Hoya Limoniaca: Care and Propagation Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier

Hoya limoniaca fragrance is heavenly for an indoor flowering plant of the Apocynaceae family with star-shaped leaves. They also produce the cutest looking flower bunches shaped like a ball.

Every minute you spend looking after this hoya genus plant will be worth it. Read this well-researched care guide to learn what this new hoya species wants.

What Is Hoya Limoniaca?

Hoya limoniaca Vermont is a fast-growing plant that produces clusters of star-shaped flowers arranged in round balls. It also has fresh larger-sized foliage compared to flowers. It was discovered only recently, in 2021, and has become an immediate favorite among Hoya lovers.

Hoya Limoniaca Care

Place your indoor limoniaca plant in bright dappled sunlight or artificial LED light once the top two inches of the soil dry—only water the plant with lukewarm distilled water. 

Fertilizing with a diluted liquid fertilizer weekly during spring will help with foliage and blooms. Prune and trim the plant before springtime with thoroughly disinfected pruning shears.

Water Requirements

This plant needs watering every week during the summers and once every second or third week in the winters. Depending on the weather, you should allow the first two to three inches of the soil to dry.

Overall this plant does not like its soil to be always kept moist. Underwatering it might be better than overwatering it anyways. Watering hoyas is a straightforward process. We strongly suggest using distilled water if you want to save yourself from potential problems later on. Surprisingly, rainwater works well too.

Take water to triple the pot’s volume at a lukewarm temperature. Start pouring it on the soil slowly, ensuring it is not splashed on the plant parts. Once the water starts to leak out of the pot’s drainage, your soil has been watered thoroughly. Give some time so that the soil drains into the saucer. Then drain the saucer into a sink as well.

Light Requirements

Limoniaca plants like dappled sunlight the most. This makes it easier to grow indoors than outdoors. Take care that no direct light falls on the plant, particularly at noon.

Sunburn can cause its leaves to become dry, papery, and wrinkly. They might start turning yellow with burnt brown edges. Inside the house, you have many safe options to choose from. Any window in the house works for them, especially the eastern and the western-facing ones.

You must cover the southern-facing window if you live someplace with intense sunlight. Use only medium thickness curtains for it. You don’t want to block the sun out completely. Plants placed in a corner or cupboard receive sunlight on one side only. You will have to rotate its pot every day.

If your indoor-grown plant seems to be turning darker than usual, it might lack adequate sunlight. Don’t worry; you can buy and install artificial grow lights to help your plant make food. Instead of fluorescent lights, you should opt for LED grow lights. If possible, install them right above where the plant is kept. All sides will get equal sunlight and grow equally.

Soil Requirements

Hoyas do well in soil that equal parts peat and perlite. Peat can be a bit expensive because it is a nonrenewable resource. It breaks down over two years to provide important nutrients to the roots.

You can replace peat with another similar ingredient, sphagnum moss. These also act to absorb water from the soil and prevent overwatering. Later, when the soil is dry and needs water, they release it.

Because peat tends to clump together, it is important to break it apart using perlite balls. Perlite creates channels in the soil mix for water and air to pass through. A well-draining soil will save your roots from rotting and dying from overwatering.

Temperature Requirements

Thankfully, our usual indoor temperatures are perfect for this plant. It thrives within 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and produces exuberant blooms.

You only need to be wary of the temperature falling below 50 degrees. This is when it gets too cold for this plant. As a self-defense mechanism, it starts to drop leaves to conserve more energy.

Here are some of the best temperature maintenance tips we have discovered over the years. Meaning if the nighttime temperature falls below 50 degrees, it’s best to keep the windows closed at night.

A kitchen or washroom window is the house’s most suitable and warm place for Hoyas. Furthermore, any place where direct cold air drafts fall on the plant is a big no-no. If this plant is kept outdoors, see that the air at night doesn’t get too cold. 

Nontheless, keep in mind and be mindful thaat wintertime frost can kill Hoyas. That is why, it is important to considering it is a rather small plant, move it inside the house until next spring.

Humidity Requirements

60 to 80 percent humidity is needed during the day, whereas at night, this demands increases up to 100 percent.

Such extremely high demands make it difficult to grow this plant in the same room as yourself. It’s best to relocate it to a greenhouse if you own one. Otherwise, you might have to keep it in a room that isn’t used much, like the laundry room or the kitchen.

Keep a hygrometer at home to check whether your plant is receiving the exact amount of humidity it needs or not. Depending on how much humidity you need to improve, you have about three options.

Misting will help improve humidity levels temporarily for a short while and by a small percentage only. We must reiterate that there is a difference between misting and drenching the plant in water.

Use only a small amount of water and a small nozzle spray for misting. Spray in the morning so that most of the water evaporates before nightfall. This water’s evaporation will eventually make the air around Hoya more humid.

A humidifier is the only method to provide 100 percent humidity to any plant. It will be useful only if you have multiple plants like Hoya dipteri fuji and limoniaca with such sky-high demands. Of course, living in a room with 80 to 90 percent humidity will be difficult. So you will need to place all these plants in a separate room with a humidifier.

A pebble tray will also increase levels by only a moderate amount. This method works well for outdoor plants where you cannot use a humidifier. It also helps if you only have a single plant with high demands.

How to make your own pebble tray? Just fill any shallow tray with water and something like a pebble to put the pot over. If your pot comes in contact with its water, it can cause overwatering, so beware.

Fertilizer Requirements

Limoniaca, like hoya carnosa and hoya linearis, is not a heavy feeder . However, it will do better if fertilized every week from spring to fall with a moderately strong fertilizer. During wintertime, the plant sort of goes into dormancy mode. You better decrease fertilizing it to only once per month. Even if you don’t fertilize during winter, that would be okay too.

If you want to go for a store-bought chemically manufactured fertilizer, then dilution is a must. No matter how mild the formulation is, add the same or double the volume of water in it.

Toxic by-products from chemical fertilizers accumulate in the soil with repeated use. Flush the soil once every month with lots of water to eliminate these toxins.

On the other hand, natural fertilizer cannot cause chemical burns to the plant. It also helps to recycle gardening and food items into something better. All you have to do is to take a handful of compost and mix it in the soil. You can also cover the soil by putting a layer of mulch. This will also help water the soil.

Take this as an opportunity to start composting yourself finally. There is the traditional compost bin method. You can also try your luck at vermicomposting at home.

Pruning Requirements

The best time to prune all your Hoyas like this one or Hoya acuta is late winter and early spring. Your pruned stems and leaves will grow more enthusiastically in the upcoming spring.

Look at your plant carefully from all sides and examine it. Any branch that seems to give the plant an odd shape must be trimmed back. The same goes for any leaf or branch that has spots on it.

Even if you like your plant to be bushy, you still need to prune stems and leaves. This is to improve air circulation and make your plant breathe better. Don’t forget always to disinfect your pruning instruments before each use.

 

Propagation

Propagation is a great way to get plants instead of buying new ones. Limoniaca easily propagates during the spring to the early summer period.

For propagation to give rise to plantlets, it takes about three to six weeks. You must still wait two to three months before transferring it to a pot. 

You can either use stem cuttings or the ground propagation technique. As both methods have the same success rate, choose the one you like the most.

– Propagate Using Stem Cuttings

A hoya plant is easily propagated after taking a piece of stem and planting it in the right soil. All you need is a new pot, soil mix, rooting hormone, and pruning shears.

Begin by spraying your cutting instrument with disinfectant solution and ensure it is sharp. Now, what you have to do is select a stem that is not currently flowering. It should also be 100 percent free of any disease or pests.

Cut this stem to take a three to four inches long piece containing one or two leaf nodes. For about two to three days, store this cut piece in a napkin until it dries.

Be careful and please take a little bit of rooting hormone and apply it on the cut end. This step is optional, but we have always found it extremely beneficial.

What you have to do now is to prepare the new pot for this cutting by filling it with the right soil. Put the cuttings upright in the pot. Take help from a skewer or a pencil if it keeps falling. Finally, you must ensure your cutting is kept above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and above 80 percent humidity levels. 

– Learn How To Propagate Using Ground Layering

Ground layering is another fun way to propagate your Hoya further. Begin by choosing a non-flowering stem for this method. Remove leaves from the nodes near the tips of this stem.

Very carefully and slowly, bend the stem down towards the soil. Dig a deep hole that is two to three inches in the soil and bury the end of the bent stem in it.

You will need to secure the stem within the soil somehow. You can use a toothpick or skewer for this. After three weeks, dig carefully to check if new roots have grown from the buried stem end.

If it has, then allows at least a month to pass by. During all this time, ensure the parent plant’s care needs are being fulfilled carefully. When the month has passed, cut off three inches of the stem above the water, carefully lift the baby plant out and transplant it to a new pot and soil. Finally, give this newly propagated plant extra care and attention for the next few weeks.

Problems

This Hoya suffers from the same problems that all common houseplants do. Equip yourself with the knowledge to diagnose and treat pests such as mealybugs and aphids. Are you worried about your plant not producing enough flowers? We might have a solution for that as well.

– Mealybugs

Every plant owner should know what to do in case of a mealybug infestation. This white, round pest is the most common pest to attack houseplants.

It punctures the plant and feeds on the nutrient-rich sap flowing through it. Over time, the plant will naturally weaken and suffer from poor growth and flowering.

Meals also secrete a sticky yellowish digestive juice over the leaves. This can make the leaves look awful.

Mealybugs can be easily spotted on a plant. Pick them off by hand or use a jet stream of water to remove them off the plant. Make a spray using one-gallon clean water with one teaspoon of neem oil and dishwashing soap. Use this spray every week until you see the plant’s condition improving.

Using only these easy approaches, getting rid of these pests is possible. You don’t need to use chemical insecticides for this small problem.

– Aphids

Aphids are the second most common pests to attack houseplants. These can be a variety of colors, mostly camouflaging as green. Often, they are too tiny even to be seen by you.

Aphids are also sap-feeders, just like mealybugs. In the long term, your plant will suffer from yellow and brown spots. The growth of new leaves and flowers will be negatively affected.

Aphids can be tricky to treat because you cannot mostly see them. Start by giving your plant a good wash with a block of insecticidal soap. Keep on rubbing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Next, apply neem oil on the leaves and the stem when it becomes dry. Don’t forget to apply it to the lower surface of the leaf as well. Using only a few drops at a time should be enough. 

Another natural, however, is the DIY approach is to mix three parts water with one part milk. Fill a spray bottle and start a weekly spray ritual to kill aphids. Natural methods take a bit longer but trust us; they work just fine.

 

– Poor Flowering Yield

A Hoya, whether Hoya limoniaca or Hoya sigillatis, are best-loved for their exuberant blooms. So what could be causing this flower not to bloom or produce a few flowers of poor quality? The answer to this lies in your nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

A nitrogen-rich fertilizer is almost always never recommended for flowering plants, especially before and during the bloom season. Using a phosphorus-rich fertilizer instead would promote better flowers.

If you have been using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, stop right away. Using water to triple the volume of the pot, carefully flush away the soil. This would help eliminate some of the nitrogen, but you will still have to wait till the next flowering season to experience that heavenly Hoya limoniaca fragrance.

– Root Rot

If your pot and soil are draining water, the roots will start to rot from staying wet all the time. They will easily succumb to fungal attacks that commonly do not harm healthy soils.

This disease will quickly spread to the upper stems and leaves. Here, yellow water-filled spots develop and later turn to black rot. If you see your plant turning black due to rot, you must treat it immediately. Most plants die soon after they develop rot.

All the black rotten parts of your plant need to go to treat root rot. Take sharp pruning shears and cut off all these rotten parts. These parts are not to be recycled in any case.

Afterward, start a weekly regime of spraying the plant with a potent antifungal agent like the extremely popular liquid copper spray. Protecting your eyes and skin while using these sprays is crucial. In extreme cases, you might even have to take the plant out of its pot to treat it. You will see how the roots have turned mushy and black.

FAQ

How long can Hoya Limoniaca go without water?

Hoya Limoniaca can survive without water for several weeks, but regular watering is recommended to maintain its health.

Does Hoya Limoniaca like loose or compact soil?

Hoya Limoniaca prefers loose soil to allow proper drainage and prevent waterlogging.

Can I use cactus soil for Hoya Limoniaca?

Yes, cactus soil can be used for Hoya Limoniaca as it provides good drainage, which is beneficial for the plant’s growth.

Conclusion

Now is the time for us to wrap this hoya guide.

• Hoya Limoniaca has a nice fragrance.
• Limoniaca is a sister plant of hoya affinis and hoya macrophylla and just like them, needs bright indirect light.
• Take care that the soil you use is rapidly draining and is watered when the top two inches dry.
• Hoyas like to be kept in extremely warm conditions, especially when they are being propagated.

Limoniaca is a very new breed of Hoya. Why don’t you grab yourself one to impress all your plant-loving friends and peers with its gorgeous blooms?