Hoya Care: Light, Watering and Blooms
Hoyas, or wax plants, are slow, long-lived vines with thick, waxy leaves and star-shaped flower clusters. They reward patience. This guide covers steady growth, how to get a hoya to bloom, and why hoyas are so easy to overwater.
Light
Bright, indirect light, enough to read by without a lamp. Very low light is the most common reason a hoya never flowers. Keep direct sun off the leaves.
Water
Water thoroughly, then wait until the mix has dried almost completely. The thick leaves store water, so hoyas tolerate dryness far better than wetness.
Soil and pot
A chunky, fast-draining mix of potting mix, orchid bark and perlite. Hoyas often flower better when slightly potbound, so use a pot only one or two inches wider.
Temperature and feeding
Keep it between about 65 and 80°F and above 55°F. Feed lightly in spring and summer at half strength. Do not fertilize in winter.
How to get a hoya to bloom
Give bright, indirect light, keep the plant slightly potbound and feed lightly in the growing season. Be patient, because many hoyas take a few years to flower. Do not cut spent flower stalks. The spur keeps producing flowers year after year, and removing it can delay the next bloom for a long time. Once buds form, keep the plant in the same spot. Moving it or changing its water can cause buds to drop.
Propagation
Hoyas root easily from stem cuttings. Take a cutting with two or three nodes, remove the lowest leaf and root it in water or a light mix. Roots form in a few weeks. Propagation is slow, so expect a long wait before a new plant flowers.
Common problems
Most often overwatering.
Too little light.
A sudden change in light, water or temperature.
Rot. Cut back to healthy tissue and let it dry.
Hoyas at Palma
We grow 'Sweetheart', 'Sweetheart Variegated', 'Australis', 'Publicalyx', 'Krimson Queen' and 'Rope'. 'Publicalyx' is a vigorous vine with deep green leaves, and 'Australis' has thick, glossy leaves and an open growth habit. The care is similar across them.
