Hoya Plant Propagation

Native to Australia and Eastern Asia, there are about 100 different varieties of Hoya. As a houseplant, they typically bloom in the summer, a delicate looking flower that is star shaped. Hoyas can be propagated at any time of the year, using seeds, leaf cutting and stem cuttings.

Propagating by Seed

• Using seed to propagate a Hoya is the most difficult and time-consuming. It can take months for the seed pods to ripen. The seed pods should be covered with gauze or nylon stocking pieces so that the seeds do not disburse when the pod splits open. The seeds are ready to use when the pod, gently twisted, splits open along its length. Remove the seeds from the seed floss. Use the seeds while still fresh and plant in a flat, filled with a soil-less mixture to which 30 percent perlite has been added. Lay the seeds on the soil and then cover with a thin layer of the potting mix. Only water from below. Once true leaves begin to develop, the seedlings can be repotted in separate pots.

Propagating by Leaf Cuttings

• Leaf cuttings typically include only the leaf blade. Place the leaf blade into the soil at a 46-degree angle, burying the stem up to the leaf base. The leaf will develop roots but might not progress to producing a healthy plant.

Propagating by Stem Cuttings

• Using stem cuttings is the easiest way to propagate a Hoya. Cut a healthy branch that has two to three leaf notes. Using a soil-less mixture that has 30 to 40 percent perlite, remove the leaves from the lowest node, dust the cut with rooting powder and plant. Water to wet the soil, allowing the soil to drain. Keep the soil moist but do not allow water to stand in the pot dish. The cutting should root in three to four weeks with leaves appearing in another four to six weeks.

Culture

• Once your plant has rooted, place it in a location where it will get at least four hours of direct sunlight each day or several more hours if in a location with curtain-filtered or indirect sunlight. Daily temperatures varying from 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 or higher during the day are best. When the plant is flowering, water generously. Otherwise, when the plant is resting, let the soil almost dry out between waterings. Fertilize, during the spring and summer, every two months.