Jun
3
The Hardy Hoya
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Hoya carnosa (or Wax Plant) has thick, waxy leaves and umbrella-type clusters of star-shaped flowers that ooze sweet nectar in the heat. They’re veritable nightmare for hummingbirds with addictive personalities. Their flowers are unreal looking — that is to say, they look incredibly fake.
Hoyas are seasonally fickle. In the summer, they like it warm with bright light for good flower bud formation. But come winter, they like it cool (50-55 F). Which is why in our mild climate, I’ve been able to over-winter the little darlings outside in a protected area.
Not that this doesn’t freak me out.
It does. Which is why during an extra cold winter I wimp out and end up bringing them indoors. They also like very little water during this time.
While perfectly at home in well… the home, my hoyas thrive in spring, summer, and fall outside in a garden area with dappled shade. They are super easy to propagate, too. Take some stem cuttings and pop them in water. When you see long roots, pop them into a pot. Remember, this is not a baby plant. A cutting is a clone of mama, so you don’t have to wait for maturity to get blooms.
The two no-nos with hoyas are: Don’t move these guys once the flower buds appear or they may drop ‘em. And don’t re-pot them until you have to. I didn’t re-pot mine for seven years (seriously — on purpose) and they bloomed like crazy. Other than that, they’ve been some of the easiest plants I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with.
These particular hoyas have special meaning for me because a dear friend of mine entrusted them in my care when her grandmother passed away. Her grandmother grew them for about ten years, so these guys have an twenty-first birthday coming up!
Photo #1 by Chris McLaughlin
Photo #2 By GJ Family
Photo #3 by Chris McLaughlin
