd say, I'm not worried about it. Or perhaps I repot often enough? Cheers from Iowa ☺

[@bethzahn31]

Dave, that comment about the Aldrichii was from me….and I was talking about yours, lol.

[@soberplantguy]

Stop it right now! 🤣When I was editing, I thought to myself, I think I threw in the word "beautiful" 🤭 Thanks so much for the laugh of the day....

[@orchidenere]

That a beautiful Hoja from the Christmas Island., I have aa

[@soberplantguy]

It really is lovely

[@kimmatlock2096]

Your Rebecca is a stunner. I have mine trellised. I think I may let her hang. I usually water weekly but check on them during the week. Do you use one of those water meters to check your plants??? I've always wanted to see the shooting star. You are so funny and have a great sense of humor. Great way to start my day. Thanks Dave. Have a great day.

[@soberplantguy]

Ah, thank you! I use one of those single-pole meters (not the double prong because it's impossible to get through the chunks). I love it, and use it all the time. For 'Rebecca,' she's so consistently thirsty that I quite literally just water her twice a week without checking. I won't do that in the winter 😉

[@joannfeliciano7888]

Hello Handsome, my favorite tool in my house is my butter knife! It serves many, many uses. Thanks for the leva tip, you prob did not realize the amazing tip you gave about leva and a cold winter house, lol, mine. Also, I did not know about the difference in root growth between hoyas and other plants. Thanks

[@soberplantguy]

Great! Glad you're finding some value out of my ramblings .... I suppose most people don't turn down their thermostats as low as we do at night. Sure is cheaper to keep a warm bedroom than a huge whole house 24 hours a day. Cheers from Iowa City

[@orchidenere]

My Rebecca is not well, Lost few leaves , hope she makes a recovery. You sent me such a beauty but I left her outside, sad😢

[@soberplantguy]

It happens, and I've done way worse. Let's not get into it at this time 😅 I'd say she's a very resilient plant that wants to live and grow. So if the roots are good, you should be ok in the long run. If not, there's always giving her the 'Sunrise' treatment that I had to do. Short term pain, but....

[@mrs.keeton9371]

Soooo, am I to understand when we should consider repotting 'according to Dave' is : 1. When it seems to become increasingly thirsty in its current pot/substrate? 2. When growth appears to be slowing down within it's growing season? 3. If it's trailing extensively but not putting out leaves? Maybe due to being late when first watching, and then rewatching without my coffee fully setting in, I'm not grasping all the points. 😅 Did I miss anything? I've been waiting for this video, so I'm taking notes. 📝 I think upon these points, if understanding them... my Carnosa and Parasitica Splash needs a repot pronoto! The way you wheilded your horticultural butter knife with intent while speaking about how we should be interested in a mindorensis was intimidating and impressive, sir. I was also so intrigued by the different flowers you saw on the same plant! I had not once heard that! I need to see it now that you've said it's a thing. How will we ever identify all the NOID's in the world. Honestly I think I like the aldrichii out of all the ones your showed today, that leaf looks so interesting! Thank you for another great video.😊

[@soberplantguy]

I wielded the knife just to get more people to watch the mindorensis video 😅 Flower structure, not color, is the indicator of a plant. H pubicalyx is a prime example of often having different shades of colors. I don't think I mentioned trailing vines without leaves. But, I look for changes in my plants. I suddenly am watering constantly is certainly an indicator, a big one. I don't mind watering more often, but when I'm doing AND the growth has stunted, that has my attention. But, keep in mind, I knew that I wasn't happy with the mix. None of the ingredients hold onto to water long enough, at least not in the pots I choose to grow in. I H aldrichii is a good example. The new growth it's trying to put on has been forever in the making. But other plants that I have, say in front of very warm window, that are getting two or three times a week but doing great otherwise, I just leave them be...... Cheers

[@Kafuinga]

I'm one of your 2 male subscribers :D

[@soberplantguy]

Hey, hey! Thanks so much 😁

[@Planty-Mandy]

For the Mathilde- Use the trick where you put the old pot into the new pot and fill in around it, then pull the old pot out and you can slide the root ball right into the middle. It may be trickier with your mix though if it doesn't hold the form. Maybe if you wet it down? Question for you - do you buffer the coco chips, or do you not worry about that? I've heard it will pull the nutrients out if you don't soak it with Calmag first?

[@soberplantguy]

That's a good idea, but I'll only be going from a 4" pot into that Lowe's 4.7" (so hardly any room around the rim). The main advantage is how much more substrate it'll hold. I have never buffered either until the other day, just to say I did it. I've never had a plant show any signs of nutrient block over a long period of time, including those that have never been repotted. I know there are certain smokable plants that seem extremely sensitive to this ... but not my normal, just-to-look-at plants 🤣😂🤣

[@xaniabrown2468]

Lol, "smokable plants." 😂

[@julilla1]

I'm a new subscriber and I love your chill vibe so much. I do have a question about repotting hoyas, actually. I am new to this, so please forgive if this is an obvious noob question. I've got four small plants (mathilda splash, khroniana black, crimson princess and heuschkeliana variagata) in 3 and 4 inch nursery pots, under a 10 watt grow light and they are kind of growing like weeds. I've heard people say not to repot them for a year, but should I wait until they are root bound? I just don't want to stunt their fabulous growth. I do need to bottom water them every four days, so if it's more than once a week, does that mean they are drying out too fast? I want to do my best for them

[@soberplantguy]

Hey, thanks! Glad you're enjoying the channel. I wouldn't consider watering twice a week very concerning at all in small pots. Those trellised plants in the video were in 4" pots. But of course, pots vary by how much substrate they can/or cannot hold with the same diameter opening. I own all of your plants, and would be quite comfortable growing them in small pots until the Spring. And that's coming from someone who ignores ALL advice about not repotting for such-and-such a time. That isn't grounded in any kind of fact, as far as I can tell. I am friends with absolute world-class growers. Ask all the questions, and if you want to shoot me pics, my email is in my about info. Happy to help where I can.

[@julilla1]

@@soberplantguy oh thanks so much! I appreciate your time. I won't worry about repotting yet, then. Like I said, they seem super happy right now and I just want to keep them that way. :)

[@shirleycovey7309]

I have a question. You recommend a variety of grow lights. Would a 25w be sufficient as a hanging light? I'm talking about the Barrina LED Grow Light Bulb. A hanging light would work for my set up.

[@happybeehoney3461]

I love your channel and also share a love of hoya's. Do you have a video where you explain the soil mixture you use and the amounts/ratios? I went to your amazon store but curious on the ratio before I get the ingredients.

[@soberplantguy]

Hello, and thank you! I mix it as a ratio of 1/3 for each ingredient. Then, when you see me grabbing handfuls by feel, I'm judging plant vs pot size. I will sometimes make it a little chunkier if I've moved up to a much larger pot. In smaller pots, I'm more careful to keep it moisture retentive, without getting the coir compacted. Hope this helps--it's not exactly a science on my end 🙃

[@faithewarren-agee5604]

Your wife is a saint.

[@soberplantguy]

I hope she doesn't read this comment ........

[@sarahhofer3536]

Hi dave. . I love your videos but i have trouble with my sunrise its not growing and i got rooted cuttings 3 mos ago ive got it in a prop box with some humidity HELP

[@soberplantguy]

Is it potted up in your preferred medium? Sunrise, happily, don’t require a ton of humidity. I had mine in the tent long enough to get decent roots, then started potting up and keeping them in my house. You can shoot me pics to [e-mail]. Happy to help if I can 😁

[@paxleidig5327]

I would think breaking a few peripheral roots away from the terracotta would stimulate new root growth

[@soberplantguy]

This is what I tell myself when I can't sleep.....

[@paxleidig5327]

@@soberplantguy LOL

[@dianemottram3060]

Hey Dave with the midwestern humor reminds me of Johnny Carson. Puts people at ease that conversational style. Always appreciate the realistic make sense tips. Don't mind a bit of sarcasm. What I do mind is potty mouth. So when this other planty person used language that would qualify for sexual harassment if it had come out of the mouth of a guy well I was done over out finished. I can live without the pots with boobs and crotch shots. Maybe you dont see that in Iowa. Its all over Etsy. It is in the local plant shops but not at the big box stores. Man Cave plants...hmmm that might work but the ladies might not care for it. I like your shirts. They have style.

[@soberplantguy]

Thank you! High praise, there. You'll never see one of those pots on my channel 😆 I *only* like very simple pots the don't draw attention to themselves. So, not even the cutesy ones for me. And no, I don't like watching plant videos where the F bomb is dropped constantly. I'm not at all offended by it in real life, but that's not what I'm looking for in the morning hours when I'm watching a video. Cheers from Iowa City

[@paxleidig5327]

BTW. Just out of curiosity, is there any significance to the candle over your shoulder? Memorial? Homage? Or just smells nice?😂

[@soberplantguy]

Just setting a vibe for the manly men I'm trying to get to the channel lol

[@hnelson5609]

😂😂​@@soberplantguy

[@orchidenere]

You made me laugh and I had a very tuff day, nice way to make a plant bigger eh! Use a long bamboo stick. 😄

[@soberplantguy]

@@orchidenere This is a pro trick that I don't want to get into the wrong hands.

[@orchidenere]

Look at those blooms! I don’t know how Harli G said she doesn’t like Hojas . 🤔

[@faithewarren-agee5604]

Do you have a generator? We're in Kentucky and my husband worries that we'll lose power and I'll lose my plants. I guess we'll be buying one!

[@soberplantguy]

I use one of those portable oil heaters up in the small office/tent room. But for our large living room, everyone has to wait for me to spark up the fireplace. I tried a couple of heaters and it barely moved the needle. Figured I was spending a fortune to not do much lol

[@jenniferpreston8365]

I'm curious what you think to letting hoya trail in a hanging pot vs. trellising. Any pros and cons you can share?

[@soberplantguy]

Some Hoya just naturally do so well hanging. Others clearly want to have support, and will only reluctantly put out leaves if they are trailing. Others, like my AH074, will not put out *any* leaves on a vine if it isn't supported. I had vines that were almost six feet long with not one leaf very far below the bottom of the pot. I grew it that way for months just to see if it would give in. It did not 😆 I have purchased so many Hoya with an active vine and good nodes that had no leaves until I simply put in a simple bamboo stake for them. Then, boom, leaves.

[@jenniferpreston8365]

@@soberplantguy thank you!

[@kathrynvaughn359]

Dave I just ordered Hoya sunrise starter plant and one I haven't heard anyone talk about in 2 years. I ordered Hoya Rosita could you check in to this. Thanks.

[@soberplantguy]

I don’t have any real information on growing ‘Rosita,’ unfortunately. But most of my Hoya get a varying degree of “the same conditions.” Cheers

[@deeb2000]

Hey Dave! I placed my h. mendorensis outside on the deck this morning along with aldrichii and tjadesmelengensis for some sun stressing. I'm watching to make sure they don't burn. Your aldrichii is beautiful. Another underrated hoya. Do u mist ur hoyas btw? I watched a KZbinr yesterday who decried doing such a thing! Duh, don't many hoyas get dew/mist in their natural habitat, tropical and subtropical? Plus we're encouraged to use humidifier. I don't have a problem using either. Again it's about doing what works for the grower. Dee, NY PS: my success story is bringing back to life h. Sp. Nap 013 and fusco marginata.

[@soberplantguy]

Speaking of underrated Hoya: Fusco marginata. Hello, Big Boi. I don't mist except when I clean my leaves, which is often. So I guess I sort of do mist? Loads of people use foliar spray/fertilizer on their Hoya and swear by it. I tried to last summer and didn't have any results either way, so I stopped. You are absolutely right: this is all about what works for the grower. I think that's the drumbeat of my channel. I think we're at the point of just asking you what Hoya you *aren't* growing 🤣 I played with putting three different Hoya on my front porch, and thing did not go well. At all. The pests ate my hanhiae alive, for one. The others just missed their friends, maybe.... Cheers from Iowa City

[@deeb2000]

@@soberplantguy Lol! I only have about 74 hoyas, lost many listening to bad advice on YT and internet otherwise I'd be about 100 mostly due to where they survive best in my home. And, I just received my h. KSB 01 after viewing ur last video 20 mins. ago! Beautiful, large 2 leaf cutting! There are quite a number of males who are hoya lovers on YT but I don't know what their ratio is as far as males go as followers but looking at some of their comments they do have quite a few male followers. You're still new, they'll find you!

[@soberplantguy]

@@deeb2000 Oh, nice! My KSB 01 is jusssst starting to leaf out. Threatening, to, anyway. What a great looking plant. I find my YT stats amusing. I'm not actually going to start slapping raw meat on the table or anything 😆

[@deeb2000]

@@soberplantguy Huh!? 🤣

[@soberplantguy]

@@deeb2000 Raw meat was a viewer suggestion to attract a male audience. You don't think this will pull them in???

[@litalfrenkel1024]

Tough guys💪 are more into anthuriums, monstera and philodendron, so its not you shirts Dave😂

[@soberplantguy]

I knew it wasn't the shirts!

[@hanstera_deliciosa]

Real tough guys play with 🌵 😂

[@soberplantguy]

@@hanstera_deliciosa My imagination is .... oh, I see

[@christinev3861]

I’m reading that there aren’t much nutrients in coco coir, husk chips, and perlite. Where are your plants getting most of the nutrients from? The fertilizer? If so, how often do you fertilize? I ordered all the items and I really gotta know 😂 And you’re watering once a week you said? What do you do with the extra substrate you have left? Since it’s wet, is it ok to keep in a closed container or what do you do? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[@soberplantguy]

All good questions. Perfect timing, as I want to do some repotting and questions... today 😁 You're correct: the substrate is inert, so all the nutrition comes from the fertilizer, which I use, basically, every watering. The exceptions are the plants that are drying out pretty quickly in very hot windows, or the ones in the tent that are doing the same (think small pots). I'll use straight water on those "off days." I tend to moisten small amounts of my mix if I'm taking it from a big 'ol container of premix. When I remember 😆 If I have a big, wet tote I leave the lid off, and every once in a while I'll swish it around. Eventually I put the lid on. If storage is an issue, and you need to put the lid on, I'd probably dry it outside in the sun first. Cheers from gorgeous Iowa City

[@christinev3861]

@@soberplantguy thank you so much for answering!! I’ll update my notes. Hahah

[@shirleycovey7309]

Do you make your own wire trellis'?

[@soberplantguy]

Yes! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2moY4aDltGMd5Ysi=Qqryy_3rbxxdVxbs The first part is me making it, the second part me wrapping plants around it. Hope it's helpful 😁

[@random-code1]

The statistics might be a bit off. I’m under 30 and it says 0%. 😅 I’m here since the first 200 or so subscribers.

[@soberplantguy]

You do show up in the general channel stats, and I thank you! That screen shot was of a video posted last week, and that is *very* close to how many women vs men actually watch the channel. Next video: I'm putting a bag of Kingford's charcoal on the table with some raw meat. That'll drag 'em in 🤣

[@robinprice6879]

I must have missed something. I thought your go to substrate was tree fern fiber, coco chips and chunky perlite?

[@soberplantguy]

I did try some tree fern fiber for the propagation video, but no, coco coir for me.

[@robinprice6879]

@@soberplantguy ahhh. So coco coir, coco chips and perlite? And I really appreciate how quickly you always respond.

[@soberplantguy]

@@robinprice6879 No problem, happy to answer as quickly as I can. That's it, those three ingredients. As I've said, it used to be those three, pumice, worm castings, bark, leca, charcoal, mycho, pixie dust .... Enough. I just started dropping back until I realized everything was in those three ingredients, and never growing better for me. Cheers

[@Planty-Mandy]

So funny about the male viewership. 😂😂😂 I don't think a lot of men love Hoyas, especially straight ones! You are just special. Which is why the ladies love you! Embrace it!

[@soberplantguy]

It does delight me a bit ☺ When Fern was around 100k viewers, she said that half of them were men "Which seems high." Uh, Fern? 🤣😂🤣

[@Planty-Mandy]

@@soberplantguy I mean, who doesn’t have a crush on Fern? 🤣🤣🤣

[@soberplantguy]

@@Planty-Mandy I don't I'm happily married to my first wife and I want to stay that way thank you......................

[@Planty-Mandy]

@@soberplantguy lol I’m also happily married to my first husband but internet crushes don’t count!

[@neerajadamarla929]

You grow all your plants in terracotta pots and you don't let your hoya leaves get too soft before watering and how do you know that the plant is thirsty ? Do you use a moisture meter? I'm transplanting my plants slowly to clear pots as I was under watering and finding a clear pot bigger than 5" is a little challenging and expensive 😅

[@soberplantguy]

You are not kidding about the price of those! Everything I buy comes in clear plastic, but for a pot you need a second mortgage 😅 I do use a moisture meter, always have, and still use it regularly. Even in all but two chunky mixes (like, almost all bark), it works great. I have the single prong style, since that double prong is impossible to poke into the chunks. I've had so many times, including today, where I was certain that the pot was light as air and the plant needed to be watered, only to be proven wrong yet again. I have no idea why people argue about whether or not these work. If they don't work for you, don't use it. Don't make it a thing though 🤣😂🤣

[@neerajadamarla929]

@@soberplantguy I stopped using my two prong thing as the coco chunks get stuck in between and can't go further down I will get a single prong meter don't know why I didn't think of it you saved me from the hunt for clear pots 😁 thank you for responding!

[@orchidenere]

Did the haldrichii ever bloom. I read on Vermont Hoja that she’s not easy to bloom

[@soberplantguy]

Not yet, but if Doug found it challenging ... hoo boy

[@paxleidig5327]

Hey Dave, sometimes when you are presenting a plant, we're halfway through the segment before something catches my interest. By then I've forgotten what it was called and I have to keep scrolling back. Could you leave the name on the screen until you move on to the next plant?

[@soberplantguy]

It's a personal choice thing on this one. I hate it when text is left on the screen. So, no on this one.

[@bethn9219]

Perhaps a compromise to this would be to list any Hoyas shown in the video in the description? I don’t know how much extra work that would be though since I’ve never attempted to upload a KZbin video. 😊 Would this also make the video show up in any google searches for that particular plant?

[@soberplantguy]

@@bethn9219 That's a good thought. As for search. AI takes care of all of that, right from the video. Unreal.

[@bethn9219]

@@soberplantguy wow that’s great for you in search terms, but I have to say that AI scares me sometimes. It freaks me out what it can do or perhaps I should say what unscrupulous people could do with it. 😬

[@soberplantguy]

@@bethn9219 No lie. Yikes.

[@paxleidig5327]

So. . do you just keep increasing the Coco coir until you reach a mix that works for the individual plant and your watering schedule?

[@soberplantguy]

If it's a plant I'm not familiar with, I look at Kew research, Vermont Hoyas, etc. That helps determine if it's a plant that's going to root rot very easily. Those I'm careful with. Take the Hoya globulosa (don't you dare try to take *mine* though 😅). Doug Chamberlain recommends letting that one go "as dry as you dare." So that's going in a chunky substrate of coco chips. The vast, vast majority just get exactly what you see on camera: me grabbing handfuls of substrate and making sure it's roughly even.

[@paxleidig5327]

I've looked at Vermont Hoyas but Kew research? Do tell!

[@soberplantguy]

@@paxleidig5327 I meant it more like, I do research on Kew lol. But here it is: powo.science.kew.org

[@paxleidig5327]

@@soberplantguy Oh MY! This is the kind of thing I was suggesting for your "Collector's How To" video. Helping us understand where you get your information and how you decide what to add to your collection etc...

[@paxleidig5327]

I have some ideas for Matilde too

[@paxleidig5327]

One uses water the other idea uses air. Do you have a shop-vac?

[@paxleidig5327]

Otherwise, a gentle flush of water, gradually increasing in pressure (just enough to get the job done) to remove the old soil mix and then a slurry of gradually decreasing particle sizes (chips , perlite, coco peat) poured in to fill again. If there's a big enough hole in the bottom, this could work from either end I would imagine. 🤔

[@paxleidig5327]

Oh wait, you said a GOOD idea. 😜

[@melissaharnish9094]

28:35 there are some stunningly beautiful female plant KZbinrs, I’m afraid you’re just not gonna be able to compete with that! On the upside, your male viewers are here for your plant knowledge which you have a plethora of so just keep doing what you’re doing! That’s my two cents

[@paxleidig5327]

"compensating for..... Lack of size,...... I guess. ". ROFLMAO

[@soberplantguy]

What? What’s so funny?

[@jonathonpotts5666]

shit I must be one of only 2 male subscribers, rare company indeed. maybe you should bang on about eating protein or something to get more!

[@soberplantguy]

I'm just going to slap some raw hamburger on the table and get down to plant talk. No fluff.

[@paxleidig5327]

LOL. I'm the other one Jonathan. Maybe we should brainstorm some of the reasons we like the channel. For me, aside from the information, it's his ribald sense of humor. Talking about " long, thick veiny leaves" and shit had me rolling! 😂😂😂

[@jonathonpotts5666]

​@paxleidig5327 yes he has a great sense of humour😂.Unusually for plants video's I can listen to them whilst working when I can't spare my eyes , although preferably I would like to see the plants too!

[@paxleidig5327]

And no cheesy guitar music in the background. A+ Although I enjoyed the barely audible Big Band sounds while you finished repotting for that one ending.

[@soberplantguy]

@@paxleidig5327 I knew I couldn't be the only one with no patience for that. To each their own, of course 😁

[@beckypackqualls2745]

Looking more masculine will not help. Men don’t care if you’re macho - IF they like plants. If they’re watching for some other reasons, maybe. Truth is, I’ve never met a man who watches ANY plantTuber. They watch KZbin to learn a necessary skill to fix something right now. Just mho

[@HeatherOatmeal]

I'm adding another comment to say I love bella! My Mom had one when I was growing up, and it was my first experience with Hoya. The starry flowers were so magical. 🥹 It holds a special place in my heart. I've recently purchased two different bellas from two different sellers, and they BOTH were infested with mites. 😭 So disappointing 😢

[@soberplantguy]

This is the only plant I ever had spider mites on, and it's how I learned about the DIY pest spray I did a video about. Never had a problem since. Agreed, what a great plant.

[@melissaharnish9094]

28:35 there are some stunningly beautiful female plant KZbinrs, I’m afraid you’re just not gonna be able to compete with that! On the upside, your male viewers are here for your plant knowledge which you have a plethora of so just keep doing what you’re doing! That’s my two cents

[@soberplantguy]

Truth 🤣