Hoya linearis is one of the hundreds of species of the versatile hoya. Its distinct features include slim, long stems. The vine-like appearance and fuzzy elongated leaves create a soothing green curtain when hanged.
Grow them indoors or place them outdoors. Here is a complete guide for you to grow your Hoya linearis.
Contents
What Is Hoya Linearis?
Hoya linearis, a Himalayan native, is also called porcelain vine, wax vine, or wax plant. The plant has weak roots, and it is crucial to provide it with a perfect environment. Watering when the topsoil is dry and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil can do the trick. It will love an extra seasonal feed of well-balanced fertilizer.
The elegant vine takes three to five years to reach maturity. The leaves grow up to two inches long. The leaves of Hoya linearis make it stand out from other hoya varieties.
Unlike most Hoyas’ waxy, thick leaves, it has fine, soft, and somewhat hairy leaves.
Hoya linearis also features star-shaped flowers. These grow in clusters of 10 to 13 on a lax umbel that is 1.5 inches in size. The white flowers have a pink tint paired with yellowish coronas, which makes them quite beautiful.
These delicate features make Hoya linearis popular among growers. This unique variety of hoya is quite tricky to find. You are lucky if you have one. If you are a fan of Hoya linearis or want to grow it, the following guide is all you will need to take care of your plants.
Hoya Linearis Care
Hoya linearis need primary care. If you can create the ideal environment for your delicate vines, it will be an act of joy and a feast for the eyes to be with them.
It likes to grow as an epiphyte in natural settings. This means that you need to maintain the conditions. The trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging pots or baskets. By hanging the vine above eye level, you can make the green foliage visible in the most attractive way.
We have compiled a detailed care guide for your Hoya linearis. This guide includes information about soil, water, light, temperature, and humidity requirements. It will also help you find a perfect spot for your plants. Through this guide, you will be able to resolve problems that you might face.
Here is a breakdown of each element that you should keep in mind.
– Soil
Hoya linearis grows well in free-draining soil. Choose a soil mix that offers balanced fertile soil for your potted plants. You can also make your potting mixture by adding equal quantities of perlite, coconut husk, and cacti soil. Substitute perlite with fine-grain soil if it’s hard to find.
You can be creative and make a soilless medium too. Whatever you choose to create, make sure it is a light, airy, and well-drained soil mixture. Be mindful of the acidity of the soil and maintain it between 6.1-7.5 pH.
If you are growing Hoya linearis outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 11a to 11b, choose a frost-free site. The soil can be moist, well-drained, and sheltered from the midday sun. Hoya linearis will grow if you maintain your soil conditions. Let it dry between watering and water according to its needs.
– Watering
Hoya linearis needs moderate watering throughout the growing season. Allow the topsoil to dry out between watering for perfect growing conditions. Irregular watering patterns create most of the troubles for the delicate vine.
The leaves of Hoya linearis are thin and soft, unlike the waxy, thick leaves of other varieties. This means that the fine leaves can not hold much water. The potted plants will need you to take care of watering patterns and allow the soil to dry out a little between watering.
Now, you may ask how much water should you water your Hoya linearis?
Remember, whenever you water your Hoya linearis, soak the entire potting mixture in water. It will allow the soil to be moist and roots to soak water. Fine-draining soil will let all the excess water exit smoothly.
The lower light and cooler temperatures of winters will slow the plant growth. This is the time when your plants will be in a dormant state. Water lightly to prevent root rot and also drying out. While in summers, weekly watering is enough.
The same rule applies to the timing of your watering. If you water your plants at night, the temperature is cooler, and the rate of evaporation is slower. The best time to water will be early morning or late afternoon.
Overwatering hoya plants can be disastrous. Make sure your plants are not sitting in standing water. Excess water will attract unwanted disease and pests, besides resulting in root rot. A well-drained soil mixture and enough drainage holes will help.
Filtered water is best suited for Hoya linearis, but you can also use tap water. Let tap water sit overnight to allow chemicals to settle down. You can store rainwater or water from an air conditioning system.
As a grower, you will have to be an observer when it comes to watering.
Some factors that will help you understand the need for watering for your plants will depend on the following:
- Location of your plant
- Amount of light it receives
- Type of soil mixture
- Temperature
- Humidity
The extreme shift in either of these can shock your plants and may result in leaf drop. Remember, the Hoya linearis receive plenty of rain in their natural setting and dry fast thanks to good air circulation. Light also plays an important role in its growth.
– Light
Hoya Linearis need indirect light. Direct, unfiltered light can cause leaves to burn and shrivel. The plant will also not perform well in low light. Providing it with a perfect balance of shade and light is the trick. Select a well-lit windowsill, a protected area in the garden, or place them under garden lights.
Place your pots or hanging planters where they get early morning sun or late afternoon light. Protect them from the harsh summer sun and long hours of direct light. If the plants do not get enough light, they begin dropping leaves. But, extended exposure to the sun can burn the foliage.
This means you need to find a spot that receives indirect light for at least half of the day. The plant won’t mind some time in darkness. Make sure you protect it from the strong summer sun by pulling over a curtain or creating a shield.
Creating balanced lighting will help Hoya linearis thrive. It will also assist in making the potting mixture dry fast. Now, let’s also consider the temperature that your plants will love.
– Temperature
Hoya linearis likes to grow in temperatures between 60-85 F.
Remember, it grows at higher altitudes, which allows it to tolerate cooler temperatures. Temperatures for indoor plants should not drop below 50 F.
– Humidity
Hoya linearis is native to the Himalayas, which means it loves humidity. It grows well in moderate to high humidity, unlike most hoyas. Humidity lower than 50 percent will result in withering foliage.
The best way to boost humidity is to mist your plant. Regular misting using filtered water will mimic its native growing conditions. Always mist lightly and never soak your plants. An automated humidifier can save a lot of time and simplify things.
Grouping plants also create microclimates and create natural humid conditions. Placing a bowl full of water near your plants also assists in increasing humidity levels around your plants.
– Fertilizer
Hoya linearis need less fertilizing. House plants will love a boost of nutrients around the growing season. Treat your plants with a balanced fertilizer twice a month between spring and summer. Make sure to dilute your fertilizers. Excess fertilizer can cause damage.
An all-purpose fertilizer will provide essential micro and macronutrients for your hoyas. Mix a quarter teaspoon of plant feed with a gallon of water. You can use this mixture for watering throughout the growing season. This mixture will provide light feeding every time you irrigate your plants.
If you are fertilizing plants twice a month, then moisten your soil before fertilizing so that it is evenly distributed. It also protects roots from getting burned because of the fertilizer.
To encourage more blooms, potassium-rich feed to your plants before the blooming season. Avoid fertilizing during the dormant months.
– Improving the Appearance of Your Hoya Vines
Pune Hoya linearis to improve appearance.
To do that, here are a few points that you should keep in view:
- Use sterilized pair of scissors or shears
- Cut back dried leaves or stems
- Do not remove old stems; this is where the blooms will grow
- The white latex released from the cuts is irritating for the skin
- Wear gloves to protect yourself from skin irritation
Hoya Linearis Propagation: Tips and Trick
To fasten the propagation process, you can use the following tricks:
- Use rooting hormone for fast rooting
- Keep humidity high using a plastic bag or a glass cover
- An alternative method is to use a humidifier often
- Here is a step-to-step guide to make things simple for you.
– Propagating With Stem Cuttings
- Select a healthy plant
- Chose a stem with more than four nodes for cutting
- Use sterilized pair of scissors to make a clean cut
- Remove leaves from the bottom two nodes
- (Optional) Dip the cutting into rooting hormone
- Plant the cutting into a pot
- Make sure the soil is well-drained
- Water at regular intervals and avoid drying out the soil at this stage
- Place the pot where it gets plenty of indirect light
- Maintain temperature between 75-80 F
- New roots will take up to four weeks to appear
– Alternate Method of Propagation
- Place the entire stem on the surface of the soil
- Water by misting every day or every alternate day
- Roots will appear from each node in a couple of weeks
- Take cuttings and repot
– Water Propagation
You can propagate Hoya linearis through water propagation as well. Place the cuttings in water until roots develop. In a couple of weeks, you can transfer them into the soil. Make sure that the water doesn’t get murky.
– Air-layering
Hoya linearis is perfect for air-layering. You need to place a pot close to the vine, extend a stem, and clip it to the soil at a node.
It will take eight weeks for the roots and shoots to grow. You can now cut and separate your new plant from the parent.
Care for New Plants
Here are timeline-based tasks for you to follow.
First four weeks:
- Keep the soil moist
- Mist daily or alternate days
- Roots begin to emerge around the fourth week
Next six weeks:
- By the end of the eighth week, roots will be stronger, and shoot will appear
- Maintain frequent watering
- Increase the water quantity
From here onwards, the plant will grow fast. Follow the care guide to take care of your plants and to solve problems that might arise. Remember, your baby hoya plants will mature in two years. That is when they will bloom.
Repotting Your Hoyas
Hoya linearis only need repotting after a couple of years or when they are root-bound. You can check this by taking the plant out and by observing. If you see large clumps of roots around the base, then it’s time to repot.
Repotting means changing the pot size to a bigger one. Choose a pot that is a few inches bigger than the old one. Use good quality of well-drained soil to fill in the extra space.
The best time to transfer your pots is in the evening to give them time to settle down before the sunlight hits them. Repot in early spring, which is the growing season. It will encourage plants to grow new roots and shoot fast.
Flowers
Hoya Linearis’s star-shaped white flowers have a citrusy scent. They bloom in clusters on the slender, green stems between fine leaves. Flowering starts in late summer and continues till autumn. These fragrant flowers last for two weeks or more.
Growth
Hoya linearis grows and multiplies like a wild plant when grown outdoors. As an indoor plant, it can grow up to 6.5 feet long. It is a fast-growing plant if the conditions are right.
The vine has a trailing habit. The young leaves are light in color, and they get darker as they mature. Increased distance between two nodes is a sign that the plant is not getting enough light. Smaller, weak-looking leaves are also a sign of low light.
Some Tricks to Remember
– Good Drainage
- Allow potting mix to dry out completely between watering
- Chose a well-drained potting mix
- Good lighting conditions, the right pot size can help in this
– Moist Air
- Hoya linearis is an epiphytic plant
- It needs moisture from the air
- Regular misting and grouping plants together can help in that
– Balanced Temperature
- Water should be at room temperature
- The amount of indirect sunlight received will also change temperatures
- A temperature lower than 10 F will also affect the growth
– Encourage Blooms
- Balanced light plays an important role in flowering patterns
- Evening and the early morning sun is perfect
- Stopping or reducing watering also encourages plants to bloom
- Add potassium-rich fertilizer during the growing season
– Propagating Hoya
- Plants grow side branches where ever you make a cut
- Take cuttings from the top at the length of 6 inches
Hoya Linearis Problem Solving
– Symptom: Scorched Leaves
It is getting too much sun, and humidity is low. Move it to a shaded, more humid site in the house. As an emergency measure, you can put it in the bathroom.
– Symptom: Leaves Shriveling
Shriveling leaves of hoya mean there is a problem with watering. You are either overwatering your plants or underwatering them. Look at the roots to find the cause. If they are damp and rotting, it’s time to take cuttings and start new plants.
If the roots are too dry, then increase watering. Placing them where they are getting the right light will also help. A pot larger than its need will also accumulate more water and cause the problem.
– Pest Attacks
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Aphids
Arid conditions will encourage aphid attack. Early detection of aphids can suppress the problem. Check for watering patterns. If the problem goes out of hand, then the plant growth can get stunned.
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Ants
The sticky juice of the vines attracts ants, like aphids. Besides ants and aphids, other insects can get attracted to the hoyas.
Harmful insects like aphids may cause stunning leaves, discoloration of stems and make plants have a distorted growth. A powerful water spray can get rid of mealybugs or aphids. Apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oils to control pest infections. Avoid spraying it on flowers.
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Spider Mites
When hoya gets infested with spider mites, leaves turn yellow and can get white speckles. Leaf drop also happens if the problem intensifies. Fine webs cover the foliage, and dust begins to gather around. Insecticidal soap can solve the problem.
Most Asked Questions
Is Hoya linearis succulent?
Yes. Hoya linearis is a succulent perennial with tender leaves and star-shaped flowers.
Is Hoya linearis hard to grow?
Hoya linearis is easy to grow plants if you learn the art of managing watering patterns. The trick is to keep the soil a bit dry.
Is Hoya linearis toxic?
Hoya linearis is not toxic, but the milky sap may irritate. Keep away from children and pets. If you are hanging your hoya plants, you don’t have to worry about it.
Is Hoya linearis rare?
Yes. Hoya linearis is a rare variety of hoyas. If you have one, you are lucky!
Why is my hoya not blooming?
Hoya stops blooming when there is a lack of light. Sometimes hoya will flower after being in a stressed state. Slightly root-bound plants will bloom. You can also add a potassium-rich fertilizer during the blooming season to encourage flowering.
Why is my Hoya linearis shedding leaves all of a sudden?
Hoya linearis drop leaves in sudden exposure to cold temperatures. Make sure the plants are not close to a cold windowsill. Hoya can’t tolerate temperatures below 50 F or lower than 10 F. Make sure you find a nice warm spot for your plants to thrive.
Conclusion
Hoya linearis is easy to grow succulents that will grow well as houseplants. We discussed everything that you need to know about your delicate vine above. It provided you with information about its needs, problems, and some tips and tricks.
Here is a summary of what we discussed earlier for you.
- Hoya linearis has slim, soft green leaves that grow on slender stems.
- The star-shaped flowers grow in clusters. The flowers are white and scented.
- This hoya variety is rare to find.
- Hoya linearis likes to grow in a balanced environment.
- Fluctuation in temperature, light, and humidity can affect it.
- Propagating Hoya linearis is possible by stem cutting and air layering.
- Aphids, spider mites, ants, and mealybugs can infest the plants.
- Apply diluted, well-balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
- It likes well-drained soil mixtures.
- Hoya linearis like the humidity of at least 50 percent.
- Use humidifiers to increase humidity in the air for your hoyas.
- The milky sap is non-toxic but can cause irritation.
- Hoya linearis likes to be somewhat root-bound.
- You know when it’s time to repot if the roots are thickening around the bottom.
- They need to be repotted into a bigger pot after a couple of years.
- New cuttings take two years to mature. That is when they will begin to bloom.
Hoya linearis is a rare Himalayan succulent that performs well as a houseplant. If you maintain the humidity and provide it with balanced light, it will grow flawlessly for years to come. If you have one of these distinct hoyas, it is worth taking care of your plants.
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