HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HOYA (EXAMPLE: HOYA CARNOSA FRECKLED SPLASH)
Here are some tips for caring for your Hoya Carnosa Freckled Splash plant, in particular. Most Hoya Vines follow these rules!
Light
Place your Hoya Carnosa Freckled
Splash in a location with bright, indirect light. A bright, North-facing window
can be perfect for this plant. Avoid direct afternoon sunlight! The sun can burn
the leaves of this Hoya... and cause this Hoya to drop its leaves! This vine
can eventually flower in a simi-dark room, but that is not preferred.
Water
Water your Hoya vine when the top
inch of the potting mix is quite dry. Overwatering will lead to root rot, so
it's better to underwater than overwater. Water less frequently in the winter.
In fact, almost all Hoyas can go practically bone dry between waterings without
severe harm. But it is better to let the top inch of the potting mixture go dry
between waterings. That way, there is always a bit of moisture in the pot.
Soil
Use a well-drained potting mix with
a slightly acidic or neutral ph. You ‘should’ use 1/3 standard houseplant
potting mix, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 Orchid bark. You want water to drain straight
through the potting mixture. Always pour off the water in the catch tray.
Temperature
Keep your Hoya vine at a temperature
between 60–85°F. It can take temperatures down to around 45 degrees – INDOORS!
But keep it warm if you can!
Humidity
Hoya vines prefer humid conditions,
so aim for at least 60% humidity. You can group your Hoya vines with other
moisture-loving plants or run a humidifier nearby. (But this is not absolutely
necessary! Just keep it away from heater vents/air conditioner vents and it
will adjust to your home.
Fertilizer
Use 1/4 teaspoon balanced,
water-soluble fertilizer per gallon of clean water (NOT TAP WATER) every time
you water during the growing season. Reduce feeding in the fall and winter.
Pruning
Resist the urge to prune your Hoya
vine to shape the plant. Avoid cutting off the long tendrils, as new leaves and
flowers will emerge from them!!! The more you allow your Hoya vine to grow
upward, the better chance of flower spurs forming!
Repotting
Repot your Hoya vine every 3 to 5
years, or so, or when it becomes root-bound… and that could be after a decade.
Better to top dress the soil in the pot every spring. Choose a pot that's
slightly larger than the current one.
Research the concept of top dressing
the soil in a pot on the internet. It can be VERY important to your Hoya.
Lastly, this is your ultimate
INDOOR plant. NEVER place this plant outside. It WILL attract mites, mealy bug,
white fly, scale and other pests that WILL kill your Hoya Vine! Quickly! So,
protect this awesome plant and it will reward you with growth, beauty, long
life, and eventually, those incredible flowers!
Check out my blog for other Hoya
information. That is: ancienthoyas.blogspot.com.
Also, YouTube has a HUGE Hoya
following all over the site. Check that out.
Enjoy.
Ronald L. Jones
