Hoya brevialata is the houseplant you have been missing all your life. It produces a heavy and exuberant bloom in the spring and fresh colored foliage for the rest of the year.
That is why you must know some of its basic care requirements. This guide will help you grow this plant using the easiest approach possible, keep reading and learn all there is to know.
What Is Hoya Brevialata?
Hoya brevialata splash is a small and fragrant plant with tiny, plump leaves. Also known as the wax flower plant because of the texture of its leaves, it produces heavily populated inflorescences containing up to 40 flowers each during spring.
Hoya Brevialata Care
This tiny hoya houseplant needs bright light in the form of direct early morning light and indirect light for the remaining part of the day. Check to see if the top two inches of the soil have dried before watering with distilled water. Feed only during spring and summer with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
– Water Requirements
Your Hoya houseplant needs to be given water whenever its soil dries from the top two inches. Other than the first two inches, try not to let the soil dry any more than this.
Contrary to popular belief, there should be no set schedule to water a plant. Instead, let the soil dictate whether it needs watering or not. This exercise will go miles in preventing all kinds of water-related problems.
Keep a stick or a barbecue skewer close by. Whenever it seems like the plant needs water, insert these near the rim two inches deep to make sure. If they come out without any moist soil attached, only then go ahead with watering.
It is best to water with a large volume of water. If your soil and pot have good drainage, all the extra water will flow off. Keep the plant dry because it doesn’t need to be washed every time.
Distilled water is superior to tap water. It is pure and has no harmful chemicals or salts that might harm the plant. Filtered water is the next best thing to distilled water for household plants.
However, using tap water is not such a good idea. The salts within it build up in the soil and then move into the plant. They precipitate on the leaves’ edges and produce chemical burns.
The chlorine within tap water is also harmful to the plant. As a preventative measure, collecting tap water in a bucket and leaving it overnight will cause chlorine to evaporate.
– Light Requirements
Brevialata hoyas like to grow under bright light during the daytime. However, It can tolerate only early morning sunlight. You must provide it with some relief during the noon and afternoon hours when the sunlight is the harshest.
This is an ideal spot to grow this plant next—a window to the east lets direct early morning sunlight in as needed. Your plant can bask comfortably under indirect light for the rest of the day. A window to the south is your second best option inside the house.
You can place the pot near it to get the brightest sunlight; however, as a precautionary measure against sunburn, cover the window with a curtain from noon till evening.
Yes, it is possible to grow this Hoya houseplant outside the house as well as inside. It will get plenty of sunshine to thrive the best it can. Do provide it with some kind of shade in the terrace or garden to protect against direct light.
We like to just put ours under the shade of a larger plant or tree for a dappled light effect. Are there no direct light sources in your office or home for this plant? LED grow lights for plants are here to help. With this help, you can grow it even in the basement.
LED lights provide the same wavelength of light the plant needs for photosynthesis. They take a longer time to produce an effect compared to natural light. Keep them turned on for at least 10 to 12 hours daily for the best results.
– Soil Requirements
To thrive better, Hoyas need gritty soil that drains water freely and rapidly. The soil also needs to be deeply enriched with essential nutrients that the plant needs in order to grow.
The pH of the soil better stays slightly acidic to neutral, i.e., from 6.1 to 7.5. This pH allows the roots to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients without mucus effort. You should avoid ingredients like lime that increase the pH within the soil.
The easiest formula for the ideal Hoya soil is a 50:50 mixture of peat and perlite. Peat is a gardening staple obtained from boggy marshes, which contribute nutrients to the soil. Perlite is a mineral that helps with improving porosity and aeration.
Let’s be honest; most people have an inclination toward pot because they are easier to maintain. Because brevialata is a rather small plant, it is also more convenient to grow it in pots. You can place these small pots anywhere in the house easily.
When selecting a pot, always choose one made of clay or terracotta. These pots contribute toward aeration and water evaporation. They also act as buffers to maintain the soil’s temperature despite external fluctuations.
We think this plant looks the cutest in a hanging basket. Yes, it may not be as handy and convenient as a pot, but soil water drainage is much better in a basket.
– Temperature Requirements
Luckily for you, this plant can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. 45 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the range at which you can grow it safely enough. The plant might suffer a shock outside this range and start dropping leaves. Sudden changes in temperature in the form of very cold or hot air drafts should also be avoided.
When growing this plant, keep some of the following tips in mind, moving this plant inside the house from outside during wintertime is easy and best.
In winter, ensure no windows are left open at night by mistake. You wouldn’t want to wake up to a leafless leaf in the morning. Nonetheless, keep away from very cold and hot drafts of air at all costs. Never put this plant right under an air conditioning unit.
Hoyas are generally known as radiator plants for their affinity toward warmer temperatures. We would, however, not recommend putting them directly over or near a radiator in the winter.
– Humidity Requirements
So this plant needs 60 to 80 percent humidity during the day and 80 to 90 percent during the night. Such high levels of humidity might not be very comfortable inside the house for you and others. Sometimes you might have to relocate the plant to a room that is not populated very often, like the laundry room.
High humidity is a necessity for this plant. It also predisposes it to the risk of fungal infections. The need for proper air circulation becomes more pertinent when air moisture levels around the plant increase. You can use a humidifier or a moisture tray for humidity purposes.
Humidifiers are available within various price ranges, and buying one makes sense if you own a lot of humidity-living plants. You can put all of them in a room with the humidifier running 24/7 for optimum results. Do not worry about mounting electricity costs; some of the newer ones are quite energy-efficient.
A pebble tray works great when you only have this single Hoya within a room. The water within the tray evaporates and improves humidity around the plant by about 15 percent. A Pebble tray is usually the only option outdoors where you can’t place a humidifier.
– Fertilizer Requirements
This plant likes only a moderate amount of feeding during spring and summer. Our advice would be to fertilize only once a month during the growth and flowering period. It is okay to give the plant-feeding rest for the next half of the year.
Because brevialata is usually kept for producing gorgeous flowers, a phosphorus-rich fertilizer is the one you should go for. Don’t forget to add water with it so that it becomes double or triple diluted. Pour your diluted feed on the soil a little bit away from the upper parts of the plant.
If you feel like you’ll be too busy for regular feeding, then a slow-release fertilizer is your option. At the start of the growing season, bury one to two pellets of a slow-release fertilizer halfway into the soil. It will last a good solid three months.
– Pruning Requirements
If you allow a plant to keep going as it is, its stems will grow wherever they like. Pruning them regularly helps give a proper shape to the plant. No houseplant looks good without regular but careful pruning.
A cardinal pruning rule is to never cut off more than one-third of the plant during one season. The second rule is always to use disinfected cutting instruments. Soak them in alcohol for half an hour and wash them before use.
Take pruning as an opportunity to inspect the health of the plant. All old, wrinkled, and damaged leaves need to go. This will serve to improve air circulation as well. If any sneaky pests have made your plant their home, you will be able to find out more easily.
Propagation: Stem Cutting
Hoya brevialata propagation is best performed using a stem cutting from the parent plant. Timing is of key importance here, the best time being early to late spring.
– Sanitize Your Instruments
We cannot emphasize this point enough! The number one cause of propagation failure ultimately turns out to be unclean and infected instruments.
One way is to use common household alcohol. Some people rub alcohol on the cutting part and then wash it off. We let our instruments sit in alcohol for at least 15 minutes before washing them off.
You can also buy a bottle of a strong antiseptic agent specifically for your tools. It would help if you went for whatever works the best for you.
– Take The Perfect Stem Cutting
Now you need to take the best stem cutting for propagating your brevialata. Choose a stem that is not currently producing flowers in it.
A stem with flowers growing will not give a successful propagation. Cut off five to six inches of the stem with two to three leaf nodes, preferably on the lower side.
Additionally, take care that the stem in question is perfectly healthy. There should be no signs of any pest infestations either.
– Make The Perfect Soil Mix
Brevialata cuttings will grow in adult potting soil without any problems. Mix a 50:50 ratio of peat and perlite in a rather small-sized pot. Dig a hole in the middle of it, and then put your cutting in. The part that was cut should go into the soil.
You can add a teaspoon of rooting hormone to the soil while mixing it. Occasionally you might have to support your cutting in an upright position using a tiny makeshift stake or moss pole.
– Take Special Care During The First Two Weeks
When planted in the soil, a cutting needs special attention for the first fourteen days at least. Place the pot in the perfect light conditions where the temperature is on the warmer side. Your cutting should not be exposed to cold air drafts at all during this time.
Keep the soil evenly moist during this time without going overboard and making the soil runny. The most important thing is to maintain 90 percent humidity levels. If you have a humidifier, that will help a lot.
A quick fix hack is to wrap a piece of plastic over the pot for the first two weeks. In the case of plastic wrap, remove the wrap for about an hour a day to let the growing plant breathe.
Your plant will grow its new roots and shoots in approximately three to six weeks. It may consume up to two to three months before it becomes a self-sustaining plant. You have the option of transferring it to a slightly bigger plant if you want.
Problems
Brevialata, like other hoyas such as Hoya burtoniae and Hoya albiflora, is quite prone to pest infestations such as mealybugs or scales. Improper watering might cause the plant’s health to suffer and appear wilted.
– Mealybugs
Mealybugs are white cotton candy-like round bugs that puncture the plant to eat its sap. They move around slowly, which makes them hard to miss.
They secrete honeydew all over the surface of the leaves. This is a sticky substance that you can actually feel when you touch the leaves. Random patches of yellow will appear on the leaves as a result of malnutrition. The plant becomes progressively weak and might lead to leaf dropping or drooping down over time.
Wash the plant with water and a bar of insecticidal soap, scrubbing with a toothbrush to scrape mealybugs off. Give some time for the plant to dry after this. Dip the end of a Q-tip in neem oil which you can then apply under the leaves.
This is to help kill eggs and larvae left behind by the adult mealybugs. Neem oil will also remove honeydew from the surface of the leaves. Nonetheless, you can use a Q-tip for this.
– Scale Insects
Scale insects are pinpoint-sized brown pests. They are often mistaken for brown spots that have developed on the leaves. Just like mealybugs, they too feed on the plant’s sap to sustain themselves.
Over time, large white-colored waxy patches develop on the affected leaves. This might be accompanied by the appearance of yellow and brown spots. The plant stops growing altogether if the infestation continues for more than three to four months.
Scale insects can be tough bugs to remove from the plant. You will have to scrub pretty forcefully with a toothbrush to pick them off the plant. Again, you can go the natural route and use neem oil to kill these scales.
Neem oil can also be used to make an insecticidal spray instead. These are tougher to kill than mealybugs, though. You might have to spray insecticidal spray every seven days for the next few weeks.
– Hoya Plant Wilting
Is your plant beginning to look dead for the past few days? With drooping leaves and thin shriveling stems? Underwatering, overwatering, high temperatures and pests can cause a plant to appear this way. You may need to figure out the cause before you can get to treating your wilting house plant.
Touch your soil or lift its pot to gauge its weight. If the soil feels dry upon touch and the pot feels light, naturally, your plant is not watered enough. This normally also happens when the weather is so hot that the soil keeps drying up faster than usual.
The reverse watering technique is the best way to revive parched soil. Place the pot in a bucket filled only halfway with water. The soil will soak water from the bottom, and you can lift the plant when the surface starts feeling moist.
Overwatering happens if the soil feels moist or runny and the pot is heavier than usual. It would be good if you were able to cut back on watering the limp Hoya for the time being. Check to see whether the soil or pot’s drainage is being compromised or not.
You can opt for natural home-based remedies like neem oil in case of pests. Chemical insecticides work a bit rapidly because you can use them instead as well.
– Hoyas Not Flowering
A newly bought, potted, or transplanted Hoya takes about two years to establish itself in its new home and produce flowers.
Many first-time Hoya parents panic when their plant fails to bloom despite giving it the best care possible, and there is nothing wrong with the plant. We assure you that it is completely normal, and once your plant starts flowering, there will be no end. You must keep doing what you do until your plant is ready to flower.
FAQ
Is Hoya Brevialata a good companion plant?
Hoya Brevialata can be a great companion plant due to its low-maintenance nature and attractive foliage. It complements various indoor plants nicely.
Can I mist Hoya Brevialata flowers?
Misting Hoya Brevialata flowers occasionally can help maintain humidity levels, enhancing their health and blooming potential.
Is Hoya Brevialata a good beginner plant?
Hoya Brevialata is a suitable beginner plant as it requires minimal care, tolerates different light conditions, and rewards with beautiful flowers.
Conclusion
You don’t want this plant missing from your Hoya collection.
- This house plant likes direct morning light but indirect light for the rest of the daytime.
- It always goes a long way to check the soil before watering.
- In order to promote healthy blooms, use a diluted phosphorus fertilizer but only during summer and spring.
- New hoyas always take two years before they start blooming.
Hoyas are rejuvenating plants to keep on a window sill, a refrigerator, or a kitchen top. With barely five minutes of daily care, they will grow up to be the most rewarding plant in your collection.
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