Do you like plants that produce fragrant flowers and planning to get one?
Are you dreaming of growing an indoor plant that grabs your attention wherever you look at it? Do you love the plant which produces vines that climb the walls of your kitchen?
If you are having these questions in your mind, then you have come to the right place to search for them! Let me not waste your time, by asking some funny questions, because I know a plant that has great matches for your requirements.Â
Today, I will discuss a unique plant that will make your surroundings mesmerizing with its fragrance and is low maintenance as well. This plant is Hoya Lacunosa! Now, let me take you to the care and maintenance guide for these attractive Indonesian native plants.
Before I start, let me introduce Hoya Lacunosa and why it is so popular all around the world!
About Hoya Lacunosa!
Hoya Lacunosa, wax plant or wax flowers is a plant that belongs to the hoya genus and is a member of the Apocynaceae family. These plants are native to the tropical regions in Thailand and the places between west and central Malaysia. Also, these plants are well-known for their low maintenance and their attractive look. Furthermore, these vining plants enhance your home interior if you place one indoors. However, you can grow them outdoors with proper care. Also, they produce gorgeous flowers that are in a star shape and have a furry look with yellow centers.
Moreover, they are often misunderstood as artificial flowers. These flowers have a sweet smell and thus make your room aromatic. The foliage of these plants is dark green velvet to the touch. Furthermore, these low-care plants are further divided into different subspecies and every species has similar growth requirements.
Let us know some more details of the plant before knowing the propagation and care tips of the plant.
1. Height and width of Hoya Lacunosa plant
The Hoya Lacunosa plants can climb up tall trees up to 10 feet and above when grown wild. But, the indoor Hoya Lacunosa has only a maximum height of 5-6 feet. The mature Hoya Lacunosa plant has a width of one and a half to two feet.
2. The flowering of the Hoya Lacunosa plant
These plants produce beautiful star-shaped flowers that are furry and yellow-centered. Its blooms are well known for their sweet fragrance. The flowers of the plant grow in clusters and each cluster has at least 10 flowers.
3. Toxicity of Hoya Lacunosa plant
These plants are non-toxic to both humans and animals. But, they are not for ingestion. So, avoid ingesting the parts of the plant.
4. Best time to pot Hoya Lacunosa plant
The growing season or just before the growing season is considered the best time to pot this plant because the growing season boosts the plant’s growth and gives it relief from the stress due to repotting.
Are you a fan of Hoya Lacunosa like me? Are you planning to propagate Hoya Lacunosa at home but don’t know how? Worry not, as I am doing discuss in detail how to propagate Hoya Lacunosa!
How to propagate Hoya Lacunosa?
As I’ve already said it is easy to maintain this plant, and it’s easy to propagate too. You don’t need to take stress to increase the number of these plants. All you need is to have a mature mother plant to collect seeds or stem cuttings. Although you can use layering or air layering processes to propagate the Hoya Lacunosa, this vining plant can easily be propagated through seeds and stem cuttings.
So, I will now discuss those processes in this article. You can also use those methods if you want.
1. Propagation through seeds
This is the easiest, but time taking process of propagation. Although propagation through stem cuttings is a faster method, many plant enthusiasts use this method to propagate the plant. Let me tell you about this method in detail.
- Collect the seeds of Hoya Lacunosa from a mature mother plant.
- Take a suitable pot filled with potting mix.
- Place the seeds at a depth of 1 inch in the soil mix and dampen the soil. Make sure that every two seeds have at least 2 inches gap between them.
- Maintain the moisture to fasten the root growth.Â
- It takes at least 4-5 weeks for the seed to produce roots.
- After observing a small plant growing from each seed, transplant the seedlings into different suitable pots.
2. Propagation through stem cuttings
This method is faster than the above method and also the easy one. Most gardeners who are curious to increase the plant number use this method. Its success rate is also high. So, let me not waste your time.
- Wear garden gloves to cut the best stem to propagate.
- Using sharp scissors, cut a 5 to 10-inch stem that is at the bottom or near the root system. Make sure that the stem is healthy, mature, and strong without any infections.
- If you have rooting hormone at your home then apply it to the bottom end of the stem cutting, it boosts the root growth. You can skip this step if the rooting hormone is not available at the moment, since it can grow roots without the rooting hormone.
- Remove all the lower leaves, leaving three or four at the top.Â
- Prepare a pot with a well-drained potting mix to plant the stem cutting. Water it slightly.
- Now, place the stem into the soil mix, at least at a 2-inch depth.
- It starts growing roots within 2-3 weeks. If the soil is wet enough to produce the roots.
- You can change the pot or you can leave the pot like that.
Now, you know the methods for propagating the Hoya Lacunosa plant. But do you know the different mediums that can propagate Hoya Lacunosa?
Potting medium for Hoya Lacunosa!
You can propagate the plant in different potting mediums. Let me tell you what they are and why people use the different mediums.
1. Soil as a potting medium
It is the common medium that everyone uses to propagate this plant. Because you don’t need to be too attentive to the plant. All you need to do is provide enough water to the seeds or stem cutting. You can propagate the plant by both seeds and cutting in this medium.
2. Water as a potting medium
Hoya Lacunosa can be propagated in water. Water fastens the root growth and you can easily observe the root growth if the container is a transparent one. Remember to change the water every 2-3 days, to avoid mold growth in it. Also, use only tap water to propagate. After observing the root growth, change the plant in a pot with soil.
3. Sphagnum moss as a potting medium
Sphagnum moss preserves the humidity for a long time which fastens the root growth process and allows aeration. Thus some gardeners use sphagnum as the potting medium. Transplant the newly propagated plant in the suitable pot filled with potting mix that we are going to discuss. Remember, this medium is only for stem cuttings.
4. Perlite as potting medium
Perlite also helps in maintaining high humidity to boost the root growth of the stem cutting. But, if you use perlite as the potting medium then bury the stem cutting in the container of perlite and cover it with plastic wrap, after watering it. The roots can be observed in 2-3 weeks.
Now, let us know the care guide for Hoya Lacunosa!
How to care for the Hoya Lacunosa?
Hoya Lacunosa plants are easy to care for. They can be grown both outdoors and indoors. They produce more fragrant flowers with attractive foliage that steals the heart. So, it has become more popular and can be seen in almost every plant lover’s house. Some tips will make your gardening journey with this plant easier. Let us know them:
1. Sunlight requirements of Hoya Lacunosa!
Hoya Lacunosa plants generally need bright light for their survival. But, they can’t tolerate direct sunlight. Their soft velvety leaves may burn if they are exposed to direct intense rays of the sun. So, it is better to place the plant in a well-lit place that gets enough sunlight. These plants can be placed 3-6 feet away from the windows that source bright sunlight to make them thrive.
Remember, placing the plant just beside the window is not a good idea, as the sunlight passes through the window glass becomes more intense and burns the foliage. You can also provide filtered sunlight for your plant using drapes. Hoya Lacunosa can tolerate direct sunlight for 2-3 hours daily, during the early mornings or late evenings.Â
Because the intensity of the sunlight is low and will not cause any harm to the plant it helps the plant to thrive. If you can’t maintain the plant indoors, then place them outdoors in a shade. Make sure that the plant is not exposed to the hot sun in the afternoons. Don’t place them in dark rooms or in places that get minimum light. The plant needs at least 6-8 hours of bright indirect light. If you can’t provide enough light for the plant, you can try using plant lights, and providing air watering.
2. Watering Hoya Lacunosa
The Hoya Lacunosa plants are slightly drought resistant. They don’t need much water to thrive. But, you should water it thoroughly whenever you water it as this plant which has succulent leaves stores water in the plant cells for its usage in drought conditions. Also remember not to overwater it, as the root system of the plant is sensitive to overwater. It might be tricky to know the exact amount of water to reduce the thirst of this plant, But I have an idea to maintain your Hoya Lacunosa plant healthy.
Water the plant slowly without disturbing the soil. Let the soil and roots of the plant completely absorb enough water and if the excess water is coming out of the drainage holes, then stop watering it. Check the soil mix to know its wetness. Poke the soil at 1-2 inch depth, if it is dry then you need to give it a drink and if it is slightly wet then postpone your watering schedule. Remember to use only tap water while watering the plant.
The water needs of Hoya Lacunosa depend on climatic conditions. During the growing season, which is from early spring to the late summer, your plant grows quickly, thus this plant dries quickly. So, it needs a lot of water to thrive. During the winter, the plant goes dormant and stops its growth for a while. So, it may not consume much water now. So, change the amount and frequency of water when the climate changes.
Overwatering this plant leads to fungal growth in the plant, root rot, discoloration of the leaves, and other such diseases. Underwatering affects the growth rate and may cause curled leaves, dried foliage and stems, brown edges, and other such diseases. So, follow the above rule for watering your plant.
3. Temperature range suitable for Hoya Lacunosa
Hoya plants thrive at room temperatures and the hoya Lacunosa plant is not an exception to that. These plants do well in temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Mostly these plants are placed indoors, so the plant may get any temperature-related problems. But, the problem arises when there are sudden changes in the climate, or if you are growing it outdoors.
These plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the lower temperature stops the growth of the plant and temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit may cause dehydration and sunburns in the plant. The temperatures other than the suitable range will cause stress in the plant and thus cause damage to the plant’s growth. So, maintain the plant in its favorable temperature range.Â
Place the plant indoors where it gets bright indirect sunlight. Do not place it in a cool location. If you place your plant outdoors in a shade, then make sure that the temperature is not exceeding 85 degrees. During the mid-summer bring it indoors to maintain it. Try placing it near coolers, if the temperatures are too high. Also, you need to bring the plant indoors in the winter season. Because on the nights of winter, the temperatures fall below 50 degrees and that can eventually kill the plant. You can use plant heaters if the temperature falls too low.
4. Suitable Humidity level for growing Hoya Lacunosa
Like all other plants in the Hoya genus, the Hoya Lacunosa plant too adapts to the humidity level present in the home. 40 to 60% humidity level is considered the suitable humidity for this plant. Generally, every home has this humidity. If the plant is placed outdoors, then let it be surrounded by many other plants to maintain the humidity. Or if it is a single plant in a shade, then try misting the plant, whenever it looks dry.
However, regular watering is enough for the plant, light misting can help the plant to survive in dry climatic conditions. Do not place the plant near vents. If you are supplying light by the plant lights, then misting helps the plant. Kitchens and bathrooms provide much moisture to the plant.
But, remember high humidity levels can cause fungal growth on the foliage that spreads to the roots of the plant and may lead to the plant’s death if ignored for a long time. Don’t miss the plant too frequently even in dry conditions, misting should be done only if you find that the leaves of the plant are curled and have lost their shine.
5. Potting soil mix for Hoya Lacunosa
Hoya Lacunosa plants need to be potted in dry and loose soil. The type of soil mix you use to pot the plant will impact the plant’s health. Use a well-drained and nutrition-rich soil mix to pot this plant. The roots of Hoya plants are prone to root rot, so do not use compact soil to plant Hoya Lacunosa. If you can’t afford the best quality well-drained soil mix, then don’t worry, you can prepare it at home with some organic matter.Â
Mix peat moss, orchid bark (if it is available), perlite, coarse sand, or small pieces of gravel in equal quantities to the normal household soil to make it well-draining. You can also mix small pieces of charcoal and vermiculite humus into the soil if you have it at home. This not only makes the soil well-draining by draining the excess water to drain from the soil but also allows air circulation in the soil mix that helps the roots to absorb more oxygen.
In addition to that, it increases the nutritional value of the soil mix. If you don’t have enough time to prepare this, you can buy it from any plant store. Remember, your plant should stay in the same soil mix until you repot it. It will be happy only if you use a suitable soil mix for planting it.
6. Potting Hoya Lacunosa
Nothing to worry about if you are planning to plant your Hoya Lacunosa outdoors(in shade) in the ground. But, the problem arises when you’ve decided to plant it in a pot. As we discussed in the case of soil, the plant stays in the same pot and potting mix for years until you report it. So, I recommend you use a suitable pot for planting your Hoya Lacunosa. To select a better pot, you need to consider 4 factors in the pot which I will discuss now!
a) Material of the pot
The material of the pot has its significance in the plant’s health, but most of the time we ignore it. Plants like Hoya Lacunosa have sensitive roots that don’t feel comfortable when they sit in waterlogged soil for a lot of time. The plant feels happy only if the soil dries quickly. Even though the soil mix is well-draining, if the pot is made up of material like plastic, the soil can’t dry soon and become waterlogged. This may cause root-related issues in the plant.
It is better to use pots that are made up of clay. Because they have porous walls that allow aeration into the soil and dries the soil mix quickly. Moreover, it supplies oxygen to the roots and thus improves the plant’s growth. Terracotta pots, unglazed ceramic pots, and normal and simple clay pots are the best choices.
b) Size of the pot
Large pots are filled with a lot of soil and hold more water. It takes much time to get dry. So, it is recommended that the size of the pot must be 1-2 inches larger than the root system of the plant. Smaller than that may stop the root growth and thus the plant growth.
c) The drainage system of the pot
The drainage system of the pot plays an important role in maintaining the plant’s good health. Because the excess water should come out to make the soil dry. Otherwise, the water stays in the soil and it may not be liked by the root system. So, select a pot, which has at least one drainage hole at the bottom. It is better if the pot has five small distinct drainage holes at the bottom. Make sure that the drainage holes are not clogged while potting.
d) Process of potting
Take the selected pot and fill the pot with a layer of gravel or pieces of bricks at the bottom of the pot. This helps in avoiding the blockage of the drainage holes. Then place a layer of well-drained soil mix on top of it. Then place the plant and support the plant by adding soil at the sides and top of the plant’s base. Water it slightly. That’s it you’ve completed potting the plant!
7. Repotting Hoya Lacunosa
The Hoya Lacunosa plant needs to be repotted every 1-2 years. These plants love to have pot-bound roots to boost their blooming. But, repotting regularly helps by avoiding root damage, also provides more space for root growth and the new soil mix supplies more nutrients to the plant. When compared to many plants, these plants grow their roots fastly.
So, repotting helps in increasing the space for root growth. The old soil loses all its nutrients and becomes futile. Thus it cannot supply nutrients anymore. Frequent fertilization is not a good idea so, repot the plant once in at least two years to maintain the growth rate of the plant. However, you should repot the plant immediately soon after confirming the root rot (if occurs) and prune the rotten parts.
Now, let us know the process of repotting, firstly damp the soil in the pot to avoid root damage while taking the plant out of it. Now, take a pot that is 2 inches larger than the old pot and fill it with a layer of gravel and the next layer with fresh,nutrient-rich, and well-draining soil mix. Then gently remove the plant out of the old pot and shake the plant to remove the old soil. Place the plant in the new soil mix and add soil around it. Water it lightly and place the plant back in its position.
8. Pruning Hoya Lacunosa
These plants do not need to be pruned, as they are vines that crawl up heights. But you can prune them back to save the energy of the plant, cut off the leggy stems that disturb the space around the plant, and of course shape the plant in your desired way. Remember don’t over-prune it and avoid pruning new leaf nodes where you can observe flowering.
Do not trim the old flowers with their base, because your plant may produce new flowers there. Prune the infected parts of the plant, if there are any, and throw them out to avoid the spread of the infections.
Rotten roots of the plant should be pruned while repotting. You can collect thy stem cuttings to propagate them. It is better to prune the plant just before spring to avoid the drop in growth in the plant due to shock at the same time, it saves energy and boosts growth during the growing season. You can prune the dead leaves any time in the year, but normal grooming should not be done during its dormant period.
9. Fertilizing Hoya Lacunosa
Hardy plants like Hoya Lacunosa are often neglected when it comes to fertilization. Because they are versatile plants that grow quickly and produce more flowers. But, this too needs fertilization just before the summer season (which is the growing season of the plant) to boost its growth and help it produce more blooms. The nutrient-rich potting mix of the plant becomes futile after some time, so fertilization helps the plant to continue its growth. Mild fertilizers are often used to fertilize this plant as the root system is sensitive. Dilute the liquid fertilizer to feed the plant.
Be careful while fertilizing these sensitive plants, because the small mistake you make while feeding it will have a great impact on the plant’s health. Read the instructions given on the container of the fertilizer to feed the plant correctly. Potassium-rich fertilizers help the plant to produce more blooms, phosphorus fertilizers help the foliage growth and nitrogen is needed by roots for their better performance.
So, many of the plant growers use NPK fertilizers in a 15:15:15 ratio to feed the plant. It is better to feed it with organic fertilizers if they are available for you. Because they do not harm the root system. Fertilize the plant once or twice during the growing season to increase its growth. Avoid feeding the plant in winter as it causes stress in the plant.
Do not over-fertilize the plant or leave it unfertilized. Overfertilization can burn the roots of the plant and lack of fertilization can result in the plant’s growth drop.
Now, let us explore the common problems that your Hoya Lacunosa can face!
Common problems that trouble Hoya Lacunosa!
The Hoya Lacunosa plant is susceptible to many pests and diseases. Always keep an eye on your plants and take necessary action if you see something is off with your plants. The earlier you take measures, the earlier you can limit the spread of diseases. But before that, first, you need to identify what is happening with your plants.
That is why now I will discuss the pests and diseases that can attack your Hoya plants so that you can identify the root cause and take necessary action to get rid of the issue and make your plant healthy again! Â
1. Pests that can affect your Hoya Lacunosa!
Hoya Lacunosa plants sometimes get affected by pests like Mealybugs, Aphids, Scale, and Spider mites that result in damaging the plant’s health. They lie underneath the plant and suck the plant’s fluids and make it dry and eventually kill the plant. But don’t worry, they can be easily treated if you notice them quickly.
If you notice any insect that is lying on the plant, both the outer and undersides of the plant then try to pick them, if it is not possible, then we have different methods to get rid of them.
- Spray the soap and water on the infected parts.Â
- Apply neem oil to the plant where the pests lie.
- Take a piece of cotton, dip it in the rubbing alcohol, and wipe off the infestation.
- You can also use mild pesticides to remove the pests.
2. Diseases that can affect your Hoya Lacunosa!
This hardy plant hardly gets affected by any disease. Root rot, discoloration of the foliage, fungal growth, droopy leaves and stems, fall of growth rate, dried leaves, and stems, stopped blooming and other diseases bother your plant. You can treat the plant and make it healthy again if you provide proper care. Let us discuss how to treat the different problems:
a) Root rot
Provide adequate water to your plant, overwatering the plant can make the root watery and may result in root rot. The rotten roots fail to perform better and thus it affects the plant’s survival. Rotten roots should be pruned-off by repotting the plant and then planting it in a new pot with fresh soil. Droopy and mushy leaves are the signs of root rot.
b) Discolorations of the foliage
It commonly occurs due to inadequate sunlight. The plant should get at least 6-8 hours of bright light, otherwise, the foliage turns yellow. If the leaves of the plant are turning brown then your plant is being exposed to direct sunlight overfertilization can also result in the same. Follow the above care tips to make the plant better again.
c) Fungal growth
Fungus grows where the excess water lies for a long time. That means overwatering, poor drainage or frequent watering causes fungal growth in the soil or on the foliage. You can treat your plant by using fungicides. If the damage is more, then prune the affected part and throw it away from the plant to avoid the spread.
- Dehydration causes droopy leaves and stems. It also leads to dried leaves and stems. The water you plant whenever the soil becomes dry.
- Lack of nutrition results in a fall in the growth rate of the plant. So, fertilize the plant regularly and repot the plant every 2 years.
- If your plant is not blooming even in the growing season, it is telling you that you are not providing enough light for the plant.
Did you know that Hoya Lacunosa has a toxic sap?
Conclusion
Hoya Lacunosa is one of the most beautiful indoor plants which can be maintained with low care. Many plant lovers grow this beautiful plant to make their houses aromatic. If you are a beginner, this is a better choice to start your gardening.
Also, Hoya Lacunosa has a toxic sap, so keep them away from children and pets to be safe.
I hope I’ve covered everything you need to know about this beautiful plant. You can buy this plant at any nursery or plant store. Then why are you wasting your time browsing to know about some more plants? Start your gardening journey by getting one!
Also, don’t forget to share this article on social media and with your friends and family!
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