Hello, I was wondering what this is?

I purchased a single Hoya Kerrii Leaf and it's been sprouting something and I was curious What's happening? I've had it for a few months.

Maybe part of its root system?

Hi Trenton_,


Your single leaf Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii) must have had a part of the main stem attached because that sure looks to be either a new stem sprouting, or possibly a peduncle (bloom spur)! I'm having eyesight issues today but it sure looks like a bloom spur with tiny buds at the tip.

For comparison, these are photos of different Hoya's showing peduncles with tiny buds:

Hi & welcome! It looks like you got lucky!

@Trenton_
Whoa!

Thank yall for the insight so far. I have an updated image.

@plantladylin This is the progress from the last image, do you have a clear idea of what it is now? Thanks

I can't tell for certain; originally I thought it was peduncle with buds forming but it may just be a new stem emerging ... still a good thing!

plantladylin said:I can't tell for certain; originally I thought it was peduncle with buds forming but it may just be a new stem emerging ... still a good thing!

Thanks so much for your reply! Besides being a new stem, are you able to tell what could be happening to it in regards to the little bits that have branched off from it? I bought this Hoya Kerrii leaf with the thought it would be nothing more than that, so I'm unfamiliar with its growing habits. It seems as though it is continuing to grow taller and tapering off, but not too much growth other than that. Also, the color of the stem itself is green with darker areas and I'm wondering if that's normal or not?

From what I can tell in the photo, the stem appears normal. Newer growth is sometimes pale green in color. The protuberance near the top of that stem in your latest photo looks like a new stem but I see another little growth midway on the stem that I think looks like a possible peduncle ... time will tell! I hope you will keep us updated with additional photos as your plant grows and matures. I see that you are in Canada, so you might not see much growth during the winter months but next summer it should really take off!

Most Hoyas are vines and climbers (Hoya kerrii included) and they will shoot out new stems and eventually adventitious roots in search of a tree or other structure to climb. Many people grow their Hoyas on trellises or moss totems, allowing them to climb, while others grow them in hanging baskets, letting them dangle over the sides of the pot.

Here in hot, humid Florida, my Hoyas have stems shooting out all over and I tend to just wind them around each other, sometimes using small orchid clips to attach them together to keep them from getting in my way. These are a few of my plants with stems that go wild.

It doesn't happen often but sometimes, a little piece of node is left and a plant grows from the Sweetheart leaf. Kerrii is one of the Hoya that typically grows long stems, then peduncles (a little stem with blooms at the ends) and eventually leaves. Your plant is growing fast - you are making it happy!

plantladylin said:From what I can tell in the photo, the stem appears normal. Newer growth is sometimes pale green in color. The protuberance near the top of that stem in your latest photo looks like a new stem but I see another little growth midway on the stem that I think looks like a possible peduncle ... time will tell! I hope you will keep us updated with additional photos as your plant grows and matures. I see that you are in Canada, so you might not see much growth during the winter months but next summer it should really take off!

Most Hoyas are vines and climbers (Hoya kerrii included) and they will shoot out new stems and eventually adventitious roots in search of a tree or other structure to climb. Many people grow their Hoyas on trellises or moss totems, allowing them to climb, while others grow them in hanging baskets, letting them dangle over the sides of the pot.

Here in hot, humid Florida, my Hoyas have stems shooting out all over and I tend to just wind them around each other, sometimes using small orchid clips to attach them together to keep them from getting in my way. These are a few of my plants with stems that go wild.

Your Hoyas look fantastic by the way!

It has continued to grow since the last photo as you can see below. I have some other questions I thought I'd ask. You mentioned trellises, would a small stem like this one benefit from putting anything next to it like a skewer? It seems as though it is bending over the heart itself and I'm not sure how much taller it may become. Is it possible this stem may not grow any new leaves? Also, since it's more noticeable in this photo, is the color difference at the bottom being green and then darker towards the middle typical for a Hoya Kerrii? Thanks!

Hoya kerrii Is a big growing plant - that little stem may grow for a year and gain another 8 ft before its done. In my experience, first it will grow a long bare stem, then peduncles will grow from the stem and eventually leaves. Hoya don't really twine, you will have to do that. They grip porous things like tree trunks (or in my case, the stucco on my house wall) with those tiny roots along the stems. If you look at Lin's photos closely, you will see she has twined the stems back into and around the plant. What she has done is really the easiest way to keep them unless you have a huge wall to give over to your Hoya.

What size pot is your Hoya in? If its a 6 inch pot, leave it but if something smaller, think about an up-pot while you can still handle it. I don't know what size pot Lin's are in but my largest is 6 inches. As Hoya are epiphytic, the pot and growing medium is more for support so doesn't have to grow with the plant.

The original leaf may yellow and die now that its decided to be a real plant.

DaisyI said:Hoya kerrii Is a big growing plant - that little stem may grow for a year and gain another 8 ft before its done. In my experience, first it will grow a long bare stem, then peduncles will grow from the stem and eventually leaves. Hoya don't really twine, you will have to do that. They grip porous things like tree trunks (or in my case, the stucco on my house wall) with those tiny roots along the stems. If you look at Lin's photos closely, you will see she has twined the stems back into and around the plant. What she has done is really the easiest way to keep them unless you have a huge wall to give over to your Hoya.

What size pot is your Hoya in? If its a 6 inch pot, leave it but if something smaller, think about an up-pot while you can still handle it. I don't know what size pot Lin's are in but my largest is 6 inches. As Hoya are epiphytic, the pot and growing medium is more for support so doesn't have to grow with the plant.

The original leaf may yellow and die now that its decided to be a real plant.

Thanks for the information! Would a small wood skewer be beneficial when placed next to it? at the size it currently is? (5 inches) It's in its original pot that it was bought in which is 6 inches. I thought it was on the larger side for just one Hoya leaf, but it seemed to do well in it anyhow.

Unless you plan to grow it on a trellis, there's no use encouraging upward growth. You would have to butterfly clip it to the skewer.

Trenton_ said:

@plantladylin This is the progress from the last image, do you have a clear idea of what it is now? Thanks

You are SOOOOOO lucky!!
Fun fact: Many of those shops who sell those singles leaves only take off the leaf -- so the leaft slowly dies because it can make roots but no new leaves.

Yours has a bit of the stem, so it is growing a stem to continue it's life!! And it's also giving you blooms , most likely a sign it is enjoying it's life.

Love the photo growth progress Trenton! Thanks for sharing it!

It is indeed a happy looking vine growth with new leaves forming at the nodes.

Hoya kerrii is quite a robust vining succulent, so while it is still young and vine still pliable, try to find a good circular trellis or whichever type of trellis you want. That vine once it matures some more, becomes rather stiff and will be harder to wind around your trellis of choice.

This is my Hoya kerrii variegata..I got this years ago in that circular trellis. Thankfully the plant has a resting period here come winter time, so it is not outgrowing the trellis yet.




Please continue to update your thread..I would love to see how it goes..happy growing!

sedumzz said:

You are SOOOOOO lucky!!
Fun fact: Many of those shops who sell those singles leaves only take off the leaf -- so the leaft slowly dies because it can make roots but no new leaves.

Yours has a bit of the stem, so it is growing a stem to continue it's life!! And it's also giving you blooms , most likely a sign it is enjoying it's life.

Thanks! I thought it would stay just a leaf as well, so it has been such a surprise. It's grown quite quickly with changes everyday, which I hope continues!

tarev said:Love the photo growth progress Trenton! Thanks for sharing it!

It is indeed a happy looking vine growth with new leaves forming at the nodes.

Hoya kerrii is quite a robust vining succulent, so while it is still young and vine still pliable, try to find a good circular trellis or whichever type of trellis you want. That vine once it matures some more, becomes rather stiff and will be harder to wind around your trellis of choice.

This is my Hoya kerrii variegata..I got this years ago in that circular trellis. Thankfully the plant has a resting period here come winter time, so it is not outgrowing the trellis yet.




Please continue to update your thread..I would love to see how it goes..happy growing!

Thank you for your information in regards to a trellis! Your hoya kerrii variegata looks great! I'll add some updated pictures in the future as it hopefully continues to grow.

This is an update on the Hoya! It's now 8 inches tall and I think the first leaf is beginning to grow from its stem.