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This guy is an old favorite here at the sandpit.
We got him as a gift nearly four years ago. He is the Indian Rope Plant or properly Hoya Compacta if you must.
We got him as a gift nearly four years ago. He is the Indian Rope Plant or properly Hoya Compacta if you must.
He is a succulent originating from India, China and Australia. 
He is considered hardy in USDA zones 10b-11 to grow outside and is grown as a house plant elsewhere.
This plant stays outside most of the year and is only brought inside when temperatures dip below about 50 degrees. Its hanging vines extend 4-5 feet below the pot it resides in.
This plant is most unusual as it appears to be made of plastic or wax.
It regularly has blooms from the older stalks . This means don't cut off the old stalks as that is where the flowers will emerge next time.
When it is ready to flower it produced a cluster of waxy fake looking buds.
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Several days later the fake looking buds will pop open each displaying a pink flower for your enjoyment.
It is really a cool plant to watch as the leaves change colors and the buds pop open with flowers. When it blooms it also has a fragrance if you get close enough to smell it.
This guy could probably benefit from a mild application of fertilizer as rainwater is all he gets. But he blooms regardless so I figure he must be happy.
He also has a slight case of sunburn but come on this is South Florida in December , who doesn't.
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I have never seen this plant before. It's a little weird - I like it!
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteI like it also. It's very strangness makes it compelling to watch it bloom.
I know this plant. But have never seen a bloom. Does it need to have age or pot bound? How often does it bloom? What is the "trick"?
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that it likes to be rootbound in a small pot. So I left it in the same pot which is now four years old.This one blooms about every other month but I have also read of people who have never had their Rope plant bloom. The "TRICK", who knows, but I do play a lot of country music when I work outside. Mayby it needs some Allen Jackson or George Straight to bloom and be happy.