Hoya flower - belongs to the family Pantyaceae. This plant comes from China and can also be found in India and Australia. Thanks to its spreading shoots and textured leaves, this plant received the name in everyday life - wax ivy.
Hoya beautiful or Hoya Bella is a small branching shrub from which shoots hang down. The leaf is small and only three centimeters long. The peduncles are waxy and white and are collected in an umbrella, which consists of 8-12 pieces. It smells very nice and blooms profusely in the summer.
There are more than 200 species in nature, but several species are grown in indoor floriculture.
The Hoya houseplant is an evergreen climbing vine that can spread its thin shoots up to six meters. The leaves are usually dark green and have variegated forms. The main difference from other species is the peculiarity of the leaf shape. They are located on the same level and are more oblong, lighter in color. The inflorescences are similar to other types of hoya; the flower stalks are collected in clusters. The flower itself is in the shape of a star; the standard color is white-cream with a crimson center. If the plant is well developed, the flowering will be lush and abundant. After the hoya fades, you should not cut off the flower stalks. Since repeated flowering occurs on these shoots. During flowering, it is not recommended to move the plant, otherwise the flower stalks may fall off. This indoor plant is grown as a hanging plant; it needs to be provided with good support or grown in hanging pots.
This plant can be grown hydroponically.
As mentioned above, there are many types of hoya in natural conditions, but it turns out that not all can be grown at home. On sale you can find different varieties of this plant, which differ in leaf color and shape. Also, Hoya Kerry may differ in leaf color.
This plant got its name thanks to the English gardener T. Hoy.
What is Hoya afraid of: pests and diseases
A plant that is constantly watered may suffer from root rot or powdery mildew.
The first disease kills the plant, especially since by the time you see its manifestations (rotting stem, wilted leaves - everything, as in the photo above), the root system may already be completely lost.
Powdery mildew (whitish coating) can be effectively combated. First, trim off all infected leaves and spray the bush with a purchased fungicide. Remove the top part of the soil and add fresh soil.
Sometimes the plant is attacked by harmful insects. They can be “picked” from an open window, from a bouquet brought into the house (even if you grew the flowers yourself in a flowerbed), or from a new flowerpot infected in a store.
Pests can be different:
- Spider mite. This tiny dark creature is difficult to see, but if there are a lot of mites, a sticky web appears on the plant. Such reptiles are afraid of high humidity (you can even place a container of water near a hanging pot so that it evaporates) and store-bought poisons. “Actellik” has proven itself well (in our case, you need to dilute it, giving 15 drops per liter, and spray the plant, and repeat this procedure a week later, even if you no longer see insects).
- Scale insects. Brown spots, hard to the touch. Wash the hoya leaves with cotton pads dipped in soapy water. Does not help? I'll have to buy karbofos.
- Mealybug. It is identified by the presence of a whitish coating. In this case, you can cope with natural methods - for example, onion or garlic infusion.
Pests will not attack if the hoya is frequently sprayed, and the air near it does not dry out.
But what if the flower cannot be cured? Or if you bought a “goddam” from a sale to save it, but it doesn’t work out? The answer is in this video:
Varieties with photos
Hoya bella variegata or variegata flower (Hoya lanceolata ssp. bella cv. Variegata) - the peculiarity of the plant is the presence of a yellowish center on the leaves.
Bella variegata in the photo:
Hoya lanceolata ssp. bella cv. Albomarginata - this cultivar has leaves with light edges:
Louis Buis - the leaves of the vine are small, and their central part is decorated with a golden spot and a red convex vein:
Diseases and pests
Improper care weakens the plant and can be affected by bacterial and fungal infections.
In such cases, treatment with fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, helps.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended to wash the leaves in the shower and optimize the living conditions.
Red spider mites, aphids, and scale insects settle on insufficiently cared for specimens. As a first aid solution, a soap solution or cotton wool soaked in alcohol is used to remove pests. Only systemic insecticides can completely get rid of them.
To prevent damage by nematodes, the soil substrate and container must be sterilized before planting. A native of exotic islands, Hoya obovata doesn't require too much.
Give it a permanent bright place, provide it with a cool winter, do not over-water it, prune it in a timely manner - and it will grow quickly, produce new glossy round leaves and bloom regularly, exuding one of those unusual aromas that the distant jungle smells of.
Why do flower growers love hoya so much?
This compact liana-like shrub came to us from India, Thailand and Australia. There it is an epiphytic plant, born on the stems of large trees.
Hoya is grown as a hanging flowerpot. It can be grown in both plastic and wicker pots. It is worth planting up to three shoots in one container (the more there are, the thicker and richer the bush turns out). In this case, you need to choose shallow pots, because the roots of the plant are weak and superficial.
Hoya bella (translated this word means “beautiful”) has waxy small leaves, dark on the outside and light on the inside, as well as amazingly shaped star flowers. Flowers bloom at the tips of long stems. Hoya branches grow quickly, and despite their apparent fragility, they are strong and strong, not requiring support.
When can you admire its flowers?
During the summer months. When you see flower stalks, don’t be too happy - they grow over the course of a long 1.5 months, and only when the whole family runs out of patience do amazing waxy flowers with pink centers open on the bush.
This process can begin from March to June. It lasts only 8 days. After this, both flowers and peduncles fall off. Immediately the plant begins to grow new ones. Thus, you can admire the blooms not only at the end of May and the beginning of summer, but also until the very beginning of autumn.
Hoya flowers have a scent that is reminiscent of vanilla. Personally, I like this scent, but my husband complains that it is too strong and even suffocating. So it’s not surprising that this plant blooms in our kitchen - that’s where the delicious smell of vanilla belongs!
If you collect flowers of all types and varieties of hoi, you will get a beautiful picture in which white shades will predominate, but yellow, pink, and even burgundy will also be included. And what forms such flowers sometimes take!
Is Hoya poisonous, what superstitions surround it?
As for toxicity - yes, it's true. Therefore, I would not recommend growing this plant to young parents (until the child is at least four years old), as well as owners of vegetarian cats who love to chew flowerpots.
As for superstitions, hoya, like ordinary indoor ivy, is considered a “husband racer” and an energy vampire.
True, I once watched a program with a speaking psychic, and he, on the contrary, said that all ivies are a natural “soothing” that helps resolve family conflicts, and if a married woman has this plant blooming, then she is completely happy - that means her husband true.
The most popular varieties of Hoya Bella
Hoya is a genus in which botanists count about 200 species. However, only a few got into our apartments. The most popular of them:
Variegata. The leaves of this plant are decorated with yellowish, light green stains.
- Louis Buis (also a variegated variety). A beautiful variety with light centers of leaves, each of which is decorated with a green “frame”.
- Wee. The leaves of this plant are smaller than those of other hoya varieties. They are often placed on the stem, so bella vines look very “fluffy” and the bushes look dense.
Home care
Lighting
This type of hoi is more suitable for well-lit rooms with windows facing south, but it still shouldn’t be exposed to the sun for a long time: with an excess of “tanning,” the color of the leaves becomes lighter, and drying, browning areas form on them - traces of sunburn.
“Changing places” and, accordingly, changing the nature of the lighting is also an undesirable process: when rearranged, the hoya loses flowers and buds, and also sheds leaves.
Temperature
In summer, the optimal temperature range is from 17 to 25 degrees, and in winter, a rest period at a temperature of 10-15 degrees is useful.
Drafts harm the plant.
Priming
In this case, any soil is suitable - those that are quite fertile, loose, and have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
Hoya obovata grows well in ordinary garden soil, and in universal soil from the store, and in a mixture of leaf and turf soil with peat, humus and sand, in which all ingredients are taken in equal proportions.
Landing
The landing container should not be too large, with a mandatory drainage hole.
Old pots from other plants are not suitable for planting hoya; The new container must be washed thoroughly.
Before planting the plant, a drainage layer (expanded clay, small pebbles, brick or ceramic scrap) is placed at the bottom of the container.
Then a small amount of soil is poured, and the root system is placed on top of it, with, if possible, a lump of earth preserved.
For spectacular growth and flowering, it is useful to plant several young plants in one pot.
Add soil mixture to the desired level, carefully compacting it. Provide support for growing stems
Provide support for growing stems.
Transfer
Young hoyas are replanted every year, adult specimens - once every 2-3 years or less.
Replanting should, in fact, be a transshipment that preserves the old earthen ball as much as possible, and the new pot is chosen not to be too spacious.
Soon after purchase, the plant is replanted, since before sale, for better presentation, hoyas are usually supported with stimulants. With such a transplant, the substrate is also removed from the root system and in this case the earthen ball is not preserved.
Watering
Between the arrival of moisture, the earthen lump should dry out; Excess, and even more so, stagnation of moisture is unacceptable.
During cool wintering, watering is carried out even less frequently.
Top dressing
During intensive growth and during the flowering period, hoyas of this species, especially young specimens, can be occasionally fed with complexes for flowering succulents or with a significantly diluted solution of universal fertilizers.
Trimming
Potentially, such a climbing vine can live for decades and quickly grow stems 10 meters long. In indoor culture, its growth must be limited by spring pruning and pinching.
In addition, shortening an actively growing shoot stimulates the development of lateral buds and, accordingly, the density of foliage and the splendor of flowering.
In practice, after the fourth leaf the shoot can be cut or pinched.
The flower stalks are not removed, as new inflorescences will develop on them over time.
Transfer
The flower should not be replanted too often. The plant does not like this procedure and spends a lot of energy getting used to new conditions. The best period for replanting is early spring, when the hoya is preparing for a new growth season. The entire procedure must be carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the root system. During replanting, you need to remove the plant from the previous pot without shaking off the soil. It is worth replanting into a new pot, which is only a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one.
Transplanting into a new pot
Is it possible to keep Hoya at home?
Most often, Hoya is grown not in apartments, but in offices and studies, and the reason for this is superstition. For a long time, people believed that wax ivy survives the husband’s family and drives adult sons out of the house. Other, no less convincing sources claim that hoya relieves feelings of resentment and pacifies envy. There are publications that say that hoya is “a plant of family happiness, it is advisable to place it in the bedroom.” What to believe? Maybe it’s worth trying to grow hoya at home and clarify the degree of its influence on a person’s destiny? You decide. I see in hoya only a cozy plant with beautiful flowers, caring for which is a pleasure.
How to take hoya cuttings to properly root the plant
In the question of how to properly cut hoya, special attention should be paid to pruning the cuttings. The best place for roots to appear is considered to be the area located under the node itself. Therefore, you need to leave a couple of centimeters of the stem under it, and cut off the rest. After a new shoot appears from the axil of the first node, you can cut off the second node and also root it.
Rooting is possible in one of two ways:
- Immediately in the substrate (at soil temperature +20...+25 °C).
- In water (at a temperature of + 22 ° C).
The first option is considered to be more reliable. Before rooting hoya cuttings, you need to prepare the soil according to one of the “recipes”:
- Mix equal parts of sphagnum moss (or peat), vermiculite (or perlite), fine expanded clay (or polystyrene foam).
- Combine fine expanded clay (1/5 part), perlite or vermiculite (1/5 part), planting soil (3/5 part).
The prepared substrate must be breathable so that the cuttings do not rot. Perlite or vermiculite will help ensure this soil property. You should also take care of the proper soil moisture, but the higher the level of its breathability, the faster the water evaporates from it. This problem can be solved using a plastic bag (how exactly will be discussed later).
Before rooting, for 100% results, you can treat the cuttings with Kornevin, but this is not necessary.
Hoya: propagation at home
The happy owners of an adult vine have no shortage of planting material. Its crown needs periodic shaping, and all formed but excess shoots can be easily rooted. If there is already a hoya in the house, the question of how to propagate is usually not worth it.
Blooming Hoya fleshy
How does it reproduce
Stem layering and cuttings are the main planting material. Much less often, the vine is propagated by seeds, since they are not so easy to obtain. Hoya flowers remain on the petioles for up to 2 weeks after blooming. They are bisexual, but to set seeds they need the help of pollinators, for which they secrete a lot of thick sticky and strong-smelling nectar.
Propagation by cuttings
Young shoots of this year are not suitable for propagation. Only last year's ones are suitable, and they must have at least 2 pairs of leaves. Cut them off between the knots with a sharp knife. After this, the cutting is left for 1-2 hours so that the cut dries.
For your information! Hoya nodules contain root hormones, so it is from them that the cutting will expel the roots.
There should certainly be several nodules on the cut shoot. This increases the chances of successful rooting. However, there are usually no particular difficulties with this; the vine is exceptionally resilient, and its cultivation is an interesting activity.
Rooting
The most common way to root cuttings is in water. To do this, take a container that does not transmit light. It is covered with cardboard or foil. Cuttings are inserted through the cut holes. The leaves are removed from the lower node and immersed in water. To speed up the root formation process, the cut is first dipped in a root solution.
Hoya cuttings cut for propagation
Successful root emergence requires warmth and high humidity. The optimal temperature is 22°C. If the leaves begin to wither, this indicates dry air. To correct the situation, the container with the cuttings is covered with a glass cap or plastic bag to obtain greenhouse conditions.
After 2 weeks, a sufficient number of roots should form to make it possible to transplant the cuttings into a pot. The technique is quite painstaking, so many people prefer to cut more cuttings and simply keep them in a warm, not too brightly lit place, regularly adding water.
The second method of rooting is cuttings in the substrate. The soil is purchased with a neutral alkaline reaction. The top must be covered with a cap, which is lifted once a day to spray the cutting with water. High humidity and sterile soil are the main components of success.
Step-by-step instructions that will help you root a Hoya cutting with a guarantee of success:
- A shoot that is too long is bad; 2-3 pairs of leaves are enough. If possible, it is worth rooting several shoots.
- Small-leaved varieties are planted in pots horizontally or at an angle to cover several nodes at once (up to 10 pieces) with soil. Large-leaved cuttings are sprinkled with soil only on 1 node.
- The temperature should be maintained at a stable 22°C.
- We must not forget about daily spraying.
- The chances of success remain as long as the shoot remains green and has at least 1 leaf.
Important! Cuttings placed in water should not be touched too often, because young roots are very fragile
Hoya - care and cultivation from leaves
If you can’t get a cutting, but there is at least 1 leaf, you can try to root it too. This is the most difficult path, but not hopeless. When the petiole is immersed in a nutrient substrate, the survival rate of such material is low, since plants grown at home have too little of their own supply of substances necessary for growth.
Leaf rooting
Rooting hoya from a leaf is a painstaking task, so you should follow a few recommendations:
- Chemicals are used to stimulate root growth. They are applied in the form of a solution, dripping from a pipette onto a leaf so that the liquid flows down the petiole;
- without petioles, leaves take root several times worse;
- There is a little secret: the leaf is immersed in loose soil at an angle of 45°.
How to propagate
— Reproduction can be done in two ways: by layering on the mother plant - for this you will need to wrap the shoot with damp moss and wrap the area with film. After two weeks, roots will form and a new plant can be planted in a container. But this method is not always convenient, since if the shoots hang down, it is not very convenient to wrap them in film. And hoya shoots are fragile. The second method of propagation is to root cuttings, since as soon as the shoot touches the soil, it soon forms roots. They can be separated and replanted after a month.
Hoya: description of species and flower care - Healthy Garden
Many gardeners strive to plant hoya, an interesting climbing plant. The flower has interesting umbrellas of flowers, which it manages to show off over a long period of time. But before planting, you need to familiarize yourself with all the features of the plant and the rules for caring for it. Only after this should we begin planting work.
Description of the Hoya plant
Hoya takes its origin from evergreen climbing shrubs and vines. The plant originates from the Kutrov family, from the Lastovnevy subgenus. Under natural conditions, the shrub grows on the coasts of Australia, Asia and the tropics of Polynesia.
Decorating an apartment with hoya
In most cases, a climbing flower gets along better in open forests, where it picks up a tree and completely entwines its trunk. In its homeland, there are more than 200 species of various shades of this representative of the flora.
In the wild, the vine reaches more than 10 meters in length. Shoots that are not distinguished by green cover have a purple coating. They are considered young shoots. As they grow older, their color changes to green, they acquire leaf blades and aerial rhizomes. At an older age, the green vine becomes woody.
The foliage has an oval shape. When it first appears, it gives off a smoothness and glossy shine. Over time, its tone changes to matte. The foliage is medium-sized - reaches 8 cm, width does not exceed 5 cm.
Hoya inflorescences are small, reaching 1-2 cm. They are collected in lush umbrella-inflorescences. The most common are white, pink, and crimson. Each of the flowers looks like a small star with a core that differs from the general structure and color.
The plant produces a very fragrant and persistent odor. It is especially noticeable at night.
A large number of different species are divided into 3 types:
- Erect;
- Ampelous or hanging;
- Weaving, entwining the support.
In addition, the following are the most common varieties of hoya among floriculture lovers:
- Waxy or fleshy - requires support, stretches up to 6 m. The flowers are very fragrant, white or pink. The leaf plate is large, oval in appearance with a wax coating (Tricolor, Compact and Variegate);
- Beautiful - with indescribable perfect flowers. Grows as a hanging shrub;
- Multi-flowered - the foliage is oblong and linear, twining around the support. The predominant flowers are yellow in shape with arched spurs;
- Majestic - the foliage is leathery, oblong, oval in shape, up to 20 cm in length, slightly pubescent. The inflorescences are collected in bunches of 5-10 pieces and emit a wonderful aroma.
Thus, with its splendor, hoya outshines even the most exquisite representatives of the flora. But the domesticated culture cannot boast of an abundance of flowers and bush lushness. Growing requires certain conditions for caring for the bush.
Plant care
- In order for Hoya to develop qualitatively and delight with its appearance, great efforts and constant monitoring are required.
- The following rules should be followed for a comfortable stay for a capricious beauty:
- Lat. Hoya
Lighting – lighting should be adjusted for each type of hoya.
One variety likes the sun's rays to hit it only in the morning, while another prefers the soft influence of the sun in the evening. Therefore, until you find the right lighting, you can repeatedly burn the tender young leaves.
It is important that midday bright rays do not affect the plant; there is a possibility of getting burns;
Temperature – in summer the shrub will tolerate air temperatures up to +260C. In the winter months, for beneficial development, it is not recommended to reduce the temperature to +150C. In this case, the hoya will bloom constantly, periodically replacing one panicle with another fresh umbrella-inflorescence. The main thing is not to reduce the temperature in the room to +100C. This will stop all flower development;
Watering is the main factor in the growth of hoya. It should be carried out in moderation, but so that the soil never dries out or is significantly moistened. If water passes through the soil and excess accumulates in the pan, it is recommended to pour it out. It can cause root rot or fungus to attach to the substrate;
Soil - the first planting should be carried out in specially selected and specifically prepared soil.
To do this, you need to take peat, fresh humus and medium-sized river sand in 2 equal parts, as well as turf soil in 3 parts. After mixing the composition, you should give the soil looseness.
Additional addition of charcoal and small pieces of tree bark is suitable for this.
What does hoya look like and bloom in its natural environment?
In summer, hoya blooms with fragrant, porcelain-white, pinkish, yellow-greenish and other shades of bisexual flowers, collected in umbrella inflorescences. Both the botanical description of the flowers of the Hoya plant and numerous photographs confirm that they have a star-shaped appearance, consist of petals and a central five-membered crown rising above them. The average diameter of flowers is from 1 to 2 cm, except for the majestic appearance (8 cm).
While the hoya plant is blooming, a pleasant perfume aroma prevails around the bush or vine. Representatives of certain species are even able to secrete nectar, which is attractive to many insects.
In its natural environment, the plant can reach 10 meters in length. Young shoots are immediately colored brown-violet, and as they mature, they acquire a rich green tint, and then gradually become lignified. The foliage is fleshy, oval, with a pointed apex. The average length of the leaves is from 5 to 15 cm, width - from 3 to 8 cm. Both the color and the leaves are dense, have a matte appearance, which gives the visual impression that they are cast from wax.
Familiarize yourself with some types and varieties of hoya from photos with official names to get a general impression of the plant before getting acquainted in detail:
Hoya linearis - description, cultivation, photo
Hoya linearis (Hoya linearis)
Hoya linearis is a very rare, almost epiphytic species that came to us from the highlands of the Himalayas.
Linear light green foliage, almost white on young shoots. Very long lashes (up to 6 m) are covered with narrow, 0.5 cm wide, lanceolate leaves about 5 cm. The leaves are slightly pubescent.
As a true mountain weed, this Hoya prefers coolness, partial shade and high humidity. If the air is too dry and hot, its leaves curl into tubes.
This species needs abundant watering. The soil must be constantly moist.
This species is very unpretentious in care and even for little effort the plant will reward you with abundant flowering.
Hoya Linearis in a hanging pot will be an exotic highlight of the collection. Low requirements for lighting allows you to place it away from the window. Long stems will help create a living flowering wall, which can be an interesting decorative find, and just very beautiful.
In very dark rooms the plant can be illuminated. It responds well to artificial lighting.
Many small umbrella inflorescences of snow-white flowers on low stalks can cover Hoya almost completely. The inflorescences consist of 12-15 flowers and bloom at the ends of the shoots. Therefore, after flowering, it is worth pruning them slightly to stimulate greater branching and the formation of new inflorescences.
Editorial team LePlants.ru
Bush varieties of hoya and vines
Hoya bella var. Louis Buis is a beautiful hoya bush variety with leaves that have golden spots in the center and a reddening midrib in good light conditions.
Hoya bella Variegata is a plant with foliage with a thin edging of white or yellowish tint.
Hoya bella Wee is a variety of beautiful hoya with especially small leaves, which are placed in a whorl not in twos, as usual, but in threes.
Hoya fleshy has become widespread due to its unpretentiousness to growing conditions and ease of care. Unlike the previous species, this is not a bush plant, but an evergreen climbing vine.
Its length can be 6 m, so when growing a crop you should take care of support. The foliage of the plant is oval, thick, hard, dark green, has a shiny surface, reaches about 8 cm in length. The inflorescences are umbrellas, which contain 20 flowers with a strong, pleasant aroma. The main color of the petals is white, with a pink crown located in the central part.
Evaluate in the photo what varieties and varieties the fleshy Hoya has:
The images show those that are most popular in home gardening.
Hoya carnosa Variegata (hoya variegata) , in particular its variety called "Crimson Queen", which is famous for its unusually delicate cream-colored edging along the edges of its rich green leaves.
Hoya carnosa Tricolor (Hoya tricolor) and its variety with the original name “Exotic”, which is loved by many professional and amateur gardeners thanks to its scarlet flowers and green-pink-cream foliage.
The majestic hoya flower is also a climbing vine. It is densely dotted with lanceolate-oval foliage, the length of which reaches 15 cm and the width - up to 8 cm. The color of this plant is considered the largest among the known species: the diameter of the flowers is 8 cm. The peduncles are long, flower umbrellas are formed on them, in each of which contain from 8 to 10 smooth star-shaped flowers with deep red petals and a white central crown.
On the reverse side, the petals are decorated with an admixture of green or yellow. Hoya imperialis is widely known for its pleasant perfume scent.
Descriptions of popular varieties of this type of hoya with photos and official names are presented below - study and choose the green “pet” that is most suitable for your greenhouse:
Hoya imperialis var. rauschii features wavy-edged foliage and white-green flowers with pink and purple hues.
Hoya imperialis "Borneo Red" is popular because it grows very quickly and has purple flowers with a fruity, sweet scent.
Hoya imperialis var . Palawan is famous for its yellow-golden flowers with an original slightly reddish tint.
The photo below shows Hoya longifolia:
This is a climbing plant, the thin shoots of which contain a large amount of milky sap. The liana is densely dotted with lanceolate-shaped foliage, smooth edges, rich green color, and a fleshy structure without visible veins. The length of each leaf is approximately 13 cm and the width is about 2 cm.
The surface is without pubescence and is not shiny. Fragrant flowers in quantities from 5 to 12 pieces are collected in a spherical umbrella. The diameter of each flower varies from 1.5 to 1.7 cm, and there is pubescence on the surface. The color of the petals is white, the central crown is pale pink or pure white.
Find out what long-leaved hoya looks like in colorful photos.
Concave Hoya is an epiphytic plant, very branched, with flexible branches that look like very densely growing cascading lashes. The foliage is diamond-shaped, thickened, with edges turning inward, and rich green in color. The length of each leaf does not exceed 6 cm. The inflorescence is an umbrella, shaped like a fluffy ball. One umbel contains 15 to 20 fuzzy white or cream flowers with a white crown topped with a yellow center.
Read the description of popular varieties of concave hoya with photos below:
“Tova” is a hybrid with monochromatic foliage and a light green color.
"Eskimo" is a cultivar with leaves decorated with a marble pattern of a lighter shade.
Description
Hoya, or wax ivy, is an evergreen plant. In rare cases it has the appearance of a bush, more often it stretches like a vine. In its natural environment, hoya grows on trees, some species grow on steep cliffs. It uses its adventitious roots to cling to the surface. Larger species reach a height of 18 meters.
The plant has succulent leaves of a simple shape, located opposite each other along the stem. Depending on the variety, foliage may vary. Their surface is:
- smooth;
- felt;
- hairy.
Flowers appear in umbellate clusters at the tip of peduncles (spurs), sometimes singly. In most species, these spurs are perennial and rarely fall off. Each flowering cycle increases the length of the peduncle. In larger species, over time it can reach 27 cm. Flowers vary in size and range from 3 to 95 mm in diameter.
All flowers are shaped like pointed stars. Some species have round or spherical petals. It is known that in the inflorescence of Coriacea there are up to 70 inflorescences, each reaching almost 2 cm in diameter. The monochromatic Hoya pauciflora compensates for the scarcity of flowers in size. They appear at any time of the year. The surface of the petals can be smooth and shiny, sometimes matte and silky. There are varieties in which the flowers are covered with large piles. As for the color palette, it is very diverse.
The flower shape is typically star-shaped, with five thick, waxy, triangular petals topped by another star-shaped structure, the crown. The color of the buds can be white, pink, yellow or orange. You can find plants with dark red, almost black or even green flowers. Many smell sweet, and most even produce nectar.
The main pollinators of flowers in the natural environment are moths, flies and ants.
The seeds are arranged in double pods. The follicles are generally lightweight and are dispersed by the wind with a small tuft of silky down. Their germination is fast, but their viability is short.
One species, Hoya linearis, has leaves that resemble string beans hanging in bunches of stems. The flower is covered with fine fluffy hairs and hangs from trees in its native habitat. Some varieties have veins on the foliage that are lighter or darker in color than the rest of the foliage. There are species with thin and translucent foliage, while others have thick and succulent foliage.
Photo gallery
Very beautiful flowers have a wonderful aroma; nectar is released on them in the form of drops. Inflorescences last from 2 to 3 weeks. Hoya blooms from late spring to early autumn.Did you know? Hoya is named after the famous English gardener Thomas Hoy, who at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 19th centuries worked for the Duke of Northumberland, growing tropical plants in greenhouses, accustoming them to cold climate conditions.
| Root system | weak, superficial |
| Stem | flexible, thin, dark green |
| Leaf Shape | narrow, diamond-shaped |
| Leaf color | dark green |
| Flower shape | five-pointed star |
| Flower color | white, with pink or purple center |
Diseases and pests
Hoya bella practically does not get sick; in some cases, the flower may be affected by powdery mildew or root rot due to excess moisture. Treatment for powdery mildew consists of the following procedures:
- removal of leaf plates and shoots damaged by whitish coating;
- replacement of the soil surface;
- treating the plant with fungicides.
Root rot is usually incurable, since Hoya's roots are weak and die quickly. To avoid this situation, you need to be careful about watering and avoid over-moistening the soil. If you do not follow the necessary rules for caring for the plant, you can provoke the following problems:
- spots on the leaf blades can indicate both sunburn and lack of lighting; you need to change the location of the flower;
- foliage falls - excessive moisture, too cold water for watering or frequent change of flower location;
- falling flowers can occur due to drafts, incorrect temperature in the room, or movement of the plant;
- lack of flowering occurs due to poor lighting or abundant moisture in winter;
- poor growth, inconspicuous leaves indicate a lack of nutrients in the soil.
The plant can be damaged by pests: spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects. When indoor air is dry, small red dots or spider threads appear on the back of the leaves - this is how spider mites manifest themselves. Small growths on the leaf blades indicate the appearance of a scale insect, and whitish balls are traces of a mealybug.
For control purposes, the plant is washed with soapy water and treated with insecticidal preparations, for example, Actellik or karbofos.
For information on how to properly care for the plant, see below.
What conditions need to be created at home?
Hoya does not require special conditions; it is light-loving, but can tolerate a lack of lighting. Does not like sudden changes in temperature and drafts. It should not be watered or replanted frequently. Grows well in fairly poor soil. For growing, it is recommended to use small and shallow hanging pots made of plastic. Flexible shoots go down freely and do not require support. The plant grows quickly, blooms profusely and for a long time with large umbrella inflorescences.
Selecting a location
For the flower, choose a place near the window on the east or west side. It is recommended to use hanging pots, as for hanging plants. There should be enough sunlight, but direct sunlight may cause burns on the leaves, so it is better not to place the flower on the south side. It is necessary to protect the hoya from drafts.
Important! You cannot often move the hoya to a new place, as this will cause it to lose its buds and may die.
Air temperature and humidity
The optimal temperature for active growing season is considered to be +20…+25°C. The temperature should not be allowed to drop below +18°C for a long period. The cold may cause the plant to shed its leaves and unopened buds.
Hoya beautiful develops better in conditions of high humidity; in summer it must be sprayed without getting water on the flowers and buds.
Hoya indoor plant varieties: Bella, Kerry, Fleshy, Lacunosa, Matilda, Linearis and others
Today, many people are trying to fill a room with plants and do it as effectively as possible. In this case, tropical hoya may look most presentable. Due to some of her qualities, she attracted the attention of many professionals and ordinary people.
It is worth noting that this particular plant contains a number of different species and types, as well as varieties. In total, there are about 50 varieties worldwide. But there are about 430 species that have not yet been named.
Hoya propagation
Seeds
Hoya seeds are practically never found on open sale, and you can get them at home only if you make efforts to artificially pollinate with a brush.
However, if you managed to get hoya seeds, you can try to germinate them using the experience of greenhouse seed germination.
But not all seeds have the ability to climb, only ripe ones, so the probability of getting a seedling is extremely low.
Hoya seeds are placed in a container with the usual soil for this plant, with the obligatory addition of sphagnum moss. The container is covered with film or glass. And placed in a well-lit, warm place.
The earth must be constantly moistened and condensation ventilated. After 7-10 days, shoots will appear. Seedlings are extremely sensitive to fungal diseases, so until they get stronger they need to be treated with fungicides.
Hoya seedlings grow very slowly, and the first leaves will appear no earlier than 100-120 days from the moment the seeds germinate. Only after the leaves appear can the vine seedlings be planted in separate containers.
Cuttings
Any shoot older than a year that has several internode leaves is suitable as a cutting. Places of cuts both on the cutting and on the mother vine must be treated with activated carbon or another antifungal agent for plants.
To achieve 100% propagation results, it is better to cut several cuttings and treat their sections with stimulants for root growth. The cuttings can be immediately planted in a full pot with substrate, or kept in water for a couple of weeks to observe the growth of roots.
The seedlings should begin to produce their first leaves a month after planting in the ground - this indicates that the hoya has already taken root. A liana grown by cuttings will grow for several years, producing shoots and leaves. But the first flowers will appear no earlier than five years later.
Reproduction by layering
This is the fastest and most effective way to get new vines.
A pot with soil containing a significant amount of peat is placed near the mother vine. A long, mature and conveniently located shoot is bent from the main vine, the end of which is fixed (always in the place where there is a knot) in a new container.
Before planting, cuts are made on the part of the shoot that should take root and treated with rooting liquid. The shoot is not buried in the ground, but pinned to the ground with a wire or pin, after which the rooting site is covered with a layer of sphagnum moss, watered abundantly and wrapped in film.
The formation of new foliage will indicate that the branch has successfully taken root. Then the shoot can be cut off from the mother hoya and planted in another container with soil usual for hoya.
Hoya obtained from cuttings will give flowers within a year.
Types popular among amateur gardeners
Until recently, out of all the variety, only fleshy and beautiful hoya was grown at home. Now many more species have been “cultivated” and very interesting breeding hybrids have appeared. Most often in apartments you can find the following plants:
- Hoya fleshy (carnosa). A liana 5–6 m long, requiring support for normal development. The leaves are medium-sized, up to 5 cm. Silver-gray strokes and spots on the dark green surface are normal. The flowers are pinkish-white and very fragrant. The plant is unpretentious and can easily tolerate drought, lack of natural light and cool wintering. It became the basis for many breeding hybrids - Crimson Queen (thin beige or pinkish border on dark green leaves), Tricolor Exotica (bright scarlet flowers, leaves covered with cream and pink stains).
- Hoya miniature (compacta). Small, seemingly slightly crumpled or curled leaves with a faint pattern of a lighter shade. Natural hybrid of Hoya fleshy. In turn, it became the “parent” of the varieties Regalis (white border on lime-colored leaves, changing to a reddish shade in the bright sun), Mauna Loa (dark green leaves with a yellowish spot in the center).
- Hoya beautiful (bella), also known as lanceolate. Intensively branching shrub with thin drooping shoots. Ideal for growing in an ampelous manner. The leaves are lanceolate, small (4–5 cm in length). The inflorescence contains 7–9 snow-white flowers with a bright purple crown. The plant is thermophilic (even in winter the temperature should not fall below 16–18ºС), and suffers greatly from overwatering. In optimal conditions it blooms all year round.
- Hoya multiflora (multiflora). A liana in need of support. Leaves with pronounced veins, about 10 cm long, 3–4 cm wide. Light green spots on them are normal. The flowers are pale yellow, emit a pleasant citrus aroma, the “rays” of the inner star are strongly curved outward. Each inflorescence has 30–40 buds. Hybrids - Speckles (leaves with light green spots and ivory-colored flowers), Falling Star (leaves about 15 cm long and petals of a very interesting shape, similar to the tail of a comet).
- Hoya regal, also majestic (imperialis). Liana with pubescent shoots, leaf petioles and petals. The leaf length is 15–20 cm, the diameter of the dark scarlet flower is 8–10 cm. The “natural” hybrid is Hoya Rausha with bright pink-red petals (this color is known to artists as scarlet). Selected varieties - Alba (greenish-white flowers), Palwan (yellowish-red), Borneo Red (bright purple).
- Hoya concave or pitted (lacunosa). Well suited for growing in the ampel method. The shoots are brick-colored, the leaves are 5–7 cm long, dark green, diamond-shaped. The edges are slightly curved inward. The inflorescence is umbellate. The petals are cream, the crown is yellowish.
- Hoya Kerry (kerrii). Liana with very long lashes. It is recommended to point them upward or wrap them around a support so that they do not tip the pot over. Leaf length varies from 5 cm to 15 cm. Flowers are collected in spherical inflorescences of 15–25 pieces. The shade of the petals depends on the quality of lighting. They can be pinkish, pastel yellow, lemon. An adult plant secretes more nectar, which colors them crimson, scarlet, and chocolate. Hoya Kerry variegata differs from its parent in having cream-colored leaves.
- Hoya pale (acuta). A liana with light green leaves 8–10 cm long and 4 cm wide. The petals are pale yellow, the crown is scarlet. The aroma is very pleasant, unobtrusive, lemon-mint. The flowers are small (1 cm in diameter), collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences of 40–50 pieces.
- Hoya Shepherd (shepherdii). The leaves are large (12 cm long and 2–3 cm wide), thin, but hard and shiny. The central vein is highly developed, so they are concave, boat-like. Each inflorescence contains 12–15 flowers with a diameter of about 1.5 cm. The petals are snow-white with pinkish tips, the crown is ivory-colored.
- Hoya fraterna (fraterna). Quite capricious, rarely blooms at home. Leaves are up to 15 cm long, almost round. The petals are red-pink, the crown is bright yellow.
- Hoya longifolia. Subshrub-epiphyte. The shoots are thin, the leaves are large (up to 18 cm in length and 1 cm in width), similar to belts. The flowers are small, creamy in color, the crown is dark scarlet. The aroma is weak. The most frost-resistant of the genus.
- Hoya Englera (engleriana). It is distinguished by very small leaves (1.5 cm in length and 0.5 cm in width). The flowers are 2 cm in diameter, pubescent, collected in inflorescences of 4–5 pieces. The petals are white, the crown is lilac-red.
- Hoya southern (australis), sometimes not quite correctly called Australian. A liana whose shoots become woody with age. The average length is about 6 m. The leaves are small, 6–8 cm. The buds are collected in inflorescences of 20–25 pieces. The petals are glossy, snow-white with a crimson base, and gradually bend back.
- Hoya linearis. A long vine with thin shoots and pubescent leaves of a greenish-gray color. The petioles are very short. Petals are yellowish-cream, fleecy. Flowering occurs in early and mid-autumn. The buds release the aroma of vanilla. Unlike its “relatives”, it loves abundant watering.
- Hoya pubicalyx. The stems are long and curly. The leaves are covered with silvery spots and streaks. The flowers are 1.5–2 cm in diameter and last about two weeks. The color of the petals varies from pinkish-white to dark purple. There are many breeding hybrids - Red Button, Silver Pink, Chimera, Leenie, Philippines Black and others.
Natural hoyas: varieties in the photo
Hoya fluffy-cupped is the basis of many very spectacular breeding hybrids. Hoya lineara is very moisture-loving. Flowers on Hoya southern last for about two weeks, during which time the petals gradually bend back. Hoya Englera has very small leaves.
Hoya longifolia can withstand short-term exposure to slight negative temperatures. Flowering of Hoya fraternal at home is an almost exclusive sight. The petals of Hoya Shepherd are densely pubescent
Hoya pale exudes a very pleasant unobtrusive aroma
The shade of the petals of Hoya Kerry varies greatly depending on the lighting. Hoya concave stands out against the background of its “relatives” with an interesting shape of leaves. The petals of Hoya Rausha are much paler than those of the “parent”. Hoya regal owes its name to unusually large flowers with petals in the shade of royal purple. Hoya multiflora has an unusual shape. “stars” Hoya beautiful is very well suited for growing in the hanging way
Hoya miniature - a very interesting spontaneous mutation Hoya fleshy - one of the first “domesticated” species
Selected hybrids often look more attractive than “natural” hoyas due to larger flowers and variegated leaves.
Photo gallery: achievements of breeders
Hoya Philippines Black - very unusual and spectacular flowers Hoya Leenie - petals of a very delicate yellow color Hoya Chimera - dark scarlet petals stand out against the background of bright green foliage
Hoya Silver Pink - crimson petals with a contrasting silver-white border
Hoya Red Button is one of many hybrids bred from Hoya fluffy cup
Hoya Kerry variegata differs from its “parent” in variegated yellow-green leaves. Hoya Borneo Red has petals of a rare purple color
Hoya Palwan - a combination of pink and peach - like a sunset on the tropical island after which the hybrid is named
Hoya Alba - petals of a very pure snow-white color Hoya flowersFalling Stars look like a comet approaching a star
Hoya Speckles - a very elegant and graceful hybrid
The color of the spots on the leaves of Hoya Mauna Loa evokes associations with the moon in Hawaii Hoya Regalis - variegated leaves of a bizarre shape Hoya Tricolor Exotica - a very impressive combination of colors Hoya Crimson Queen - a popular hybrid bred on the basis of Hoya fleshy
Story
Hoya received its name from the then famous botanist Robert Brown, the author of the theory of “Brownian motion”. In 1810, he described just this type of hanging vines and gave them the name of his friend Thomas Hoy, the gardener of the English Duke of Northumberland. Thomas worked for many years in the Duke's greenhouse and devoted his entire life to growing tropical plants.
Hoya belongs to the Lastovnevye subfamily in the Kutrovye family. In total there are over 200 varieties of Wax Ivy. Most often, the flower can be found in the forests of Asia, on the west coast of Australia, and in southern China. It grows in Madagascar and the Canary Islands. In tropical areas, it lives in open forests, where it spreads along rocky slopes and clings to sparse trees. Reaches a length of ten meters.
