Hoya – The Wax Flower
A wonderful group of plants generally enjoyed for their ease of care, and the added benefit of the highly scented, star shaped flowers. Quite a diverse family consisting of thick leaved green varieties, variegated types, elongated leaf types, and many other variations. Most are natural climbing vines so can be trained up a moss pole, or left to trail from a hang basket, or high shelf.
Follow these tips and you can easily enjoy your Wax Flower.
Hoyas prefer bright, indirect light away from strong direct sun. A little early morning, or late evening sun will enhance the colours, but too much direct sun will scorch the leaves.
Hoyas are semi-succulent so can store water in their fleshy leaves. Therefore they are best watered by the ` soak and dry` method. Water thoroughly and allow to drain, then allow the top half of the compost to dry before watering again. Be careful if you find that this takes quite a while, it`s best to be on the cautious side as too much water will lead to problems.
Average room temperatures between 18-24c.
Increase humidity around the plant during the hottest days, either with a gravel tray or occasional misting.
Fertilise every 2 weeks through Spring and Summer with a diluted half strength liquid houseplant feed.
Prune to shape in early Spring.
Minimum Temp: 16c
In Winter, when temperatures are lower, and growth is slow, reduce the amount and frequency of water, again making sure to allow the soil to dry thoroughly between watering. This will take longer, so don`t be hasty. Do not fertilise.
Avoid cold draughts and sources of direct heat.
Plants tend to bloom better when slightly pot bound so repot in Spring, only when necessary, using good quality free draining compost and only a slightly larger pot.
Warnings:
Not known to be toxic to humans or pets.
