Let us introduce you to Hoya Glabra if you enjoy Hoyas with large leaves (pronounced as GLAY-bruh). It is a large Hoya with luxuriant green leaves.
Every gardener looking to spruce up their interior space is looking for a new houseplant; this flowering plant is a superb example of a houseplant that is a must-have. This unusual flower is excellent for pot gardening.
In this detailed plant care guide, you will find information and instructions on nurturing this plant, including every step necessary to ensure your plant’s successful indoor growth and propagation.
Contents
What Is Hoya Glabra?
The Hoya Glabra is a tropical species also falls under the category of fragile perennial houseplants. It comes from South East Asia, just like many other Hoyas. It is specifically from the island of Borneo. In humid mangrove woods, it can be found growing in ample amounts.
Hoya Glabra Plant Care
This enormous plant will flourish in a nutrient-rich potting mix with orchid and cactus that drains nicely. Water it once a week during summers; in the winter, just once every two weeks. Keep reading and learn more.
– Water Requirements
You need to water this Hoya plant frequently because it has moderate water requirements. You’ll note that this plant needs a lot of water during the growing season. This is because the plant is particularly active during this time and needs water to carry out essential growth activities.
You are allowed to water this plant once a week during spring and summer season; however, in the winter, you must only water it once every other week or every two weeks. In the winter, your plant likely only needs water once per month.
Overwatering is what Hoya Glabra detests the most. So always wait until the soil is completely dry before watering, then water your plant according to the soil’s needs.
– Light Requirements
This plant can survive in any setting, including full sun and moderate shade. As a result, you can put it on your window sills or in a room corner a few feet from the window. But make sure the Hoya Glabra’s enormous leaves are never exposed to direct sunlight.
Keep in mind that because the Glabra plant has large leaves, it needs lots of sunlight. It is placed close to the window in my living room, covering and getting filtered light.
– Soil Requirements
To grow Hoya Glabra in a pot, you must constantly use a well-draining mix. If not, water will get stuck in the roots. Because this indoor plant benefits from some soil acidity, we advise keeping the pH between slightly acidic and neutral (6.1 to 7.5).
The fact that this plant likes to thrive in damp soil is another important consideration; thus, the potting mix you use must also have good water retention. We would suggest you make your mix by mixing equal amounts of perlite, orchid mix, and cactus mix.
Your potting soil needs organic materials. Doing this will improve your potting mix’s ability to retain nutrients and water. Additionally, this element will improve the general structure of the soil and aid in root penetration and soil dispersion.
Leaf mold, compost, humus, peat, and manure are a few common items used as organic matter. Always keep in mind that using compost frequently can cause an imbalance in the number of nutrients in the soil. Regularly flush the soil to remove salt buildups.
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11 are ideal for Hoya Glabra outdoor planting.
– Temperature Requirements
The majority of growers categorize this plant as a warm or hot grower. Consequently, it can survive in temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 25 degrees Celsius).
Hoya Glabra dislikes temperatures lower than 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius). Therefore, when it becomes extremely cold outside, bring it inside.
– Humidity Requirements
Hoya plants, like Hoya Glabra, are renowned for tolerating dampness. They can flourish in environments with ordinary indoor humidity levels, but most knowledgeable gardeners advise maintaining a humidity level of at least 60 percent for the best growth.
When given the right humidity Hoya Glabra blooms come in a variety of pink and mauve tones. The small blooms’ centers have a vibrant yellow color. These flowers have an off-white border that is star-shaped and tiny but thick. When sunlight shines on the blossoms, they glow brilliantly.
The blossoms are relatively little, measuring approximately 12 inches, but each umbel has 15 to 20 flowers, forming a pink ball of little flowers. In addition to their stunning color, Hoya Glabra blooms also offer a soft, sweet scent with a tinge of citrus.
– Fertilizing Requirements
Plants use water and sunlight to make food in the natural world. However, it is your duty as a plant parent to ensure your plant gets all the nutrients offered to it in its natural environment. For this, fertilizers are a fantastic solution.
Apply a balanced fertilizer with an ideal balance of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen (1:1:1) because these three nutrients are essential for a healthy plant system.
For your plant, they the right fertilizer will help in different things, and one of them is to to consider an essential element that supports chlorophyll development is nitrogen. Nitrogen-based plant food will encourage the growth of your Hoya’s seeds and green leaves.
Nonetheless, another crucial ingredient for the growth of roots and flowers is phosphorus. Within the system of the plant, it is responsible for moving energy. Hence, it will help your plant develop and thrive.
Numerous metabolic activities in plant systems are regulated by potassium, and don’t forget how it is necessary for effective photosynthesis. For the health of both indoor and outdoor plants, all three are crucial.
In an effort to encourage your plant to produce copious amounts of blooms, you could be tempted to add too much phosphorus to your soil. Be cautious since too much phosphorus can prevent the growth of healthy organisms in the soil. You may even add a flower booster to encourage your plant to produce more flowers.
Only during the flowering phase should you add phosphorus-based fertilizer; after that, switch back to conventional fertilizer.
– Pruning Requirements
Every avid gardener should be aware of how and why pruning is carried out. After all, it promotes greater plant growth.
On Hoya Glabra, pruning is a quick and straightforward approach to promote more growth. Because the plant naturally tends to grow new branches when the old stems and leaves are pruned back, pruning promotes new flower spurs and offers a bushier appearance.
For cosmetic purposes, you can also prune your preferred Glabra plant. But always use caution, such as by wearing gloves and only using sterile instruments while pruning. This perennial needs repotting every one or two years.
Propagation
Although this Hoya is fun to take care of, but there’s only one way that you may propagate it, and this is through stem cutting. Make sure that you have your tools with you, and don’t forget to sanitize them before beginning the propagation process.
Stem cuttings are the most typical method of Hoya Glabra propagation. Most gardeners enjoy taking two-node cuttings. Because this site promotes root growth, leaf nodes are a crucial part of propagation.
The optimal time to propagate is in the spring or summer because both the mother plant and the cutting will recover more quickly during these seasons.
Pruning shears, a tiny pot, and plastic bags are required. As mentioned in the soil section, fill your container with well-draining potting soil containing perlite or vermiculite. Sand can be used for more drainage.
Thoroughly water the combination mentioned above and set the pot aside for a few hours. Make sure the soil is evenly moistened and has no dry patches.
Please take a good stem with two or three leaves and separate it. Make sure the cutting does not contain any unwell or sick portions. The pruning shears will work well for this.
The ideal stem size is in the range of five inches (13 cm). Proceed by removing all the leaves from the stem’s bottom margin close to the node. After planting, you must ensure that none of the leaves touch the soil’s surface.
Allow the wound to heal and dry for several hours. The nodes can be dipped in rooting hormone. You can utilize either the liquid form or the powder form. Although this step is optional, we advise taking it because it improves the likelihood of successful rooting.
Because moisture is important for root growth, water the soil frequently, however, avoid overwatering as this can cause your cutting to decay and result in an unsuccessful propagation.
Light is another prerequisite for root development. Make extra sure to keep this tiny pot in an area with indirect light that is bright. The early sun is preferable because of the lower light intensity, and direct sunlight should be avoided because it can scorch young cuttings.
Keep the abovementioned conditions in place and wait for your plant to begin roots. To create a high humidity atmosphere, use a plastic bag with a few holes since humidity is a factor in the spread of certain organisms. Rooting can take a few weeks to months, depending on the conditions you offer.
Problems
– Spider Mites
Spider mites are a widespread pest in greenhouses, indoor gardens, and outdoor gardens that can cause great damage. These mites are related to ticks, spiders, and scorpions. As a result, they have a physical appearance that combines all three.
Colonies of spider mites live and feed on indoor plants. The undersides of leaves are their favorite location on evergreen plants, so always check for mite infestation here.
They all consume plant tissues to absorb plant fluids. These pests give the plant a dusty, lifeless appearance. Feeding marks can be seen on the leaves. The leaves will gradually turn yellow and fall off if not handled.
Take the following actions to manage spider mites:
- Cut off any infected stems, leaves, or other parts that have white webs.
- To get the pests to leave your sick plant, wash it thoroughly with clean water.
- Increase the humidity because a dry environment will promote the growth of spider mites.
- Use natural pesticide sprays.
– Dull Looking Plant
The drab appearance of your plant can be attributed to several factors. The natural aging of the plant is one of the most fundamental and typical ones.
Check the following causes if your Hoya leaves have lost their glossy appearance:
- You recently over-dried your plant to the point where it began to wilt.
- Your plant suffered from root rot because you overwatered it and let it sit in the water for too long.
- Your plant is exposed to extremely low humidity levels, maybe below 40 percent. For tropical plants, prolonged low humidity is a death sentence.
- Temperature variations are harming your plant. You subject it to extremely hot or cold conditions.
- Pests like mealybugs, spider mites, or thrips have attacked your plant.
Simply put, anything that affects your plant’s roots will undoubtedly have an impact on the leaves and appearance of the plant. Choosing a pot should include at least one drainage hole.
– Winter Dormancy
During the winter, hoya species go semi-dormant, and some see this as an issue with the plant because it doesn’t bloom throughout the year. The dip in temperature and diminished light intensity are to blame for this. Only sun-dependent types are affected by this. Under these circumstances, the plant won’t exhibit any signs of growth; hence it’s assumed the Hoya is dormant.
It will continue to bloom throughout the winter if it is growing in good artificial light with a stable temperature. Some indoor plants may struggle in the winter because of the reduced warmth and sunlight they receive. To ensure that your Glabra plant makes it through the chilly winter, take the following actions:
In the winter, most people unintentionally overwater their indoor plants. We must realize that the plant is receiving less heat and sunlight than it would in the summer. Therefore, you are unable to adhere to a watering plan suitable for the summer. Before adding any moisture, the soil must be absolutely dry.
To get rid of the surplus water, drain the saucer or tray. After around 15 minutes of watering, check your plant tray; this will help you gather and discard the extra water. Prepare to relocate the Hoya Glabra plant you have indoors. Find every area of your home that receives sunshine during the winter as the first step.
For the most sunshine, ensure all windows are clean on the inside and outside. Remove any dust from them to increase the likelihood that the leaves will effectively absorb the sun’s rays.
Use a humidifier to address the problem of low humidity and dry air. Warm temperatures are necessary for tropical plants like Hoya Glabra to grow. However, most growers find it difficult to sustain this during the winter.
Generally, you should bring all your tropical plants inside during the winter and keep them close to a fireplace or heater to give them all the warmth they require. In order to protect the foliage from burning or scorching, situate your plant close to the heat source but not too close.
Frequently Asked Questions
– How Big Does the Hoya Glabra Grow?
This plant makes long, leafy vines with broad leaves. This Hoya is an excellent complement to Hoya Pentaphlebia since its leaves can grow to width and length of about eight inches (20 cm) and 11 inches (27 cm), respectively.
The huge leaves take some time to develop at first, but after the root system is established, they can quickly enlarge to an average size of six inches (15 cm).
Hoyas are renowned for their excellent waxy look on their large leaves. On the upper side of the leaves, you’ll also see a few raised, green veins. Deep purple veins can be seen on the underside. In a patio or outdoor garden, Hoya Glabra can grow to a height of eight to ten feet (2.4 to 3 meters).
The plant’s enormous leaves, which have a velvety texture and a smooth surface, are the next appealing aspect. The leaves look to be fuzzy.
– Summer Is Almost Over; why Hasn’t My Hoya Glabra Bloomed?
Since most of us grow hoyas for our flowers, hoya blossoms are a big problem for most growers. Your plant is either not old enough to begin blooming or not receiving enough sunlight.
– Will My Hoya Bloom Well If I Keep It Under Shade?
Hoyas are fairly versatile plants; they may thrive in partial shade but have trouble blooming. They undoubtedly require some sun to begin blossoming. So we would not advise growing flowering Hoya species in heavy shade.
– Can I Hang Hoya Glabra On My Balcony?
Many gardeners’ Hoya Glabra initially struggle to flower. However, later in the summer, these same plants continued to bloom all summer continuously long after they were placed in a hanging basket and draped from a top support rail. Therefore, many gardeners will tell you the ideal place for this plant to blossom is to hang it outside.
Typically, these Hoyas prefer to be kept and grown within small quarters. However, if your plant begins to outgrow its pot within one or two years, make sure you repot it to a larger plant that is big enough for its new size but small enough so the plant sits cozily within the container.
– Is This Hoya Toxic/Poisonous To Humans, Cats & Dogs?
The plant is not poisonous. Because of this, it is safe to have around small children, pets, and cats. However, if they eat any part of it, it could still be a choking or gagging risk. Therefore, you should still exercise caution because after all, you can never be too careful!
Conclusion
The Hoya Glabra’s candy-colored pink blossoms can make anyone’s day better. This broad leaf Hoya will prosper nicely in the cozy surroundings of typical homes.
This straightforward plant has a refined appearance because of the venation on its leaves. Caring for a Hoya Glabra is anything but a hefty undertaking.
- Add a flower booster to your plant to encourage it to produce more flowers.
- Select a pot with adequate drainage, because this plant knows the right amount of water it needs, or else if the water is too much, it might be a problem for the health.
- Repot the plant if it outgrows its old pot.
- And rinse the soil frequently, in order to avoid different issues such as salt buildups, which might harm it on the long run.
It would be best if you faced little to no trouble caring for this plant. With all that said, we would unquestionably suggest trying this unusual plant to observe the enormous leaves and the gorgeous pink blossoms.
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