Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176)

Origin of Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176)

Hoya PMP 176 ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ is circulated as the hybrid Hoya ‘Joy’ × Hoya ‘Jennifer’.

The exact originator of the cross is still uncertain.

Care for Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176)

Give bright indirect light, protected from hot direct sun. Support the vines on a trellis or wire loop, or let them hang freely.

Aim for 16–24 °C, away from cold draughts, and avoid prolonged temperatures below 10 °C. Bring an outdoor pot inside before nights drop below 16 °C.

A level near 50–60% humidity is appropriate. Use a humidifier in dry rooms and allow gentle airflow.

Use an airy mix that drains quickly. Water when the pot feels lighter but the deeper mix is still lightly moist. Wet the whole root ball and drain thoroughly. During reduced growth, wait until the mix is fairly dry, without letting it become completely dry.

Use a light balanced orchid feed, preferably urea-free, about every two weeks during active growth.

When roots fill the pot, move to a container only a few centimetres wider.

Take a two-node cutting from a semi-ripe shoot with a firm base and a still-soft tip, using a clean cutting tool. Remove the lower leaves and root the lower node in water under indirect light. Keep developing roots submerged and the remaining leaves above water. Plant the rooted cutting in a small container with drainage holes.

Common problems with Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176)

• Water-soaked blisters that become corky: Raised veins are normal on these leaves. Check for newly swollen, water-soaked areas. These can be oedema, where water uptake exceeds water loss from the leaves. Check whether the mix is staying wet and drain trapped water. Let the mix dry a little before watering again. Allow air to move gently around the plant and replace compacted, poorly draining mix if needed. Existing corky marks will remain, so keep leaves that are otherwise healthy.
• Leaf drop or blackening with persistently wet mix: Persistent wetness can damage roots. Drain trapped water and inspect roots if decline continues. If you find a small amount of root rot, use a clean, disinfected tool to cut the soft roots back to firm, healthy tissue. Throw away the rotten roots and old mix. Repot in fresh, airy mix, using a clean pot just large enough for the roots that remain. The pot must have drainage holes. If decay is widespread, save only healthy stem cuttings. Discard the plant if no healthy stems remain, and disinfect your tools afterwards.
• Sudden blackening or leaf drop after cold exposure: Chilling can damage leaves and stems, especially beside cold glass or in a draught. Move the plant to a stable, warmer position. Check the mix before watering; a chilled plant may use water more slowly. Remove only tissue that is clearly dead or decaying.
• Fixed shell-like bumps on leaves or stems: Check that the bumps are scale insects, then isolate the plant and gently remove accessible adults. Inspect the plant weekly, including new growth, and remove any accessible adult scale insects you find. If you still find young, mobile scale insects (crawlers), choose an insecticidal soap labelled for scale on indoor ornamental plants. Test a small area first where the label allows. Follow the label for how much to use, which areas to treat, when to repeat treatment and all safety precautions.

Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176) is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Where does the name Hoya come from?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy.

Robert Brown established the genus Hoya in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 459.