Do Hoyas climb or hang, is a question that causes confusion for a lot of gardeners and plant lovers. Hoyas are vining plants that are epiphytes in nature and like to grow while attached to tree branches.
You can train them at home to climb, hang or trail along as you like. This article will explain these growth habits and share tips on encouraging Hoyas to climb.
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Do Hoyas Climb or Hang When Growing?
Hoyas can climb and hang when they are growing, as long as you choose the way that they have to grow and the support you give. Often enough, they are plants that climb with the right support, but you can also have them hanging.
– Hanging
To make Hoyas hang in hanging baskets is relatively straightforward. You only need a pot or a basket to plant and hang these wax plants above the ground. The slender vines will begin to hang down as they carry on growing.
The choice of the hanging pot or basket is of primary importance. The good old terracotta or clay baskets no doubt provide the best ventilation for the roots. Pick a soil mixture that is chunky, well-draining, and dries quickly, and this way you would see how these plants are often grown in cactus mixes that contain large chunky pieces of charcoal and clay to aid in water drainage.
Hoya does not tolerate very bright light that reaches it directly. Even indoors, certain spots within the house receive harsh light, like the southern-facing window. A whole plant can be potted in a hanging pot or start with stem cuttings. With proper care, the plant will grow its vines, which will naturally begin to hang down.
– Climbing
The right kind of vertical support is very important to make a hoya plant climb. The two most common types of support used are either a moss pole or a wooden trellis. The plant will wrap and twist itself around this support and grow upwards and this is how they trail and climb.
Again, the plant needs to be potted in the right container and in the right type of soil. Going for a cactus mix that is chunky, loose, and airy is always a safe and reliable option.
Choose a spot that is well-lit but not by intense bright light, indoors or outdoors. The vines climb better when left undisturbed, so the choice of location is very important because of the environmental help that it would give as support.
Next, select the vertical support of your choice and place the pot next to it. Just like the climbing string of hearts plant, climbing Hoya varieties will grow alongside various objects. They will climb alongside poles, bookshelves, window sills, and even walls under the right circumstances.
What Are The Best Types of Climbing Hoyas?
The best types of climbing Hoyas are Hoya australis, Hoya publicly, and Hoya carnosa. These varieties are naturally inclined towards climbing up any available support. Compared to other varieties, only a little effort or time will be needed to train them to climb.
– Hoya Australis
If you are new to growing and propagating hoyas, H.australis is the best plant for you if you wish for them to climb. It is a natural creeper and attaches to vertical surfaces instantly. With its rapid upwards growth, you will have a long enough vine in just a few months.
Moreover, you should known that the wax vine, the sticky Hoya leaves, stick to trellis or poles and grows upwards. The maximum length it can grow outdoors is 33 feet, provided the plant care guide is strictly followed. Even inside the house, as an indoor plant, you can expect it to climb at least 20 feet tall under the right circumstances with the right sunlight and further conditions.
– Hoya Pubicalyx
These hoya plants are popular for their gorgeous foliage and waxy leaves. The stems will hang down below unless you support them with a pole made of moss. The maximum height they can achieve when grown in natural light is six to seven feet.
For this type of hoya, you must remember that when placed under artificial grow lights indoors, unfortunately, this plant might not grow that tall. To ensure a climbing growth habit, the supporting pole made of moss must always be kept moist.
– Hoya Carnosa
The carnosa variety is a slightly slow creeper but very easy to manage. When grown close to a suitable surface, it begins an upward climb. Its vines can grow about 20 feet long, so make sure to set it up with a surface that is long and tall enough. This plant is often adorning window sills and door frames with gorgeous Hoya flowers when they are hanging.
– Hoya Obovata
This is another Hoya that likes to climb more than hang down. It attaches itself readily to any available support and grows up to 20 feet long. It can be distinguished from other Hoyas by its plump, oval-shaped leaves that are very soft to the touch.
Its leaves can grow large and heavy, so the support must also be substantial and sturdy. Simple stakes made of soft bamboo will only be able to sustain their weight for a little while longer.
How To Support Hoyas as They Climb?
To support Hoyas as they climb upwards, you can try to use a wooden stake or place it around trellis, or a vertical pole of moss. Depending on the plant, the environment, and the amount of space available, any of these options may be used.
– Use Stakes
Using a stake is the simplest way to help Hoyas to climb upwards in a pot. This method requires the least effort and is one of the most effective. Hoyas tend to have aerial roots growing along entire lengths of their stems. These roots help them adhere to the stake and grow towards its apex.
This means there is no need for fastening ropes or threads unless the vine struggles to stay attached to the stake. Most Hoya varieties will automatically curl around the stake safely and securely. Tree branches, twigs, or bamboo canes make the best stakes for making Hoyas climb with all ease.
– Use Moss Poles
These poles tend to recreate the tropical conditions under which Hoyas live in nature. These are vertical supports, like stakes covered with peat or sphagnum moss. Moss around the pole tends to absorb water from the soil and remains moist. Using a moss pole would help increase the water uptake from the aerial roots and promote the growth of bigger leaves, so it is also beneficial to its development.
Working with these types of poles has been shown to help encourage Hoyas to climb faster. These poles are easily available for purchase in nurseries, and you can even make them at home if so inclined. As a general rule of thumb, the pole needs to be thicker than the thickest vine on the plant.
– Use Trellis
A trellis is a lightweight frame made of wood, plastic, or any other material. Mostly wooden trellises are used in gardening, and their primary purpose is to support climbing vines. An additional benefit is that vines twisted around trellises look aesthetically pleasing and would also add a feature to the structure.
For climbing Hoyas, a wooden trellis is the best option. When using any other material, see that it is waterproof and sturdy. There are many designs to select from when ordering online or making one at home. Old stakes around the toolshed can be painted and reused to make a trellis of your choice.
Initially, tall stems might have to be tied around the framework using ribbons. Eventually, Hoya will naturally curl around the trellis and adhere to it via aerial roots. Interestingly, trellises can even be made using unique materials such as fish nets, chicken wires, rebar that has been reclaimed, or discarded plumbing wires. For Hoyas, the material of the trellis must be narrow to encourage vertical growth.
– Support With Other Plants
Just like they grow in nature, Hoyas can be trained to climb over larger and stronger plants. Larger plants like Monstera provide the ideal support for this creeping succulent. Which is why you would see that the climbing Hoya is tied to the other plant until it twists and secures itself around its central stem as the other plants are surrounding it.
This assembly gives large, non-flowering plants a whole new look and feel. However, we do not recommend planting Hoyas in the same potting mix as the support plant. Both plants may have different care requirements that might not be compatible.
Conclusion
If care tips for growing Hoyas are followed properly, it is possible to grow them by hanging or climbing vines, now read on to understand this better and find out which hoyas like to climb more than others.
- Hoyas grow by elongating thin, delicate stems with aerial roots. These stems can climb on surfaces, hang down from baskets, or trail on the floor.
- Some support needs to be provided to make them climb, such as poles, stakes or walls, etc.
- The easiest approach to getting Hoyas to climb is to put a stake in their potting mix.
- Fancier options include purchasing trellises and getting vines to roll around them if you would like to add to the aesthetic feature.
Hoya plants are gorgeous succulents that produce the loveliest foliage under the right conditions, as they can both climb up and hang down, giving you many options while growing them indoors.
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