About the self-watering pot system for growing hoyas

What are self-watering pots and how do I use them for growing hoyas?

Currently, my entire hoyas collection is already growing in three different hoya substrates - both improved potting soil, bark mulch substrate (read the blog post about these substrates here), and mineral substrate in self-watering pots. I still use the first two substrates when growing my already quite large hoya in classic flower pots. However, I have already transplanted a large part of my hoya into mineral substrate in self-watering pots. The reason is that the collection has become quite large, watering hoyas has become very laborious and requires a lot of attention, and various more difficult-to-grow hoyas have entered the collection. Self-watering pots make the process of watering hoya much easier, and it is also possible to supplement the collection with more demanding, more difficult-to-grow hoya species and varieties.

So, self-watering pots are pots that have a wick (a synthetic!!! material string) inserted into the base and the pot itself is placed either in another pot or the pot tray is large enough to serve as a water reservoir. Through the wick, both ends of which are in a container of water, moisture evenly reaches the main pot, in which the plant is planted. I have tried using bark mulch substrate in self-watering pots, but it didn't really work for me, the hoyas often received too much moisture. That's why I currently use only mineral substrate (lechuza, ceramis, pumice) for self-watering pots. Hoyas grown in this way are easy to water, because you can always see the remaining water in the reservoir and top up accordingly when it is dry, because the substrate itself also retains moisture for a couple more days, and then I can safely leave the hoyas with my assistants who look after my collection during vacations.

There are several important nuances to consider if you choose to grow your hoyas in self-watering pots.

• It is easiest to plant a small cutting in a mineral substrate at the starting position, then all subsequent transfers to larger pots will be easier. I still use the smallest plastic cup without holes for drainage for rooting the cutting, but the next pot is a small homemade self-watering system. And the third or fourth transplant is usually enough for the small hoya plant to reach a full-fledged self-watering pot, because by that time it has already grown both roots and its green mass
• When growing hoya in this way, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that hoyas do not like too large pots, but when grown in self-watering pots, hoyas behave much more tolerantly:), however, there should be a gradual transition here too, I do not recommend transplanting the rooted cutting immediately into a large self-watering pot, because then it will be a long wait until you see a growing shoot. This section (repotting a hoya into a slightly larger pot) is a bit time-consuming and labor-intensive, until the hoya grows proper roots and leaf mass so that it can be transplanted into a full-fledged self-watering pot. 
• Hoyas growing in self-watering pots still use their privilege - to grow a little and then stop for a while and think about which direction is best to go next:), whether to continue growing the top shoot, or to start branching, etc., this peculiarity is characteristic of each hoya species or variety differently, but it is very interesting to observe:)
• Of course, hoyas growing in self-watering pots should also try to provide support for them to grow, at the moment when the hoya has started to grow its mustache. Or not, if it is a hoya, which grows better in a hanging form, but about the peculiarities of hoya growth, depending on their species or variety, another time:)
• Air access to the roots in self-watering pots - this rule is very important for the flow of water through the wick to the pot substrate at all. If there is no air access, water circulation will not occur. Therefore, until my hoya has grown to a classic self-watering pot, which already has an opening for adding water and, accordingly, through which air exchange also occurs, I ensure this point by placing either a plastic marker or a plastic support stake between the two pots.
• When the hoya is transplanted into the new self-watering pot, I carry out the first several waterings from the top of the pot so that the wick system gets used to it. When growing this way, you can clearly see which hoyas are good drinkers and which are not. Moreover, this point is different for different hoyas. For example, hoya Finlaysonii sp. Nong Nooch IML 1541 needs to be watered 2 times more often than Hoya sp. DMC5655B. And when the Hoya, which previously emptied its water reservoir slowly, suddenly starts to drink quickly, it is clear that the Hoya's dormant period has passed and the Hoya has started growing:)
• Also in the pots that are being watered, the Hoya's root system is very clearly visible, and not all Hoyas have large roots. There are Hoyas whose root system is so tiny that it is not even clear how they can grow so tall. For example, Hoya Linearis, which with a small root bouquet has grown long, long shoots. I took a risk and planted several seedlings together in one self-watering pot, which visually looked too big for the existing total mass of roots, but for now the hoya looks good and all 5 tops are still active, so there is hope that the roots are also moving and growing
• If you decide to transfer your already well-grown hoya from a non-mineral substrate to a mineral substrate and grow it in a self-watering pot system, then I recommend always providing yourself with new cuttings to be on the safe side, because the roots will have to be carefully cleaned of the old, non-mineral substrate (potting soil or bark mulch), otherwise there is a risk that root rot will develop if both types of substrates are present in the self-watering pot, and the hoya may die. You can mix the types of substrates and grow hoyas in them, if you have regular flower pots, but not classic self-watering pots with wicks, at least I haven't managed to grow my hoyas this way
• Also - when growing hoyas in a mineral substrate in a self-watering system, they need to be fed regularly, while the substrate itself is easy to rinse off the excess accumulated salts later when the hoya gets its beloved shower portion:)

And finally - considering that my experience with growing hoyas in self-watering pots is still relatively small, I reserve the right to add to this topic in another post in time:)

Be sure to also check out my YouTube channel Diana's Hoyas, where I show how I transplant two relatively large hoyas - hoya sp. Germany and hoya Caudata Sumatra - to a self-watering pot system - the video is available here. Both hoyas are looking good at the moment, hoya sp. Germany has even started to grow new tendrils, but the Hoya Caudata Sumatra is still quiet at the moment, I hope it is busy growing new roots and settling into its new pot.

Good luck!

Image gallery