The Hoya Underground

This week, we sit down with Stuart Henderson of MV Orchids to talk about Hoya breeding, growing from seed, and the wonderfully unpredictable process of creating something new. We get into pollination, seed collection, germination, choosing parent plants, seedling variation, and what makes a plant worth watching, propagating, or eventually naming. Stuart also shares insight into provenance, identif...

Burnout can sneak into even the things we genuinely love. In Episode 9, we have a conversation about what burnout looks like in the Hoya world, especially when collecting, selling, social media, community involvement, and the pressure to keep up all start piling on top of each other. This isn’t an episode about fixing burnout or giving you a five-step plan to get your spark back. It’s more about r...

In this episode of The Hoya Underground , we talk about the Hoya market and many of the things that influence what a plant is worth. What actually makes a Hoya rare? Why do some plants stay expensive while others drop in price incredibly fast? How much of it is supply and demand, and how much of it is hype? We talk about propagation, imports, social media, collector trends, pricing as a seller, an...

In this episode of The Hoya Underground , Emily and Michael follow an unexpected thread into the world of plant packaging. What begins as a conversation about eco-friendly materials expands into a thoughtful exploration of the choices behind every box: poly-fil, desiccant packs, recycled materials, and the quiet tension between practicality, sustainability, and protecting living plants in transit....

Have you ever purchased a Hoya only to discover that the name on the tag might not match the plant in your hands? In this episode of The Hoya Underground , we explore the surprisingly common issue of mislabeled Hoyas and how plant identities can become muddled as names travel through collectors, vendors, imports, and social media. We discuss why this happens, why it matters, and how it impacts bot...

In this episode of The Hoya Underground, we pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood parts of the hoya plant world. Behind every guarantee is a seller calculating weather patterns, monitoring carrier delays, insulating boxes at midnight, and making impossible calls about timing, risk, and responsibility. We explore the tension between customer expectations and the reality of shipping...

The Hoya Underground — Anatomy of a Scam In this episode, we pull back the curtain on plant scams and break down exactly how they happen. From too-good-to-be-true listings to subtle manipulation tactics, we walk through the real anatomy of a scam so you can spot red flags before it’s too late. We also talk about what ethical selling actually looks like, how to protect yourself as a buyer or seller...

The truth about sunstress. What it is, what it isn’t, and how to push color without pushing your plants too far.

Imports: What Really Happens Behind the Scenes That “perfect” imported plant? It’s been through more than you think. From inspections to transit stress, we’re breaking down what really happens before it ever reaches your hands—and why it matters.

Episode 1: Welcome to the Underground With Emily (IG @therootedvine_) and Michael (IG @grahamasplanties) In our first episode of The Hoya Underground , we’re sitting down and chatting about how we each got into hoya plants and what the journey has actually looked like for us. We share why we wanted to start this podcast and what kind of space we hope it becomes. Nothing polished. Nothing performat...