The Hoya Carnosa plant is a great houseplant for novice gardeners because it is hardy. However, that doesn’t mean that you can neglect it and expect the best. In fact, there are certain things you need to do in order to make sure your Hoya Carnosa thrives! Read this article from our blog about how to grow and maintain this great houseplant!
Origin
Hoya carnosa comes from Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen vine or climber with thick, succulent leaves and a dense waxy coating that protects it from the dry environments where it grows. Hoya Carnosa care starts with finding your plants in their natural environment if possible- just as they grow in nature!
Light
Tropical climbing plants such as Hoya Carnosa need plenty of light in order to grow and thrive. A location with a nearby window that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal for these plants.
If you cannot find the perfect spot for your plant, consider using artificial lighting to help supplement natural sunlight levels during the winter months or provide enough light where it does not get any exposure at all.
You can also use fluorescent lights if there are no windows available nearby that have an abundance of sunlight coming through them throughout most of the day. This will ensure sufficient energy intake for your beloved vines!
Watering
Watering requirements depend on the size of your Hoya Carnosa. To avoid letting water pool at the bottom, use a saucer or pot with drainage holes to collect excess water and empty it periodically. Water once every week if you don’t live in a humid environment like Hawaii; two times per month is okay for most people who only have one plant inside their home, but we recommend three times per month for those living in an unconducive climate zone such as Arizona or Southern California where plants need more moisture to thrive.
If you want something easy-peasy that requires a minimal time commitment, try misting twice weekly instead! It’s also important not to overwater these sensitive (and adorable) tropicals so be sure to go easy on the H20.
Soil
Hoya Carnosa care starts with the soil. The best type of potting mix to use when growing Hoya Carnosa plants is a light and airy one that has sufficient drainage, too much moisture will cause root rot or fungal diseases which can kill this plant.
Plant the Hoya carnosa in an appropriate size clay container or glass jar as they do not grow well if their roots are confined for long periods of time. When planting your hoyas you want to avoid covering the top inch of soil from its leaves as it needs access to sunlight for photosynthesis just like any other plant. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade though may have yellowing leaves if there isn’t enough exposure to sunlight on a regular basis.
Humidity
Plants need moisture in order to grow. Humidity is the amount of water vapor that exists in the air, and the higher it gets, the more likely your plant will be able to thrive. Hoya Carnosa plants are natively from tropical climates such as Southeast Asia where they often experience high humidity levels on a regular basis.
If you want to replicate those conditions at home, try placing your hoya near an open window in order for misty morning fog or outside rain during drizzling times in cooler seasons. You can also place a humidifier next to them if you live somewhere with low-humidification weather like California, Nevada or Arizona during summers when outdoor temperatures soar up over 120°F (49 °C) and the humidity is low.
Temperature
The Hoya Carnosa plant is a tropical plant, so it will prefer a temperature range of 70-85 degrees. If you live in an area that doesn’t support this climate, consider using supplemental heating or getting the plants during winter months and maintaining them indoors until they are ready to be planted outdoors again.
Propagation
In order to propagate new plants, you need a piece of the stem with at least three nodes on it. These can be cut from any size Hoya Carnosa plant, and they will germinate in around two weeks. They should then have their leaves trimmed back by half when they are less than an inch long.
This encourages rapid growth and makes them more compact so that there is no risk of leaf burn or rot setting in because these plants like high humidity levels. If you want to know how to grow Hoya Carnosa all year round, we recommend placing your pot into a plastic bag filled with pebbles before leaving it in water for 12 hours per day. This increases the humidity inside the bag while still allowing oxygen inside.
Pruning
In the first month of growing your Hoya Carnosa, you should cut off any leaves that have brown spots or signs of disease. After six months, trim back the plant to one-third its previous size and remove all dead growth.
Once a year in late winter (February) prune out older flower spikes if they are looking messy by cutting them just above where new buds start to grow from their stems. You can also pinch off excess flowers before they open or after they finish blooming for more attractive arrangements.
You may notice that some plants will get black marks on them which is common due to natural oils released from leaf surfaces but it’s not something that needs to be treated unless it becomes widespread over many leaves. Just be on the lookout for any other signs of trouble and you should have a happy, healthy Hoya Carnosa in no time!
Repotting
Hoya Carnosa houseplants should be transplanted every two to three years in order to keep their root system healthy. This plant is a natural air purifier, so it’s best not to put them close enough that they can grow on the dirt and sully the surrounding area. They do okay just out of reach of other plants, but still near light sources.
When repotting your Hoya Carnosa houseplant, make sure you use a potting mix without peat moss because this type of soil will only work for short periods before becoming too soggy and leading to rotting roots due to high water retention rates.
A well-drained potting medium like perlite/vermiculite or bark mixed with a little soil is the best type of medium for these plants. Repotting should be done in early spring when new shoots are emerging, but not too soon after a flowering period because they need to recover their strength before being disturbed again.
Fertilizer
This is a slow-growing, non-flowering plant that does not require supplemental watering. Fertilize as needed with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer in the early spring and summer months only.
The fastest way to kill your Hoya Carnosa would be over-fertilizing it or overwatering it! Too much of either will cause leaf burn which can severely stunt their growth or even lead to death if left unchecked for too long.
Hoya Carnosa Plant Problems
There are few, if any, Hoya Carnosa plant problems. But sometimes you may need to take drastic measures for some of the following:
Fungal Infection
If your plant is wilting and has brown spots on its leaves or stem, this could be a sign of fungal infection. Check with an expert before using chemical treatments such as copper sulfate which will kill both good bugs and bad ones.
You’ll want to remove infected parts completely from the soil but not spray anything that contains pesticides onto it because you can’t distinguish between good bugs and bad ones after application. Spray organic fungicides like neem oil instead.
Too Much Sunlight
Hoya Carnosa plants do best in indirect sunlight so move them to a partially shaded area.
Too Little Sunlight
They do best in indirect sunlight so move them into an area with more sun exposure, but not direct light.
Drooping Leaves
This could be caused by too much or too little water and/or humidity levels. Check the plant’s soil moisture level before watering it again (this is measured by taking your finger and pressing it on the top of the soil for five seconds).
If you need to increase water intake place the pot near a window that receives partial shade in order to keep humidity at appropriate levels. Make sure there’s always some standing water inside of the saucer – this will help prevent wilting from dry air conditions.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellowing leaves are typically caused by low humidity. Mist the plant’s leaves with a spray bottle in order to increase humidity levels.* Brown Leaves and Dead or Dying Spots on Plants- This is usually caused by too much sun exposure, lack of water, or incorrect watering frequency.
Winter Care
Expect the plants to grow a little less vigorously in winter. You can help them stay warmer, if needed, by placing them near an electric heater or somewhere else that is warm and out of drafts such as a window sill.
In their natural habitat they are often found under large tree roots where it’s always moist and protected from cold winds so repotting your Hoya Carnosa into a pot with more drainage holes will also be helpful.
One thing you don’t want to do is give up on watering these houseplants during the winter months because too much water sitting around in the soiled potting mix will lead to root rot. Water about once a month or as needed, the soil should never be soggy and wet.
Conclusion
The Hoya Carnosa is a great addition to any home. These plants are low maintenance, hardy, and can be grown in many different locations around the house. Remember that these plants need moderate light, so you should place them near an east or west-facing window for at least six hours per day.
The plant needs medium water every two weeks during the growing season, but not much more than watering once a week in the winter months. Make sure you get enough air circulation by opening windows when heating or cooling your home for optimal growth of this versatile plant!
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