HOYA
Hoyas or wax plants as they are commonly known, are native to South-East Asia and Australia. There are many species yet to be discovered and they are collected only for their wide range of foliage but also for their ball shaped flowers some of which have got delicate scents different and specific to each species.
Light
Most hoya will thrive in bright indirect light while some can tolerate medium-bright to medium light.
Water
All Hoya need to try out completely between waterings. It is better for them to leave the watering a day or two late than water too early and potentially cause root rot.
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Their leaves can get soft and a bit wrinkly when they are thirsty which is an indication that watering is required.
Soil
The soil should be loose and not densely packed to allow for free water drainage and oxygen supply to the roots. We recommend a cacti and succulent mix with added orchid bark and coarse pumice for your Hoya.
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Hoya like to be root bound so keep them in smaller pots rather than larger pots. They are also more likely to flower if kept root bound.
Temperature
Hoya best thrive in temperatures above 20°C but some species including carnosa, bella, polyneura, krimson queen, krimson princess, obovata and others, can tolerate low temperatures for short periods of time during to the colder months of the year.
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There are a number of collector Hoyas that cannot tolerate temperatures below 20°C.
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In winter keep them away from log burners or away from the path of the airflow from your heat pump.
Humidity
Any average household humidity level is fine for most Hoya including carnosa, bella, polyneura, krimson queen, krimson princess, obovata and others.
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There are a number of collector Hoyas that cannot tolerate average household humidity and require a humidity level of above 60% all year around.
Fertiliser
Along with the rest of your houseplants, your Hoya should be regularly fed with a well-balanced fertiliser.
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During spring and summer this should be on a fortnightly basis while in winter when the plants are going into dormancy or are dormant once a month at half strength.
Propagation
Hoya can be propagated from leaf stem cutting but a node must be present to grow a leaf stem cutting successfully into a plant.
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They are quite easy to propagate with most propagation techniques including water, straight into soil or in fern fibre.
