Hoya

Hoya Retusa is a scraggily type of Hoya with delicate green tendril like foliage. It has similar requirements to many Hoya plants but here is a breakdown of how to look after one in our Hoya Retusa care guide.

Light

Generally Hoya Retusa like a bright indirect light. They are definitely not low light plants and will stop growing in lower light conditions. In order for them to bloom they need bright light. Generally Hoya Retusa need indirect light however we’ve found that this depends where you live. If you are located in an area with lots of intense sunlight then keep your Hoya in bright indirect light but if you live in countries that receive more cloud coverage then putting your Hoya Retusa in direct sunlight shouldn’t be a problem. If you do have your plant in a spot with direct sunlight watch out for signs of excessive light which can include browning and leaf curling.

Watering

Hoya Retusa do not like to be water logged, they don’t want soggy soil and they can be prone to root rot. With this in mind it’s important that you allow the soil to dry out between waterings and that you pot your plant in a container with drainage holes. When you water your plant be sure to moisten the soil evenly but don’t soak it right through. It’s also better to water this plant in the morning rather than at night as the soil will dry more quickly throughout the day.

You may also find that you need to water your plant less during the winter months as the soil takes longer to dry out. If your home has a consistent temperature year round then this may not be the case.

Soil

As Hoya Retusa do not like water sitting around their roots you will need a well draining soil and the best way to achieve this is to make your own. A great way to achieve this is to use a combination cactus soil, orchid mix and perlite to create a light loose potting mix. This will allow the soil to trap the necessary amount of water without any excess being kept that could damage the plant. A potting mix like this will also help to prevent root rot compared to a standard soil.

Humidity

Hoya Retusa like medium humidity. They can tolerate higher levels but will not do so well if the humidity is allowed to drop until the air is dry. Misting your plants can be beneficial but we would recommend using a humidifier to achieve the desired level in your Hoya room. A Levoit humidifier is a great choice as it has a large capacity which means it needs refilling less frequently and you can preset the humidity level. Meaning you choose the level of humidity that you want your room to be at and the humidifier adjusts its output accordingly.

Temperature

Hoya Retusa prefer to be kept warm, as long as the air doesn’t become dry as they originate from the tropics. They do not respond well to inconsistencies in temperature so try to keep them in a room where the temperature will remain relatively the same. It’s important that you keep them away from heating systems and drafts as these can have a negative impact on the plant also.

Fertilisation

You only need to fertilise your plant during the growing season which means spring and summer and you can leave it in the cooler months. Using a regular strength fertilise approximately once a fortnight and you should see your plant push out new growth in response.

Repotting

Hoya in general don’t outgrow their pots that quickly. You will probably be able to repot your plant once a year at the start of the growing season. Of course it’s important that you watch your individual plant and it it’s bursting out of your pot then you can repot it.

Hoya Retusa FAQ

Now you’ve read our Hoya Retusa care guide it’s time to take a look at our FAQ. These are some of the most commonly asked questions about Hoya Retusa and how to care for one.

What does a Hoya Retusa bloom look like?

When they flower the Hoya Retusa puts out beautiful white five pointed flowers that look like little stars.

Is it easy to make Hoya Retusa bloom?

It’s not easy but it’s not necessarily difficult either. You need to make sure the growing conditions are right in order for this to happen, which includes lots of light, maintaining the humidity levels and watering infrequently. They also won’t typically bloom when they’re young plants and you may need to wait a few years before your see your plant put out their first flowers.

Is Hoya Retusa easy to care for?

Yes this plant is quite low maintenance and does not require that much from you making it easy to care for. What makes this plant relatively low maintenance is that it doesn’t need to be watered that often so if you forget about it for a few extra days it should be fine.

How do you care for a Hoya Retusa?

Although we would recommend reading our in depth care guide, if you’re looking for a quick guide to Hoya Retusa care then this is what you need to do for your plant:

• Medium humidity
• Loose well draining soil
• Warm temperature
• Moderate watering
• Bright indirect light

Are Hoya Retusa easy to come by?

These aren’t the most common houseplant to find, if you’re in Europe they tend to be less commonly found in shops than if you’re in Australia or North America. However no matter where you’re from you should be able to find them online, you might just find that shipping can be pricey.

Are Hoya Retusa fast growers?

Even though this plant will not grow that big, Hoya Retusa can grow surprisingly quickly during the growing season.

Hoya Australis is a semi succulent species of Hoya plant meaning it likes bright light and to be watered infrequently. The Australis plant is relatively easy to take care of and puts out beautiful white flowers if kept in the right conditions. It’s the perfect addition to any houseplant collection but if you’re a Hoya enthusiast then it’s a must have. Take a look at our Hoya Australis care guide to find out how to look after this beautiful little plant.

Light

Hoya Australis will do well when kept in bright light. You might find their growth slows or they stop putting out flowers if the lighting conditions are too low. It is recommended that you don’t keep them in direct sunlight but this probably depends on where you live. If you live in northern Europe or along a similar latitude then direct sunlight should be fine for this plant, if you live closer to the equator or receive lots of sunlight then you are going to want to pull your Hoya Australis back away from the direct light.

Watering

Hoya Australis does not like to be wet so you should only water your plant when necessary. Allow the Australis plant to dry out between waterings to avoid problems such as root rot. If you struggle to know when your plant is dry you can either use your fingers by sticking them down into the soil or you can use a moisture meter to help you.

Soil

For your Hoya Australis you will need a well draining mix to avoid water clogging around the plant’s roots. For this a good mix would be cactus soil, orchid mix and perlite. It’s important that you make your your plant pot has drainage holes so that excess water doesn’t stay clogged in the soil.

Temperature

Hoya Australis like to be kept warm but it’s important that the air doesn’t dry out, so make sure they’re not near heating systems. They do not do well in cooler temperatures so make sure you keep them in warmer rooms and away from doors and windows that will allow cool air into the room.

Humidity

The Australis plant prefers to live in medium to high humidity. Although misting can be beneficial for plants a humidifier would help a lot more. Our favourite model is the Levoit humidifier that you can find on Amazon. It has both cool and warm mist, a large capacity you can set it to maintain the room at a certain level of humidity.

Fertiliser

Only fertilise your Australis plant during the growing season and leave it during the winter months. You can fertilise on a fortnightly basis. A general fertiliser should be appropriate for this plant.

Hoya Australis FAQ

Now you have read our Hoya Australis care guide you should be equipped to take care of this plant but if you still have any queries then take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions below.

How do you care for a Hoya Australis?

In order to care for your Hoya Australis we would recommend the following:

• Bright light
• Medium to high humidity
• Infrequent waterings
• Cactus soil, orchid soil/bark, perlite potting mix
• Fertilise during the growing season

Do Hoya Australis like full sun?

This really depends on where you live. Although Hoya Australis like bright light, full sun can be too strong for this plant and can even cause damage. If you live somewhere that receives weaker sun then you can probably allow your plant access to direct sunlight. However, if you live somewhere with strong sunlight then you may want to reconsider this as the sun may damage your plant.

Can Hoya Australis tolerate low light?

Hoya Australis prefer brighter light and may not do so well in low light conditions. If you want your plant to bloom and see some of those beautiful waxy flowers that Hoya are so famous for then you definitely don’t want to keep them in low light conditions as they need bright light in order to bloom.

Is Hoya Australis suitable for a beginner?

Yes there is no reason that a Hoya Australis shouldn’t be suitable for a beginner. They aren’t that difficult to care for, their main requirement being that you don’t overwater them.

Do Hoya Australis bloom?

Yes under the right conditions Hoya Australis will put out beautiful white flowers but they require lots of bright light to do so.

How does the Hoya Australis grow?

The Hoya Australis is a vining plant and can grow to impressive lengths if not pruned. You can either leave this plant to trail downwards and use it as part of a shelf display or another option is to encourage the vines to grow vertically by attaching them to a moss pole. Both have a dramatic effect and are very visually appealing.

Are Hoya Australis common?

Whether or not this plant is common depends on where you live. If you’re from North America and Australasia then you shouldn’t have too much trouble coming across one. However if you’re based in Europe it might be a bit trickier. No matter where you’re from you should be able to order one online but shipping can be expensive and they can be difficult to come by. Hopefully as they become more popular they will be easier to find.

Are Hoya Australis expensive?

Again this depends where you’re from. If you live in Australasia or North America then they shouldn’t be too expensive. However, if you live in Europe where they are less common and more difficult to come by then you may find yourself paying higher prices for them especially if you include shipping. Cuttings are cheaper but can be more difficult to keep alive.

If our FAQ hasn’t managed to address your question then please leave it in the comments below so we can help you as best we can.

 

Hoya Obovata is a fast growing vining Hoya plant that is known for it’s beautiful deep green leaves that are speckled with silver. Although these plants aren’t particularly difficult to care for it would be useful to read our Hoya Obovata care guide in order to know they requirements and how best to look after them.

Light

Hoya Obovata does very well in bright light and will not tolerate low light conditions. The Hoya Obovata has amazing blooms that help to give it the name wax plant, but these blooms will not come out unless the plant is placed in bright light conditions. Many recommend not putting your Hoya Obovata in direct sunlight however we have found that unless the plant experiences relentless sun in a very warm climate you shouldn’t have a problem placing it somewhere it will receive direct light.

Water

Watering your Hoya Obovata should be something you do infrequently. These plants do not like to be over watered. A common sign of your plant receiving too much water includes squishy leaves which can eventually result in root rot. Instead allow the soil to dry between waterings and make sure the pot you’re using has drainage holes so that excess water isn’t sitting in the soil.

Fertiliser

Fertilise your plant during the growing season about once a fortnight but be sure to leave it alone during the winter months. We would recommend using an organic fertiliser and you may even find that once a month is enough for your plant.

Humidity

As Hoya Obovata is traditionally from a more humid zone we would recommend trying to keep them in a moderate to high humidity condition. As long as the air in your home isn’t dry they should be fine with generic household humidity, however in order for them to thrive you may want to look into ways of increasing the humidity levels. A humidifier can be a great way to do this with the Levoit humidifier being our favourite model.

Soil

Like most Hoya plants you will need well draining soil as they do not like their roots wet. Often with Hoyas its best to create your own potting mix. We would recommend using a blend of cactus soil, orchid mix and perlite or peat. This creates a nice well draining rich soil for your plant. Below we’ve attached links to the products.

• Cactus Soil
• Orchid Mix
• Perlite
• Peat

Temperature

It may come as no surprise to you that Hoya Obovata like to be kept on the warmer side. They do not tolerate cooler weathers and they will not do well when exposed to droughts so try to keep them away from doors and windows that will be opened often. They can tolerate higher temperatures but make sure the air doesn’t become dried out as this can be damaging to the plant.

Flowers

The flowers of this plant are red and white resembling lots of tiny cherry bakewells. For the highest chance of successful blooming we would recommend keeping your plant in a space with lots of bright light.

Hoya Obovata FAQ

These are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Hoya Obovata care. If you think there are questions missing from this list that need to be addressed then please let us know in the comments below. Similarly if you see someone else’s questions and think you can help them then please join in with the conversation. The more plant knowledge in our community the better.

How do you care for a Hoya Obovata?

If you haven’t read our full Hoya Obovata care guide and are looking for a quick breakdown then Hoya Obovata need:

• Bright light
• Allow soil to dry out between waterings
• Fertilising during the growing season
• Warm rooms
• Medium to high humidity

Will My Hoya Obovata flower?

Although these types of plants can flower, they don’t always do so. To encourage flowering in your Hoya we would recommend exposing them to the best possible lighting conditions you have in your home. If you give them as much bright light as possible this will increase your chances of seeing some blooms.

Are Hoya Obovata easy for beginners?

Hoya Obovata aren’t a particularly difficult plant to care for, they’re definitely not as fussy as other plants and do not require that much attention from you, however they aren’t necessarily an easy plant. They are an appropriate plant for a beginner but you should read a care guide so you know how to look after them.

Is Hoya Obovata a succulent?

Although Hoya Obovata isn’t technically a succulent it has some succulent like properties in that it doesn’t like to be overwatered and it needs bright direct light to thrive.

Are Hoya Obovata easy to find?

It depends on what country you’re in but Hoya Obovata aren’t an extremely common houseplant yet. They can be difficult to find in Europe and shipping is often quite expensive. They are easier to come by in the USA but they are growing in popularity all the time.

Why are Hoya Obovata called wax plants?

Hoyas often get refered to as wax plants due to the waxy like appearance their flowers have when in bloom.

Do Hoya Obovata like to be watered?

Like all plants Hoya Obovata needs to be watered however it does not like to be watered often and if you don’t allow the soil to dry out between waterings you may find the plant can develop root rot.

Are Hoya Obovata fast growing plants?

Yes under the right growing conditions it can be surprising how quickly Hoya Obovata are able to grow. During growing seasons they can put out so much growth that you may need to cut them back to prevent them from vining all over your home.

Is Hoya Obovata right for me?

It depends on what you like in a houseplant, but if you’re looking for a luscious green vining plant that puts out new growth and requires medium care then there’s no reason that this housplant shouldn’t be for you. We love Hoya and we especially love the Hoya Obovata. In the USA it’s generally easy to get hold of and it’s pretty easy to look after as well.