A fast-growing, trailing plant, the Hoya has smooth, shiny foliage and pink or white flowers with red centres. The waxy, sweetly scented flowers give Hoya its alternate common name, Wax Plant. Place them in hanging baskets or train them to grow upward along a trellis. Wrap long vines around a form to make a wreath. Small-leaf types can be trained into topiaries. The easiest to grow is Hoya carnosa.
How to Care for Hoyas
- Water: Water thoroughly from spring to autumn, allowing potting mix to dry out a bit between waterings. Flowering Hoya plants are thirsty, but don’t like to sit in soggy soil. Be sure to use a pot with drainage holes and empty the drainage tray. Use room-temperature water for your tropical plants. Cold water can shock them. In winter, water sparingly giving the plant just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely.
- Light: Bright indirect light year-round. Some direct sun is fine, but shade plants from harsh summer sun, which can scorch foliage. Hoyas will live in low light, but will not bloom. Artificial grow lights work beautifully. Put your Wax plant about 8 inches (20 cm) beneath the light and keep the lights on for about 14 hours a day. It’s also important to give them darkness at night. Plants need a rest, too. Once your plant has formed flower buds, don’t move it around. Changes in light levels can cause flower buds to shrivel up or fall off before they open.
Size: Grows 6 – 12 inches high and 48 inches wide, trailing
Growing conditions: Medium (foliage only) to bright light; 55 – 75° moderately dry soil.
Total views : 560032