Hoya Plant Care: How To Grow This Tropical Plant?

The Hoya plant is one of the easiest to grow and visually appealing indoor plants. Hoya plant care is extremely easy, making this plant beginner-friendly and a must-have plant for any indoor garden. Also known as the Wax plant, Hoya is native to Asia and produces fragrant flowers.

The waxy leaves, woody stems, and beautiful flower cluster of this trailing plant make a beautiful display in your home. A hoya plant can either trail or be trained as a vine. In any case, the plant should reach a full height of 2 to 4 feet. Additionally, many hoyas are incredibly long-lived and can be enduring additions to your indoor plant collection if they receive the right care.

Hoya is a fast-growing plant native to tropical regions; therefore, they are ideal for windowsills in bathrooms or kitchens.

About The Hoya Plant

Native to Asia, hoya plants were brought to the West by Scottish botanist Robert Brown. The plant bears the name of Thomas Hoy, a botanist who conducted substantial plant research in the 18th century.

Hoya plants are distinguished by their fragrant, light pink, and crimson star-shaped blooms as well as their deep green, vining leaves. The longevity of hoya plants is among their most remarkable features.

A hoya plant is a great addition to any house or garden and can flourish for decades if properly cared for. Invest in a hoya plant if you want a plant that will enhance the attractiveness and durability of your area.

Basic Hoya Plant Care

The following are the primary needs for hoya plant care:

• In spring or early summer, plant outdoors in an area that receives plenty of indirect light.
• For a vertical accent in your tropical container garden, place your hoya plant in a hanging basket or let it cling to a short trellis.
• Place the hoya plant adjacent to a pond, fountain, or other water feature to provide it with humid conditions.
• Well-draining soil that is moderately damp is ideal for Hoya. Let it dry out in between waterings.
• Once a month, apply slow-release, balanced fertilizer.

Water

Between waterings, Hoyas prefer their soil to be left dry. Hoyas are semi-succulent and store water in their leaves; therefore, they prefer occasional watering. When the soil is nearly dry, pay attention to its color and texture, and then water it. The potting mix shouldn’t be allowed to dry for very long.

Essentially, hoyas are tropical plants that prefer underwatering to overwatering. But because they are tropical, they enjoy the occasional sprinkle of dampness.

Water in batches if the soil is very dry (visible fissures and soil escaping the planter walls). When you water everything at once, the water just flows through the soil without being absorbed.

Light

Indirect light that is reasonably bright is ideal for hoya plants. Although too much sun will burn or discolor their leaves, certain plants need around two hours of morning or evening sunshine to flourish.

Soil

Use a light, well-draining soil mix for your hoya plant. Hoyas are epiphytes, meaning they attach themselves to an external support. Therefore, these indoor flowering plants take most nutrients from the air and prefer a light soil mix that isn’t too dense.

Also, make sure that the soil is slightly acidic with a preferred pH from 6.1 to 7.5.

Temperature and Humidity

Hoya plants are highly adaptable to various temperatures. However, their preferred temperature range is between 68℉-75℉. A typical room temperature is suitable for these tropical plants, but a too-cold environment forces the plant to become dormant and not produce any flowers.

Humidity levels of 40% or higher are recommended for better hoya plant care. Misting, using a humidifier, or a pebble tray would help you maintain the required humidity for your plants.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced fertilizer suitable for houseplants and diluted to half its strength to feed your hoya plant every month when it is in its active growing stage or flowering. Stop feeding the plant when the plant goes dormant in colder months.

Pruning and Maintenance

Depending on the variety, hoyas can be slow to fast growers and might require planting according to their growth. When your plant withers away, don’t remove the flower stalks, as it may reproduce new flowers. Removing flower stalks delays the blooming process.

Potting and Repotting 

Hoya plants like to be rootbound, and placing them in a snug pot results in more prolific blooms. Therefore, avoid large containers and wet or heavy soil. Container-grown hoyas should be repotted every 3 years to replenish the soil.

Use a slightly larger pot when repotting and use a fresh potting mix.

How To Propagate The Hoya Plant?

Hoya plants can be propagated through stem cuttings. For this, you’ll need sharp and clean garden tools such as a hand shovel and pruners, rooting hormone, potting soil, clean container. Here’s how to propagate your hoya plant –

• Choose a healthy softwood with at least two leaves at the top. The cutting should also have a minimum of 2 nodes.
• Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone to speed up the growth process.
• Place the end of the cutting in a glass container filled with filtered water.
• The roots should appear in about 4 weeks. Transplant the cutting in a moist potting mix.
• Place the new plant in a bright place with at least 6 hours of sunlight.

Common Problems With The Hoya Plant

Easy care doesn’t mean that your plant will be free from various common plant problems. You’ll still need to look out for issues such as –

• Pests and Diseases – Various sap-sucking pests such as mealybugs, spidermites, and aphids can affect the health of your hoya plant. Use neem oil to control these pests. Moreover, this plant is also vulnerable to several fungal diseases, such as botrytis blight. Look out for signs of diseases on your plant and use suitable fungicides for better hoya plant care.
• Wilting – Wilting is a common problem in hoya plants that is mainly caused by overwatering, but can also be caused by excess fertilizer usage. Look for signs such as waterlogged soil and salt accumulation on the soil and plant. Monitor the water and fertilizer usage on your plant.
• Leaf Drop, Blackening, and Stem Dieback – These are signs of root rot that is caused due to overwatering. Overwatering can also cause plant leaves to turn yellow and droop. Create a strict watering schedule that balances your lifestyle and the needs of your plant.
• Leggy Growth – This is caused by a lack of sunlight. To fulfill the need for light, the plant stretches out to find more light. Place your plant in a brighter location and rotate it regularly to ensure balanced light absorption.

Conclusion 

The hoya plant is a beautiful specimen for any indoor garden. From the beautiful and fragrant flowers to the trailing/vining habit of this plant, everything can create an attractive display in your home. Moreover, easy hoya plant care makes this plant suitable for beginners. So make sure to add this plant to your list and download the Plantora App to explore more such plants and how to grow them.

FAQs

How to get Hoya to bloom?

Hoya plant blooms in warm weather, but it needs the right amount of sunlight, water, humidity, and nutrients. Make sure to take better hoya plant care and aid the plant with a fertilizer rich in phosphorus to increase blooms.

Where is the best place to grow a Hoya?

Choose a bright spot for this plant, but make sure to protect it from the scorching heat of the sun, as it can burn the leaves. Moreover, keep your plant away from heaters and cold drafts.

Is Hoya a climbing or hanging plant?

Hoya can be considered as both a hanging and a climbing plant, as you can train it to climb various structures or place it in a hanging basket to let it drape. This plant is happy with both, so you can use it as you like.

What is the lifespan of a Hoya plant?

Hoyas are there to stay with you for up to 30 years and more. With the right care, these plants can thrive in your home for more than you expected.