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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Emm P on June 09, 2005, 17:59:24

Title: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Emm P on June 09, 2005, 17:59:24
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/EmmPet/bee.jpg)

My Hoya was covered in beautiful flowers last year - and they last for ages.
I meant to repot it in early spring - and forgot until the buds had started to form.
They all dropped off.
:-[
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 09, 2005, 18:52:39
That's a hoverfly. Nice pic.
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 10, 2005, 13:04:59
ooooo, I have a hoya and it is just one long long long stem rampaging though my pineapple plantation.  Do you think I should pinch back the growing tip to encourage it to bush up??
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: undercarriage plan on June 10, 2005, 13:48:15
That's what it is!! Have one in my conservatory that was given to me as a cutting.  Flowers beautifully, but drips nectar everywhere!! I think it needs really good light to flower, but not direct sunlight.  Mine's winding it's way around the roof!! No idea what to do about potting it on.  Huge plant in tiny pot, perhaps it likes being root bound?  Lottie
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Emm P on June 11, 2005, 13:24:06
I thought it was a funny looking bee, Robert.
:-[

My Hoya started life as ten cuttings in a pot. It took several years before each cutting bushed out rather than grew long.
Now, I cut the plant back by about half, each autumn.
Last year was the best it had ever flowered - and the first time it had been in our conservatory all summer - because it had outgrown the area where it had been kept.
The conservatory is south facing with temperatures up to about 100f.
Nobody was more surprised than me, that it did so well in there.
;)
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Gardengirl on June 11, 2005, 22:34:18
I am so pleased to have a little advice about my hoya.  Mine started life as one cutting which grew longer, and longer, and longer :o  I did chop it back a bit but it is still growing longer.  I have it hanging quite high up on the wall near our front door so it get plenty of light but I fear it will touch the floor before long.  It has quite a few lovely flowers, but I will do as Emm P says and cut it back this autumn.  Does this make them bush out a bit more :-\ :)
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Emm P on June 12, 2005, 17:41:57
Well, mine certainly has.
:)
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: GREENWIZARD on June 16, 2005, 11:40:10
nice pic EP  :)
i've also managed to snap a few images of hooverflies happily having a bite to eat :)
Title: Re: Bee on my Hoya Bella
Post by: Emm P on June 16, 2005, 14:19:47
Thanks Greenwizard - as you will have gathered, I didn't know a hoverfly before this thread!!!!
;)