Hoya is a classic houseplant that became popular in the 1970s. It’s now making a big comeback and for a good reason. It’s an easy-to-care succulent that thrives indoors with a low water requirement. If you take care of it good enough, flowers may even grow from it.
People from the 1970s era might remember this houseplant as a staple in all plant-loving homes. Maybe you saw it crawling over your grandma’s kitchen cupboard or suspended from someone else’s ceiling in a macramè plant hanger, but the point is, it used to be everywhere.
Hoya, often called as the wax plant has fuzzy or shiny leaves that fall under the succulent categorization. It grows lanky, long stems that look perfect planted in a hanging basket. It thrives in traditional containers too, but even with proper nutrition, it’s slow-growing so don’t be scared when you don’t see new leaves after a month or so.
Today, Hoya is starting to be accessible again thanks to houseplant shops and specialty garden centers that began reselling them back. Try looking for varieties with almond-shaped, narrow leaves. You can choose from all-green or variegated colors:
- The Tricolor Hoya (Hoya Carnosa ‘Variegata’) is a beautiful specimen complete with white, pink, and green-colored leaves.
- The ‘Shooting Stars’ Hoya grow green foliage with clusters of star-shaped and fragrant white flowers.
- Rope-type Hoyas or the Hindu rope plant have unusually twisted and curled leaves with long stems that resemble a living rope.
Hoyas are known to grow clusters of star-shaped flowers in different shades of red, pink, and white. It’s petals have a smooth, porcelain-like appearance with a sweet fragrance. Some individuals find hoya flowers to be a little too fragrant that they transfer it from an indoor setting to outdoors as soon as it starts blooming.
How To Take Care Of Hoya
All kinds of Hoyas are easy to grow. They can thrive in low, medium, or bright light, but it doesn’t guarantee a good flowering. The more light a hoya plant gets, the more blooms it can produce just like any other flowering plant.
Water a Hoya plant when the soil becomes dry to the touch, but do not overwater it. The thick leaves and stems are known to store water so they can survive under dry conditions. It won’t mind extended periods of low humidity and drought. You’re required to water them every couple of weeks, and it doesn’t need any fertilizer to bloom and grow. Repotting is rarely necessary as evidence of having constricted roots inside a pot encourage flowering.