Hoya Cumingiana

If you like the waxy leaves and let-it-dry watering of this plant, Hoya Australis Lisa has larger, variegated leaves with the same easy routine.

If you want small leaves on a plant that trails down instead of growing up, String of Hearts hangs in long strands of heart-shaped leaves from a bookshelf or hanging pot.

If a tight windowsill is your main limit, Peperomia Tricolor stays small with thick, pink-edged leaves that also hold water between waterings.

Water when the mix is dry all the way down, which is often every 1 to 2 weeks in spring and summer. Soak it, let the extra water drain out, and never leave it sitting in a saucer of water. For more on reading when a plant is thirsty, see our guide to watering indoor plants.

It needs bright indirect light, and a few hours of gentle morning sun helps it flower. An east or west window works well. In a Canadian winter the sun is weaker, so keep it right beside the window instead of across the room.

It flowers in spring and summer when it gets enough light. Each round cluster holds up to 20 small star-shaped flowers, greenish yellow with folded-back petals and a reddish brown centre. The flowers have a light, pleasant scent and last about a week.

The leaves stay small, about 3 to 5 cm long. Stems can reach about 1.5 m over time, and a small trellis or hoop keeps them neat in a pot.

Not confirmed. The ASPCA does not list Hoya Cumingiana, so there is no confirmed toxic compound and no confirmed safe rating for this exact plant. The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material can cause vomiting and stomach upset in cats and dogs. Keep it on a high shelf, a hanging planter, or in a room pets and small children can't reach.

In a normal winter this plant slows down and keeps its leaves. Yellow or falling leaves usually point to soggy soil or cold, so check that the mix dries out between waterings. Move it away from cold window glass and doors that open to the outside, and keep it above 16°C (61°F).

It handles average home humidity and grows best around 50 to 60%. Forced-air heating dries out indoor air in Ontario and Quebec winters. Grouping it with other plants or running a small humidifier in the room helps it keep growing.

Spider mites like dry air, and forced-air heating keeps the air dry all winter in Ontario and Quebec homes, so check the leaves and stems every time you water.

Mealybugs

Looks like: white, cottony clumps on stems and near flowers

Fix: Dab each clump with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, then check again every few days.

Scale

Looks like: small brown bumps stuck to stems and the undersides of leaves

Fix: Scrape them off gently and wipe the area with insecticidal soap.

Aphids

Looks like: clusters of tiny green or black insects on new growth and flower buds

Fix: Rinse them off in the shower, then spray with insecticidal soap.

Spider mites

Looks like: fine webbing and tiny pale specks on the leaves

Fix: Wash the leaves with lukewarm water and raise the humidity around the plant.

Keep a new or infested plant away from your other plants for a few weeks, and wear gloves when you apply rubbing alcohol or insecticidal soap.