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Jun 3, 2021 9:27 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Valc C
Oregon
Hello,
I Just joined and new to Hoyas. What a beautiful plant! . I am trying to make my own potting mix but I don't have Orchid bark but I do have a pine Bark mixture. which is very dry. Would this work as well?
I do have the perlite, potting soil (several types) Dry Sphagnum moss and potting soil with the moss in it.
I need help my first Hoya died! Any info on making a good mix would be greatly appreciated.
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Jun 4, 2021 11:33 AM CST
Name: Mugsie
Eastern PA (Zone 6b)
You've got all the right ingredients. I'd take a couple of handfuls of the pine bark mix, a handful of the potting soil, maybe half a handful to 3/4's handful of the sphagnum (break it up into smaller pieces) and a handful of the pearlite, then mix it all together. After a good mixing, where the components are relatively evenly distributed, you should be good to go. The mix needs to be airy. Don't forget, the hoya is an epiphyte, so it needs air spaced in the soil otherwise the roots will smother. I've used a very chunky orchid mix on some of mine with zero other ingredients. When watering the water just flows right through so I need to water more often, but don't have to worry about drowning the roots.

After potting your plant, give it a good watering, saturating everything, then let it sit for a few days. Check the mix often and it'll tell you how fast it's drying out. If quickly, just water more often. At least you won't be over watering which is detrimental to good root growth.

I also feed mine a diluted orchid fertilizer about every other week. I use rain water for the fertilizer and even for just a normal watering. The plants love it.

You'll do just fine. It's the journey, not the destination that is important. Enjoy your plant and best of luck to you.
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Jun 4, 2021 12:11 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

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Hi valc, Welcome!

I'm not sure about pine bark, how big are the pieces? I've always used a combination of Orchid bark mix, potting soil and lots of perlite mixed in. I'd think pine bark would be okay as long as it's decent sized pieces but I'd be very careful about adding Sphagnum moss because when thoroughly saturated it doesn't dry quickly and Hoya's require an airy, fast draining potting medium.
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