Very likely a Hoya plant was the vine you saw snaking across your grandmother's kitchen. This tropical indoor plant, also known as a "Porcelain flower," is a classic because it lives forever, grows to be large, and produces stunning, fragrant flower clusters that resemble porcelain and are frequently referred to as "Wax plants" because of their thick waxy leaves. The subject of this essay is hoyas, specifically how to cultivate them as indoor plants and induce blooming.
Although many claim that caring for Hoya plants is among the easiest of all indoor plant maintenance, we have cared for numerous Hoyas at the nursery over the years and have discovered that each has unique preferences. Here are the needs for five of our favorite hoya cultivars. You may learn the ins and outs of hoya plant care by following along as we go from most common to least common. We'll also give you a trick to encourage blossoms!
Our 5 favorite "standard" Hoyas
These Hoyas are forgiving, relatively fast-growing, and some are reliable bloomers given proper care. Luckily, the following plants are some of the easiest Hoyas to find!
1. Hoya carnosa (top left)
Why it’s special
This is the classic wax plant our grandparents grew. Dark green, large, almond-shaped leaves grow on long vines, which will eventually put out creamy flower clusters.
What it likes
Medium to bright indirect light. Less is more when it comes to watering; we like to wait until the leaves pucker slightly.
What it dislikes
Direct sun, artificial light, dark corners.
2. "Krimson Queen" Hoya carnosa (top center)
Why it's unique
Everything you love about the traditional carnosa, but with white and pink-lined leaves. This Hoya, sometimes known as "Tricolor," occasionally has leaves that are entirely white and stems that are brilliant pink. A knockout!
What it enjoys
It thrives best in extremely bright yet indirect light. appreciates the heat and humidity as well. Observe the aforementioned watering instructions for typical carnosa.
What it detests
low-medium light, drafty windows, and a chill. especially vulnerable to overwatering. Portlanders, make sure you have a place that is bright enough to satisfy this one!
3. "Krimson Princess" Hoya carnosa (bottom right)
Why it's unique
This Hoya carnosa cultivar boasts vibrant green, cream, yellow, and pink variegation on its leaf. The central variegation resembles brushstrokes in watercolor painting.
What it enjoys
Like to its variegated relative "Krimson Queen," this Hoya requires a sunny area away from the sun. Like a carnosa, water.
Why it doesn't like
low-medium light, drafty windows, and a chill. especially vulnerable to overwatering.
4. obovata hoya (top right)
Why it's unique
Wonderful spherical, dark green leaves with a subtle speckling cover this hoya. This Hoya grows relatively quickly and sets blossom earlier than other Hoyas do. And the blossoms have a chocolatey scent!
What it enjoys
One of the more resilient Hoyas we've come across is this one. While it tolerates medium light, it still prefers strong light.
Why it doesn't like
those large leaves hold a lot of water from overwatering. Avoid watering till it puckers. And gloomy, drafty nooks and intense sunlight.
5. Austral Hoya (bottom left)
Why it's unique
Those foliage! This Hoya has a spade-like form and is velvety to the touch. It also sends out vines that grow more uprightly than carnosas.
What it enjoys
It is harder to discern when these plants need watering because this Hoya has thinner leaves than other Hoyas. Before you notice significant puckering or wilting, let the soil dry up and then water it.
Why it doesn't like
Direct sunlight, overwatering, and dark corners.
Exceptional mentions
Hoya kerrii, Hoya pubicalyx, Hoya lacunosa, and Hoya bella.
Information on Hoya carnosa
In the past, Hoya carnosa was the Hoya that was most often grown in the West. The plant has been grown for genetic changes of the leaves and blossoms by hybridization with other species, giving us new plants with new names. Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen' and 'Krimson Princess,' two variegated varieties of the plant, have already been noted; nonetheless, here are some more cute changes to the standard wax plant:
Chelsea Hoya carnosa
— larger, broader, somewhat cupped leaves, and a beautifully cascading growth pattern under the weight of its hefty foliage
Carnosa Hoya 'Krinkle 8'
Its leaves have 8 adorable hollowed-out sections that give them the appearance of empty pea pods and are gently cupped.
Compact Hoya carnosa—
the plant has unusually rope-like leaves that are wrapped in on themselves and never completely open.
Jade Hoya carnosa —
Hoya 'Mathilde,' a cross between H. carnosa and H. serpens, with coin-sized, splashy leaves that are a brighter green than the ordinary H. carnosa.
"Chouke" Hoya—
H. carnosa × H. serpens hybrid with tiny leaves and little to no splash, originating from the same seedpod as H. 'Mathilde'
'Minibelle' Hoya —
an easy-to-grow hybrid of Hedera shepherdii and Hedera carnosa with large leaves.
Five Spectacular Hoyas for Collectors
Linear Hoya —
The leaves on this Hoya form a stunning curtain that resembles knitting needles.
imbricata hoya—
On its surface for vertical climbing, this Hoya produces leaves with cupped, turtle-shell-like shapes. The leaves adorn a tree, wall, moss pole, or climbing frame in the form of buttons or bubbles.
Callistophylla Hoya —
This Hoya has dark, contrasting veins on its brilliant green lanceolate leaves. One of our favorite "foliage Hoyas" is this one.
the Hoya lauterbachii—
The biggest flowers in the species are produced by this Hoya, and its leaves have a delicate pubescence. fuzzy leaves and blooming umbels the size of drinking cups? Please, yes!
spartioides Hoya—
No leaves grow on this Hoya. Its lengthy peduncles, which resemble leaves, and stems are where it does all of its photosynthesis.