How to Grow Hoya Plants

The dark green leaves and clusters of small flowers with bright centers that hoya plants produce form a striking combination. Propagation is a simple process, and once the plants are established, they continue to produce flowers for years, though it may take several years before the first blooms form. The plant can be grown indoors or outdoors in hanging pots. Caring for a Hoya is easy, as they don’t require a lot of water or fertilizer.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Flowerpot
• Stones
• Potting soil

1. Make a cutting from a healthy plant. The cutting should have two or three leaf nodes. Nodes are the bumps on the stem that leaves emerge from.
2. Remove any leaves from around the bottom node and submerge the bottom two thirds of the cutting in water. Add water, as needed, until the cutting produces roots.
3. Prepare a flowerpot by placing several small stones in the bottom to aid drainage. Fill the pot with potting soil.
4. Dig a hole in the soil that’s deep and wide enough for the cutting and its roots. Place the cutting in the hole and firmly press the soil around it. Water the plant thoroughly.
5. Place the potted plant in a bright location. Hoyas need four hours of direct sunlight each day. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat mealy bugs and spider mites by spraying the plant with a mixture of water and a mild household detergent. Prune plants after they’ve finished flowering, but don’t take off the buds that form after the flower is dead. Use 15-15-15 fertilizer every two months.

• Nigh time temperatures should not drop below 60 degrees F, and daytime highs should be above 70 degrees F.