Hoya Plant

It is an easy to grow, long-lived plant that is striking in appearance. The leaves may be flecked with silver or cream and the waxy flowers have an exotic, tropical appearance.

Growth Habits

The vining hoya plant is best displayed in a hanging basket where it will trail gracefully for its container, or in a pot with a circular trellis or hoop that it can be trained to wrap around.

Its white or pink star-shaped flowers form rounded clusters and appear in spring and early summer. Once the flowers die, do not remove them or the bare spurs left behind, as this is where new flowers will grow.

It is a fairly slow grower, but since it is a long-lived plant, the stems can reach several feet in length.

When the buds appear on the plant, do not disturb or move the plant to prevent the buds from dropping. Repot only when absolutely necessary, as it prefers being root bound in its pot.

Growing Conditions

Hoya carnosa prefers temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees spring through fall, and 50 to 55 in winter, with moderate humidity.

Place it in a window where it will receive strong, indirect light, or a southwest-facing window for some direct sun. Without adequate light and some direct sun, the plant will not flower.

A potting soil with peat moss and some sand added provides a good growing medium. Water the plant sparingly in winter and liberally in summer.

The plant should be thoroughly soaked and then left to dry to one-third the soil depth. Add moisture to the air by misting daily, except when the plant is blooming.

Feed a hoya plant with a diluted liquid fertilizer monthly from spring through fall.

If the plant grows too long to manage, it can be cut back, but try not to remove all of the spurs from previous flowers or the plant will not flower.

Since the plant remains in the same pot for many years, you should top-dress it by adding and gently working in a layer of fresh soil.

The hoya plant is prone to aphids and mealy bugs, as are many tropical houseplants. Cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol can be used to wipe down the leaves or use an insecticidal spray.

Propagation

In spring, take cuttings up to four inches just below at least one pair of leaves. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant a few in a pot with a mix of peat moss and coarse sand or perlite. Moisten the mix and cover the pot with plastic wrap or bag to retain humidity.

Keep in average lighting until the cuttings root in about six weeks. Remove the cover and water sparingly.

In about three months, repot the cuttings in mix described above and follow same care instructions for this new plant.

Hoya plant is a unique houseplant that can drape, trail or climb to accommodate our home spaces.

With its beautiful leaves and flowers, and its longevity, it can become quite a conversation piece.