How to take care of a Hoya
The Hoya is a beautiful plant that grows vines and flowers, but needs the attention of a succulent. It's very beginner-friendly, pet-friendly, and does well in most place in your house. Let's find out how to take care of your Hoya in this plant care guide!
A Hoya is a beautiful plant that grows vines with thick leaves and sometimes even grows flowers! It's a great plant to get if you want your house to feel like a jungle with long vines, but also want extra color and liveliness. A Hoya is a combination of succulents and vining plants like a Pothos or Philodendron because they look like they're tropical plants but they prefer to dry out, like a succulent.
In this plant care guide, we're going to explore how you can take the best care of your Hoya and help it thrive in your house. These are the topics we're going to look at in this plant care guide:
Let's look at how we can best take care of your Hoya and help it grow flowers to make your living space happier and more colorful!
Watering your Hoya
In the introduction, I've already mentioned that your Hoya is a plant that thrives when you let the soil dry out. Your Hoya has thick, fleshy leaves that store a lot of moisture, so you won't have to water your plant very often. Like many succulents, you can let the Hoya dry out until the leaves start to wrinkle a little. When the leaves start to wrinkle, it means that there is no longer enough moisture in the leaves to make them thick and fleshy. This is your sign to start watering your Hoya.
On average, you should water your Hoya once every 14 days in the spring and summer. Before you water your plant, it's important to check whether the soil is completely dry. You can check whether the soil is dry by touching the top inch of soil. If the soil gets indented and bounces back easily, your soil is still moist and you won't need to water your Hoya yet. When you touch the soil and doesn't indent easily anymore, you can water your plant.
Your Hoya needs to dry out completely before you water it again to stay happy and healthy. Like many succulents, the Hoya is sensitive to overwatering and will develop root rot if you water it before the soil dries out.
Watering your Hoya in the winter
In the winter, when your Hoya goes into dormancy, you won't have to water your plant as often. During the winter months, your Hoya doesn't grow very much and won't absorb the moisture as quickly. If you were to keep watering your Hoya every 14 days, you risk overwatering your plant.
During the winter months, you should water your Hoya every 3 to 4 weeks. If you notice the wrinkling in the leaves and you haven't watered your Hoya for 14 days, you can water it a little earlier. Make sure to keep checking the soil before watering your Hoya to prevent root rot.
Sunlight requirements for your Hoya
We've already discovered that the Hoya is very much like a succulent when it comes to watering. However, when it comes to sunlight exposure, the Hoya is quite different from a succulent. A typical succulent loves the bright sun and can never get enough sunlight. Your Hoya, on the other hands, doesn't like direct sunlight at all.
Hoya plants love bright indirect sunlight, but direct sunlight is too much. If you do want to put your Hoya in a spot where it gets some direct sunlight, make sure it only gets direct sunlight in the mornings. This type of sunlight isn't strong enough to burn the leaves on your Hoya.
If you see the leaves on your Hoya turn yellow and it's in a bright spot, you might want to find a spot where your plant gets a little less sunlight. The perfect place for a Hoya is a spot in the middle of a room, with a south or west-facing window.
You can read more about the type of sunlight each direction gives you in Does the sunlight direction matter for your houseplant?.
Sunlight exposure for your Hoya in the winter
In the winter, the sun isn't as strong and sits lower in the sky during the daytime. During the day, there is less sunlight coming in through the windows and your house is darker than it would be in the summer.
Hoya plants prefer bright light, so you should move it closer to windows to give it a bit of extra sunlight exposure in these darker months. During the growing season, this sunlight is often too harsh, but it's fine during the winter.
What is the ideal temperature range for a Hoya plant?
Hoya plants are tropical succulents that originate from Southeast Asia and Australia. These fascinating plants thrive in warm and humid conditions, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18 to 27 degrees Celsius (65 to 80 F) and nighttime temperatures from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius (60 to 65 F). For ideal growth and blooming, it's recommended to maintain a consistent temperature range between 20 to 24 Celsius (68 to 75 F).
If the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius (50° F) or rises above 32 Celsius (90 F), your Hoya plant may suffer damage. Extremely low temperatures can cause the leaves to discolor, wilt, and eventually fall off. High temperatures, on the other hand, can cause the plant to dry out quickly, leading to leaf drop and stunted growth.
How to protect Hoyas from extreme temperatures?
To protect your Hoya plant from extreme temperatures, it's important to find the ideal spot in your home. Place your Hoya plant in a bright, well-lit room but avoid direct sunlight, as it can burn the leaves. If you live in an area with harsh winters or hot summers, consider moving your plant away from drafty windows or heat sources like radiators or air conditioning units.
Another way to protect your Hoya plant from extreme temperatures is by using a thermometer to measure the temperature in the room regularly. If you notice the temperature dropping or rising outside of the ideal range, consider using a space heater or air conditioning unit to maintain a consistent temperature.
Humidity requirements for your Hoya
Hoyas thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity, which makes them the perfect houseplants. But what exactly is humidity and how can you increase it around your plant?
Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air. Ideally, the humidity level for a Hoya should be between 40% and 60%. If the air in your home is too dry, it can lead to issues such as leaf drop or leaf curling. On the other hand, if the humidity is too high, it can create a breeding ground for pests or lead to issues with fungal growth.
If you live in a dry climate or your home has central heating or air conditioning, the humidity levels may be too low for your Hoya to thrive. However, there are several ways to increase humidity levels around your plant and promote healthy growth.
One method is to mist your Hoya with a spray bottle filled with water, but you can also increase the humidity by grouping it with other plants, using a pebble tray, or placing it in a bathroom or kitchen where there is already high humidity.
The perfect soil for your Hoya
We've already looked at watering your Hoya and in that section, we found out that Hoyas need to dry out before you water it again. The Hoya prefers a dry environment, so let's give it that by planting it in soil that drains excess water away quickly. This type of soil helps to keep your Hoya healthy, prevents overwatering, and ultimately prevents root rot.
The right soil for a Hoya would be a pre-mixed bag of cactus/succulent soil. If you prefer to mix your own soil, you can do so as well, with the following ingredients:
- Potting soil (50%)
- Perlite/Pumice (40%)
- Sand (10%)
These proportions help to hold onto moisture for a few days (the potting soil), but drain excess water (perlite/pumice and sand) away quickly. The Perlite and pumice help to keep the structure of the soil intact and prevent the soil from compacting over time.
The soil must stay nice and light because this allows oxygen to flow to your Hoya's roots freely. If oxygen can't reach the roots of the plant, root rot is very likely to happen. This type of soil mix is great to prevent this from happening.
The best type of pot for your Hoya
Now that we know that the Hoya prefers to grow in dry soil, it's a little easier to see what the best type of pot would be for your plant. Plants that like to dry out quickly prefer a pot that can breathe and have a drainage hole. The best types of pots for plants like a succulent, and also a Hoya, is a terracotta pot or a ceramic pot. These types of pots absorb the moisture from the soil and are very porous. These porous pots allow the oxygen to freely flow to the Hoya's roots.
The drainage hole is perfect for your drought-loving plants because this removes any excess water from the pot quickly, so you're not risking your plant developing root rot.
Another thing about the Hoya that makes choosing a pot a little easier is that it loves to be root-bound. What this means is that it loves to be cramped in a pot that's small so it can take over the whole pot with its roots. Once your Hoya has taken over most of the pot and there isn't a lot of soil left, you can think about repotting it into a slightly bigger pot. The best size pot is one that's 2-5 cm (1-2 inches) larger than the plant itself.
Repotting your Hoya
Hoyas are beautiful and popular houseplants that require a bit of care to flourish. One important activity to help maintain the health and growth of your Hoya is repotting. So, let's dive into the details of how often you should repot your Hoya, what the signs are, and the proper technique for repotting.
First, it's important to mention that Hoyas prefer to be root-bound and do not require frequent repotting. Typically, you'll only need to repot your Hoya every two to three years. However, you can repot more frequently if you notice issues like root rot or overcrowding.
Now, what are the signs that show it's time to repot your Hoya? You may notice the following hints:
- The roots are visible, growing out of the drainage holes.
- The soil is breaking down, developing a stale odor, or holding excessive moisture.
- Your Hoya is showing signs of stunted growth, wilting, or yellowing leaves despite regular watering.
If you observe any of these clues, then it is likely time to repot your Hoya.
What's the proper technique for repotting?
First, prepare a pot that is one size up from your current one, with drainage holes at the bottom to avoid waterlogging. Then, gently remove your Hoya from the pot, being careful not to damage the roots. If the roots are severely entangled, use a pair of clean sharp scissors to trim them down to a small, compact root ball.
Place the root ball in the center of the new pot, filling the pot with fresh potting mix around the roots. Press down gently to make sure there is good soil-to-root contact. Lastly, water your Hoya thoroughly and let it drain before returning it to its regular spot.
Propagating your Hoya
Propagating a Hoya plant is an easy and rewarding task, and with a little care and attention, you can create new plants from cuttings in just a few weeks. The most common methods for propagating hoyas are stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, and layering. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the one that's right for you and your plant.
Stem cuttings
This is probably the most common method of Hoya propagation. To propagate a Hoya plant using stem cuttings, begin by selecting a healthy stem that has at least two nodes (the points where the leaves attach to the stem). Use a sharp, clean pair of scissors or pruning shears to make a clean cut just below the lowest node on the stem.
Remove any leaves that are below the lowest node, leaving at least two or three leaves at the top of the cutting. Dip the cut end of the stem into rooting hormone and then plant it in a well-draining potting mix. Keep the cutting moist and in a bright, warm location, and within a few weeks, you should see roots forming and new growth appearing.
Leaf cuttings
The second option for propagating Hoya plants is leaf cuttings. However, this method can be a bit trickier than stem cuttings, as it requires a lot more patience and care. To propagate a Hoya plant using leaf cuttings, begin by selecting a mature, healthy leaf from the plant.
Use a sharp, clean pair of scissors or pruning shears to gently remove the leaf from the stem. Dip athesmall stem that's still connected to the leaf into rooting hormone and then plant them in a well-draining potting mix. Keep the cuttings moist and in a bright, warm location, and within a few months, you should see roots forming and new growth appearing.
Layering
The third and final method for propagating Hoya plants, layering, is often used for older or larger plants. To propagate a Hoya plant using layering, begin by selecting a healthy stem that is long enough to be bent down to the soil. Make a small incision in the stem where it touches the soil and then pin it down with a piece of wire or a U-shaped stake.
Cover the incision with rooting hormone and then cover the stem and soil with plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse. Keep the soil moist and the plant in a bright, warm location, and within a few months, you should see roots forming and new growth appearing.
Fertilizing your Hoya
A Hoya is a flowering plant if you take great care of it. Most flowering plants have 2 things in common: they require a lot of bright sunlight and use a lot of energy to grow these flowers. So it's no surprise that you'll need to regularly fertilize your Hoya for it to grow flowers.
If you want to grow flowers on your Hoya, you should fertilize your plant once per month in the spring and the summer. During this growing period, your plant will grow a lot and when you give it the extra fertilizer, it has extra energy to grow flowers.
If you don't want your Hoya to grow flowers, you won't have to fertilize your plant as often, but it does still need to be fertilized occasionally to stay healthy. You should still fertilize your plant once at the beginning of spring and once at the beginning of summer. The fertilizer makes sure that your plant grows properly, but won't give it enough nutrients to grow flowers during its growing season.
You can feed your Hoya with liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks. You can read more about which fertilizer is best in What is the best type of fertilizer for houseplants?.
Fertilizing your Hoya in the winter
In the winter, when the Hoya is dormant and doesn't grow, you shouldn't fertilize it. Your Hoya won't absorb the extra fertilizer and this will stay behind in the pot. This will make the soil salty, making it a tough place for your plant to grow.
Pruning and shaping your Hoya
Very often, Hoya plants can grow out of control, and their leaves and stems can become long and leggy. Such untamed growth could make your Hoya look less attractive and even delay its blooming cycle. It is important to prune and shape your Hoya plant regularly to promote healthy growth and make it look better.
When pruning your Hoya, it is important to use sharp, clean tools to avoid damaging the plant. Start by examining the plant and identifying any dead, diseased, or damaged parts before removing them. Using your pruning shears, cut away any damaged stems or unhealthy leaves, making clean cuts just above the node. While pruning, remember to work gradually, making small cuts rather than removing large chunks at once.
Apart from removing unhealthy parts, you may also prune to control the size of your Hoya. To do this, you should cut back the stems to the desired size, cut just above a node, to encourage new growth. You may also want to pinch back the tips of the stems to encourage your Hoya to bush out.
When shaping your Hoya, you can use a trellis, stake, or moss pole to guide the plant's growth. You can tie your Hoya to the trellis, stake, or moss pole using soft ties to avoid damaging the stems.
Toxicity for your pets
If you have small children and pets in your house and you're thinking about getting a Hoya, you're in luck! All different types of Hoyas are non-toxic to pets and children, which makes it a great plant to buy if you have curious children and pets. Rest assured that you won't accidentally harm your children or pets when they've chewed on your plant's leaves.
Treating common pests and diseases
As a plant enthusiast, it's important to be familiar with the common pests and diseases that can affect your plants. Here are some of the most common issues that can affect your Hoya, along with prevention and treatment steps.
Spider mites
These tiny pests are a common problem for Hoyas and can cause damage to the leaves and stems. Regularly check your Hoya's foliage for any signs of spider mites and isolate the plant if you spot them.
These tiny, eight-legged pests are difficult to see with the naked eye, so you'll need to look closely. Symptoms of a spider mite infestation include tiny webbing on the plant, as well as yellow or stippled leaves.
You can prevent spider mites from appearing with regular misting, keeping humidity levels high, and creating airflow around the plant. If you notice spider mites on your Hoya, treat your plant with an insecticidal soap.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are another common pest that can infest your Hoya and can be challenging to get rid of. Regular plant inspections can help to catch mealybugs early. If you find any, it's important to isolate the affected plant immediately to avoid spreading the infestation.
Mealybugs, are white, fluffy-looking insects that also feed on plant sap. They can be found on both the leaves and stems of Hoya plants. To identify mealy bugs on your Hoya, look for white, cottony masses on the plant. You may also see small, oval-shaped insects on the plant, particularly in the gaps between leaves and stems.
You can prevent mealybugs from attacking your Hoya by making sure you follow proper watering habits and maintain humidity levels. If mealybugs are detected, spray the plants with an insecticidal soap or alcohol.
Root rot
Poor drainage in the Hoya's pot can lead to root rot, which is a fungal disease that can result in permanent damage or death of the plant if not treated early. It's important to prevent root rot by making sure your pot has enough drainage and avoid overwatering. If you suspect your Hoya may have root rot, remove the affected parts of the plant and repot it with fresh soil.
Leaf spot
Leaf spot is a fungal disease that can affect Hoya foliage and cause dark, yellow, or brown spots on the leaves. Leaf spots can be prevented by avoiding overwatering and making sure there is enough air circulation around your plant. If your Hoya plant has leaf spots, remove any infected leaves, and treat the plant with a fungicide.
Conclusion
In this plant care guide, we've looked at how to take care of your Hoya. We've looked at how you can water a Hoya, the best sunlight exposure, the right soil for the Hoya, the best type and size pot, how to properly feed your Hoya, and whether it is safe for your pets and kids.
The Hoya is a perfect plant for you if you forget about your plants every once in a while, and love the color that flowers can bring to your living space.
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
Test your plant care knowledge
Quiz completed!
Want to learn more? Sign up for my newsletter to receive free tips in your inbox!
Sign up now!
