I found a nice pot of splashy Hoya pubicalyx the other day. My pubicalyx is kinda plain and the price for this one was right, so I decided to get it.
I did a cursory check in the store, and everything looked well enough. I had a good look when I got home, and that’s when I noticed mesh sticking out of the soil. Three cuttings in the pot and two of them had mesh. I understand why growers use it, it makes things easier. It’s a problem for us when we don’t know it’s there, or if you’ve never dealt with it and assume that it will disappear naturally. It won’t, or by the time it does, you and the plant will both be long gone.
My experience with my Hoya australis ‘Lisa’ taught me that while the mesh may be fine for cuttings, it’s lousy for growing plants. They can’t develop the root systems they need. Because it’s showing up more frequently with small to medium plants, I’ve started to have a look beneath the surface, if not repot, right away. I know we’re supposed to allow plants to acclimate, but I think getting rid of the mesh is more important. A new plant will be better able to adjust when its roots are free and in a decent set-up. It’s already been traumatized by shipping, the store, strange lighting, and the ride home, what’s one more thing?
Sorta like ripping off a band-aid, get it all over with at once.
I’ll keep you posted.
