In this plant profile, Plant Circle’s in house photographer Natascha takes a closer look at Hoya, a diverse and increasingly popular Genus!

From the long, bean-shaped leaves of Hoya Wayetii, to the heart shaped Hoya Kerii, and the almost plate shaped leaves of Hoya Imbricata, a plant that lives in symbiosis with ants, Hoyas never seize to amaze us with their diversity!
And while the more colorful varieties of Hoya Carnosa are especially loved by many, Hoyas charm us with their vast variety of shapes, colors and textures, with their beautiful foliage, often covered with pink or silver freckles, and of course with their small star shaped flowers, that can smell like chocolate and caramel.
Animal lovers can also rejoice, even if their pets love to nibble on plants, as Hoyas are non-toxic to animals!

First described by Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1810, Hoyas can be found in the Tropics and Subtropics of Southeast Asia, the biogeographical Region Malesia, and Northern Australia, and the Genus Hoya was named in honor of Browns friend, the gardener Thomas Hoy.
The Philippine islands are especially known for their richness when it comes to this plant!

Hoyas are epiphytes, with some species even growing lithophytically, meaning that they attach themselves to trees, or grow on rocky terrain.
They’re mostly found in treetops, and some even prefer specific wood types, like the Hoya Imbricata, which has a preference for mango trees.

Sadly, many species are being lost due to the increasing destruction of their natural habitat. Especially in Southeast Asia, mainly the Philippines and Borneo, logging operations, the cultivation of monocultures, and increasing land development pose a huge danger to plants and wildlife, and every day an estimated 100 plant and animal species fall victim to the continuing destruction of our rainforests.

Hoyas belong the Asclepiadoideae family, commonly known as milkweed, a subfamily of Apocynaceae, which include lianas and succulents, and they’re closely related to the Dischidia. A popular member of the Apocynaceae family that you may already know is Ceropegia Woodii, better known as String of Hearts!
Some of the main traits of this Genus, which consists of about 350-450 known species, include milky juice, leaves arranged in an opposite pattern, and the typical cluster of umbellate flowers.
Most Hoyas are vining or creeping plants, but some also grow as shrubs.
The Swedish Hoya Society provides an extensive list of all Hoya species, for those of you wanting to dig deeper!

Care and Propagation. An important part of Hoya care is watering, or should we say lack thereof. Never overwater! These succulent type plants can store quite a lot of moisture in their thick leaves, so they won’t necessarily need to be watered on the same schedule as your other green babies!
Tip: If you notice little wrinkles on the back of your leaves, and the leaves are starting to feel soft, that’s a sign it’s time to water! Make sure you use a pot with a drainage hole and let the water run through.

Substrate. Since Hoyas grow as epiphytes, you should make sure to use a well draining, loose mix hat prevents unnecessary wetness. Ideally choose a mix of pine bark, perlite and some sandy Bonsai mix.

You can also pot Hoyas in Leca, and there’s quite a few recipes for the perfect Hoya mix out there. The Swedish Hoya Society suggests a mix of 50% premium potting mix, 25% Vermiculite and 25% Perlite!

Fertilizing. During the growing period the plant can be fertilized periodically, ideally with a nitrogen rich fertilizer.
Our Hoya gurus at The Swedish Hoya Society suggest using a phosphorus fertilizer in fall to support blooming.
However, don’t forget that less is more! Too much fertilizing can disturb the plant and keep it from flowering.

Repotting. Hoya roots like it snug and seldomly need to be repotted. Too big of a container might lead to increased wetness and eventually cause root rot or fungus.

Propagation. Hoyas can easily be propagated by cuttings. Make sure to make the cut beneath an accumulation of nodes to ensure proper rooting.

The cuttings can be rooted in sphagnum moss, water or perlite. If you root in water, make sure to change the water frequently. As soon as the roots reach a length between 5-10 cm, the cutting can be potted in a substrate of your choice!

Pests and diseases. Hoyas are easy to care for and usually quite resistant to pests. Rarely you might find mealy bugs on the underside of the leaves and along the stems. Those uninvited guests can be easily removed with a q-tip dipped in ethanol.

How do I get my Hoya to bloom? To support and provoke flowering, you might want to expose your plant to increased sun stress and longer drought periods at the end of winter. However, please note that these kind of measures might lead to chlorosis, which means the color of the leaves will eventually start to fade.
Ideally just have some patience, nature always finds a way to surprise us!