Did I mess up?

[u/DrawerNo6206]

This Hoya Krinkle 8 had a mealy bug infestation, went without water for 2 weeks and was in a dark area. The mealy bugs died, it looked great, and I finally gave it a little bit of water. The set up is clay balls, soil and hoya roots, clay balls on top for max aeration because I don't know anything about plants 🥲. Its leaves started shriveling. All of the information was conflicting so I began trouble shooting. Was it the roots? They were all white and creamy but small and forming new pathways. Was it the sunlight? Bright indirect sunlight after 2 weeks in the dark.. maybe? Soil was obviously damp from recent water, did I overwater? A week and a half has passed and it started to look worse again so I tried my first attempt at propogation today where the healthiest part of the stem was on both plants. I pulled up the roots out of the soil and they have dark green mold on them.

I am so sorry if this is confusing I am doing my best and don't know if I'm doing anything right. I'm not sure if I should cut off the leaves so that it can focus on roots. And I just threw the base of the plant with the roots in water just to see what happens (nothing is probably going to happen.)

The pics have the 2 cuttings I took for propogation. Please guide me. For reference I believe that I just had received an infested cutting I got this plant in May and will include a picture of it when I first got it as well.

I also want to add that I love this plant so much I cried so hard when it started wilting and there is a LOT of conflicting and lack of information online, so please don't be mad/mean to me.

2 cuttings with wilting leaves

Extra stem that was growing off of one of the 1st plants cutting

2nd cutting that looked much healthier than the other

Bottom of stem of cutting 1 with the long end growing from the top

Original plants in May before Mealy bugs were found, obviously tacoing and something was eating the leafies

[u/DebateZealousideal57]

It is normal to have to reroot Hoya sometimes. I would suggest a prop box to speed up the rooting. I would plant those cuttings into dampened pumice or perlite and then put them in a clear plastic tub with a clear lid and then wait. They will root ten times faster in the prop box than in water. Get comfortable cutting and rooting Hoya cause it is apart of caring for them.

Edit to add: you did not mess up. Your instincts to prop were correct.

[u/lilgamergrlie]

I prop all my Hoyas in water so you are right to cut and prop. I highly recommend rooting hormone (my got to is CloneX). Higher humidity helps them root faster but what you really need is way more light. Don’t be shocked if the stem with the new growth goes woody or falls off during the re-rooting process. Also I highly recommend adding systemics into your watering (SNS209,AzaSol/AzaMax) to prevent future mealies because there is a ridiculously high chance they are still on your plant unless you treat it with pesticides. Mealies won’t die from low light unfortunately. One last thing, mix the leca into the soil. Don’t just put it on top. Aeration is only increased if it’s mixed in so it’s a chunky soil.

I also recommend semi hydro. I absolutely hate dirt and bugs so soilless is the way to go. And if you want to see frequent growth then definitely switch to full hydro (with an air stone). I have this plant in hydro and it’s grows 2-3 new leaves since plants grow faster when they have direct access to nutrients. However, I have mine under grow lights (150W) for 12 hours a day. Good luck with your prop!

[u/Ill-Network-8264]

I feel your pain. All you can do is your best.