The Most Popular (hoya plant types): Growing and Caring Tips

Hoya Carnosa | Hoya Kerrii | Hoya Compacta

All About The Hoya Plant 

The hoya plant comes under 500 accepted species of tropical plants that have similar characteristics and from the family of Apocynaceae (Apocynaceae is a family of flowering plants including trees, herbs, and shrubs. 

Some of these were earlier used as dog poison also). These hoya plant types are native to East Asia and many countries of Asia such as Thailand, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, New Guinea, and Vietnam etc. 

There are common names given to this species, such as wax plant, wax vine, wax flower or simply called hoya. Hoya plants are evergreen and have stems green in color; this plant grows throughout the year with bare maintenance. 

These plants are non-parasitic in nature and can grow on other plants. However, some of these hoyas plants grow terrestrially and sometimes in rocky areas, too. Growing hoya plants is so easy that you can grow multiple plants from a single plant by cutting the stem because of adventitious roots. 

Some larger species of hoya plants have growth lengths up to 1 m to 18m and even more than that if the right support of trees is provided. Leaves are so simple and are uniquely arranged in opposite patterns. 

However, their leave may have ample form. And it may be felted, hairy, and smooth. The flowers of the hoya plant appear in the umbels and are located in the narrow parts of the plant from where new branches grow. 

We usually call it an axillary umbellate. The size of flowers may vary and can become from 3mm to 95mm in diameter. This beautiful flower comes in the shape of a star, with waxy triangular-shaped petals layered with another star-shaped petal structure. Most often, flowers are seen in colors from white to pink. 

There are some other species that have yellow to orange, dark red to light black, and last but not least, green flowers. The Hoya plant’s flower produces sweet fragrances and also lots of nectar that are advantageous for pollinators. Some popular pollinators are ants, flies, and moths. 

If planted outside, then you may sometimes notice new plants rising beside, which is a sign that pollination occurs not often but rarely. Leaves

You will be surprised to know that some varieties of hoya plants have leaves that are 2 feet in length. I will not keep you guessing. 

The name of the plant is Hoya Coriacea Blume. It is not surprising that hoya plant leaves differ in size, color, venation, and texture. Hoya plants such as H. Cinnamomifolia have conspicuous veins that are in a lighter or darker shade. Meanwhile, Hoya coriacea blume has thin and translucent leaves. And so on. Flowers

Flowers of the hoya plant grow in umbels as well and some species grow singly. It has star-shaped flowers that appear in a way that looks like a ball or is round due to the reflection of petals. 

The texture of the flower is quite noticeable, for instance – matte, finely haired, shiny, glabrous. The scent of flowers of the hoya plant can be different from vanilla, citrus, cinnamon, to chocolate. However, you might feel the fragrance in the morning and in the evening as well. 

Top 3 selected hoya plant types 

It seems quite burdensome to list all the species of hoya plant types in just one article. However, I’m listing down some hugely recognized hoya plant species that you might be interested in. 

Hoya carnosa

All About (hoya carnosa) and Qualities, Care Tips, and Essential Information.

Hoya carnosa, well known as a wax plant, describes itself as beautiful and easy to maintain with the bare minimum effort. It is flexible enough to adjust both indoors and outdoors. Plant lovers love this variety so much because of the hoya flowers’ specialty, including its pleasant, sweet-smelling flowers and waxy leaves. 

The eye-catching hoya plant flowers bloom in the summer season. Caring for this plant is easy, but it demands some attention towards its growth and overall health. People call Hoya carnosa with so many beautiful names such as Hindu rope plant, porcelain flower, wax plant, wax flower, and honey plant. 

This vibrant indoor hoya plant not only adds life to your space, but its adapting nature also tells you that it can survive and stay beautiful with just minimum care. Hoya carnosa loves to stay in nondirect sunlight, whereas light-deprived hoya plants may not flower regularly, so it is important to notice these changes and move to somewhere where there is enough filtered sunlight. 

Just a reminder if you are new to gardening, if you are planting these plants outside, then plant them in a shady place. hoya blooms so well in spring, summer and fall. It likes to be planted in well drained soil with PH level acidic or neutral. This plant is native to Asia and australia. 

Keep in mind that mist the plant so often to increase humidity, which helps the plant to bloom. It is important to remind yourself that the hoya plant doesn’t like to be moved from one place to another place when flower buds start to come out. 

Even a little change in location can lead to a change in lighting, which will affect the flowers, and eventually, they will die. It does not like the soil that retains moisture. The recommended soil consists of a mixture that includes peat moss, part of petite, and some potting soil. 

Hoya doesn’t like excess water because it can rot the roots. So make sure to water it only when the soil is dry. Hoya carnosa loves to thrive in warmer temperatures and average humidity. If you live in hotter areas, then it is best to bring indoor hoya plants instead of outdoor hoya varieties. 

Healthy hoya carnosa produces amazing sweet-smelling flowers and thrives faster. So, it is essential to feed it with the required fertilizers every fourth week of the month during peak seasons. A balanced approach should be maintained while applying fertilizer such as mixing the fertilizer with water. 

Hoya Kerrii

About hoya kerrii & Essential Tips for Growing Healthy Plant 

The heart plant ‘ hoya kerrii ‘ is one of the most popular hoya species, native to parts of southeast asia. Hoya Kerrii is referred to by many names such as heart plant, hoya heart plant, heart shaped plant, and sweetheart hoya plant, all because of its uniquely shaped leaves which are actually in the heart like structure. 

The heart succulent plant ‘ hoya kerrii ‘ is an evergreen plant. People usually like to purchase and pot this plant during Valentine season because of its shape. What it likes: Lucky heart plant leaves to grow in humid and warm areas. 

The temperature should not exceed 65 to 80 Fahrenheit. While lower temperatures may slow down the process of growth and prohibit the flowers from growing. You can choose to place these plants in your kitchen or bathroom areas where there is enough moisture to absorb them. 

Pot it in a well-drainable container so that extra water gets drained easily. This sweetheart hoya plant needs support to climb. You can use a wire or something that provides support without being harsh to it, and you can choose to hang this plant above , which will not only allow excess water to drip down but also provide the plant enough space to grow. 

You cannot expect the hoya kerrii to grow more if you plant a leaf cutting; it will stay evergreen, but no new branch will grow in it. But if you are using stem cutting, then you may notice its growth in a few years. The structure of this plant makes it a popular choice as a houseplant by many plant lovers. 

Hoya kerrii takes time to flower; it can be years, too, as young hoya kerrii don’t usually produce flowers. Once the hoya kerrii have flowers, you need to be aware that the nectar that it produces can cause stains on your clothes or any furniture. So placing it in a space where you save yourself from getting stained would be a wise decision. 

What it doesn’t like: Hoya kerrii don’t like excess water and direct sunlight because it can rot the roots, and the plant may get dry, or can also dry due to excessive heat respectively. This slow-growing evergreen plant ‘ hoya kerrii ‘ grows up to 13 feet in its native place. But if you plant it indoors, then you can also expect its growth up to a few feet in length. 

This plant produces a bunch of small flowers that are vibrant in color, such as pink-white with burgundy corona in the central part. Fruits are rarely seen in this plant if cultivated at homes or in garden areas. It produces fruits in their native place once the plant is mature and after successful pollination. 

Hoya heart shaped plant is a popular choice for homes, offices, and for gifts, and is quite famous for its ornamental uses. It has a long life, so if you are looking for a plant that stays green for years, you should make this plant your first choice. 

People usually have questions related to pets. Is this plant pet-friendly? So the clear answer is yes, this plant is absolutely safe for pets. Infact, hoya kerrii can benefit you in purifying the air quality either indoors or outdoors. But you can not consider it as a typical air purifying plant. 

When it comes to maintenance, then hoya kerrii plant care requires little effort from you. For instance – pruning is not essential; just a trimming of dried or unhealthy leaves will suffice for the maintenance of shape. You should use sharp and clean scissors or trimming essentials for the same. 

Repotting hoya plants frequently is not necessary; you can repot the plant once in two or three years, using an extra large pot bigger than the current one. Use soil that drains the extra water easily, such as loamy soil; you can buy it online or from a nursery, and you can make it at home by mixing the essentials. 

You know, the funny part is some people get confused between hoya kerrii and cactus plant, because of the thickness of hoya leaves, and usually call it a heart shaped cactus plant. 

Hoya Compacta

All about hoya compacta , including growing tips and a caring guide. 

The Hindu rope plant ‘ hoya compacta ‘ is a house plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This hoya plant needs partial sunlight to avoid keeping it in direct sunlight; this may affect the plant and lead it to dry or can cause death. The best seasons to grow hoya compacta variegata include spring, summer, fall, and winter. 

The height of hoya compacta reaches up to 30 cm to 60 cm. It spreads between 20 cm and 30 cm. Although variegated hoya compacta requires low maintenance, you should be aware that the plant can not handle excess water, so if you keep feeding water on average. 

The suitable soil type is loam and sand with soil pH acid, alkaline, and neutral. The hoya carnosa compacta should be planted in soil that has a good drainage system. The special characteristic of the plant is that it is evergreen and showy. It can be used as hanging baskets, containers, and patios. 

This hoya carnosa compacta variegata is native to east asia and australia. This type thrives best in warm and humid areas such as tropical and subtropical regions. Hoya compacta grow slowly and are semi-succulent in nature. It has evergreen vines and has a climbing habit. The size of the plants reaches up to 12 to 18 inches long and 8 to 12 inches wide. 

The curled leaves set this plant apart from other species, providing its lush appearance. The hoya compacta produces flowers in clusters and has a sweet fragrance that is star-shaped. Its flowers are sticky like wax and are pink or white in color, with red in the center part. However, hoya compacta produces flowers only in warmer seasons. 

Suppose you are thinking about the fruits of hoya compacta. In that case, it only grows in its real environment when pollination occurs successfully, while it is rare to see this plant bear fruits in an indoor environment. The most distinctive feature of hoya compacta is that it has rope-like leaves which are arranged in opposite pairs. 

These are rigid and dark green in color. Hoya compacta are mostly used for ornamental purposes and indoor gardening. These plants are non-toxic in nature, so it is safe to be a household plant that is safe for pets and humans. It is believed that this plant works as an air purifier, helps in removing toxicity from the air, and improves indoor air quality.

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