Your Complete Guide to Nurturing and Growing Healthy Hoya Plants
Family: Apocynaceae
Common name: Wax flower, Hoya, Sweetheart vine
Hoyas are loved by many around the world. They come in different shapes and sizes. Their leaves and flowers can be beautiful and smell great.
Light:
Hoyas love very bright, indirect light. Put them near a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Some Hoyas might turn red or maroon if they get too much direct morning sun. Not enough light can make them grow too long, have small leaves, or slow down.
Water:
Most Hoyas like their soil to dry out almost completely before watering again. Check if it's time to water by doing the "taco test". Fold a leaf gently; if it folds like a taco, it's thirsty. Wrinkles on the leaves also mean it's time to water.
Temperature:
Hoyas come from warm places, so they love warmth. They do best in temperatures between 65°F and 90°F. If it gets colder than 60°F outside, bring them inside to keep them safe.
Humidity:
Hoyas love high humidity (60% or more). But they can also grow well in average household humidity. If it's too dry, they might grow slower.
Fertilizer:
For bright green leaves, use a diluted fertilizer (about 1/4 strength) with lots of nitrogen every other time you water during spring and summer. Don't fertilize them in winter, as it's not needed and might harm them.
Tips:
- Hoyas look great in baskets and love to cascade over the edges.
- It's easy to propagate most Hoyas. Just take a cutting with at least 1 node and put it in the soil to make your pot fuller.
- Don't remove the peduncle after the flower blooms. The plant will bloom again from it!
