Hoya Mathilde: Rewarding Tips for Growing This Stunning Plant

Hoya mathilde of the Apocynaceae family releases a pleasant fragrance from its white, fuzzy flowers with pink centers and this makes it one of the best houseplants you can introduce into your home.

This hoya is a result of crossing the Hoya carnosa and serpens, making it a better and easy-to-care-for epiphyte.

This article will provide you with great ideas on how to care for this gorgeous hoya genus plant and make it thrive.

What Is Hoya Mathilde?   

The Hoya Mathilde is an amazing vine that has round, green and waxy foliage with fuzzy undersides and leaves that have lightly-splashed silver specks, giving the plant its unique, eye-catching look. The silver specks explain why the plant is called Hoya mathilde variegata or splash.

Hoya Mathilde Care                                 

Hoya mathilde is a crossed variety that makes it possible to include the care requirements of both the carnosa and serpens. Please note that this does not make this plant difficult to care for. The plant requires less attention and this allows you to have ample time to take care of other houseplants.

Water Requirements

Water is an essential ingredient for the Hoya mathilde plant to grow well and vigorously, but avoid over- and/or underwatering. Hoya mathilde has succulent leaves that allow it to go dry for long but you should not neglect it for extended periods as the plant will eventually die.

You should consistently check the moisture content before watering by poking your finger into the topsoil. If the topsoil is one to two inches dry, this is a sign that your plant is now ready to receive more water.

Climatic conditions can also determine whether you should water your plant frequently or irregularly.

In summer, the Hoya mathilde needs to be watered on a weekly basis as this is its growing period, and the soil also dries faster during this season due to relatively higher temperatures and sunlight.

During the winter season, temperatures are lower, thus keeping the soil wet for longer. Therefore, you should water your Hoya mathilde once or twice every month.

When watering the Hoya mathilde, make sure you do it thoroughly until the water starts trickling from the pot through the holes. Your pot should have holes to drain excess water when the soil is saturated to avoid soaking the potting mix for too long. Allowing your plant to sit in water makes it vulnerable to developing fungal infections.

Light Requirements

Hoya mathilde splash thrives well when it is exposed to indirect bright light. Consider caring for your mathilde indoors or under the big trees’ shade. Do not deprive your plant of light as the brightness of the Hoya mathilde silver specks on the leaves will be negatively affected.

The plant can tolerate at most two hours of the direct afternoon sun, and excessive exposure to direct sunlight can lead to leaf burn.

You should place Hoya mathilde 3 feet or less away from the east- or west-facing window. If the sun falls off the other window, you should transfer the mathilde to another spot where it can receive more sunlight.

You should also rotate your mathilde for even distribution of sunlight to all sides of the plant. Light affects the frequency at which your Hoya mathilde blooms, making your house look more alluring.

You can buy a grow light if your Hoya mathilde is not getting adequate natural light. Remember to follow the instructions on the manual on how to use the light for best results. Avoid placing the grow light too close to the Mathilde, otherwise, you will burn the plant. The room should also be a well-ventilating one, but always protect your Hoya from drafts.

Soil Requirements

Mathilde splash requires a well-draining lightweight soil that does not get compacted easily. The soil allows plant roots to breathe as the air will be circulating freely. A well-draining potting mix will not hold excess water when the soil is saturated.

The water can easily escape through the draining holes, leaving enough moisture for the healthy development of the plant roots.

Perlite or pumice is an important ingredient in your potting mix. Make sure you add an amount of these two products to improve the soil structure. You can also use vermiculite, orchid, and charcoal so that the soil drains water properly. Do not use heavy, poorly-drained soils like clay that can quickly become waterlogged.

Temperature Requirements

The Hoya mathilde splash grows well in warm climatic conditions. The plant prefers an optimum temperature range of 60 F to 80 F.

The Hoya can also survive temperatures that are as low as 50 F. However, take note that this plant is not cold hardy to frost and snow. Low temperatures can stunt the growth of the mathilde splash, so growing it indoors will solve this problem.

Humidity Requirements

The ideal humidity for Hoya mathilde ranges between 40 to 60 percent. The plant is in love with high humidity and it grows vigorously, producing many leaves and flowers when exposed to such conditions.

You should test the humidity in the room where your Hoya mathilde is to make sure the required weather conditions are met. You can buy a humidifier as a remedy to improve the humidity levels.

Most plants suffer low humidity indoors, but with this Hoya mathilde plant, the situation is different. Thanks to its succulent leaves that can store water for future use, the plant can endure low humidity and dry air for a time, but only to a certain extent. The plant will certainly feel the effects of the unfavorable conditions if it is exposed to them continuously.

Make sure the humidity level is not too high because your mathilde will be vulnerable to fungal infections like leaf rot. We advise you to place your plant in a well-ventilated room so that excess moisture will be released through air circulation.

Fertilizing Requirements

Add general fertilizers to the Hoya mathilde splash during the spring and summer, which is the plant’s growing period. During these seasons, that’s when your plant produces more foliage so adding fertilizer will boost its growth.

Take note that you should dilute the fertilizer to half-strength. Applying the fertilizer once per month at the start and then twice per month if there is a need to increase is appropriate.

Too much fertilizer can cause harm to your Hoya so avoid over-fertilization. Fertilizers contain salts that enhance the absorption of nutrients by your plant. However, more fertilizer means more salts go to your Mathilde, a scenario that increases the risk of burning the plant.

Do not apply fertilizer in winter when the plant is dormant. The mathilde splash will not be using much of the nutrients, so there is no need for supplements.

Pruning

Hoya mathilde does not necessarily require pruning. You can only prune the plant if its vines are overlapping or reaching spots where you do not want them to be. Minimum pruning can be done if you provide a trail where it can climb up to grow as long as it can. In this case, limited unwanted growth will take place.

Pruning the Hoya Mathilde involves cutting the vines and spurs. The spurs are perennials, so pruning them automatically stops new Hoya mathilde flowers from blossoming in the future.

 

Propagation

The Hoya mathilde plant can be multiplied using stem cuttings and air layering. 

– Stem Cuttings

Choose a healthy Hoya plant to get the stem cuttings from. Use a sharp, sterilized knife to cut a three-inch mathilde stem that has at least two nodes and two leaves. The roots of your plant will develop on the nodes so you cannot do without them.

You can grow the cuttings in water or in a pot. Growing the cuttings in water can be advantageous as you can easily monitor the root development process by your Hoya Mathilde.

Expect the Hoya cutting to develop a few roots within two to three weeks. Once the roots are long enough and the baby shoots have started developing, plant your Hoya mathilde in a permanent pot and place it on a spot where it receives indirect sunlight.

– Air-Layering

You should select a Hoya mathilde that is free from pests and diseases. Prepare another pot with moist moss and then gently lower the dangling stem with nodes into the new pot. Make sure you carefully pin the stem firmly into the moss to avoid snapping it. Also, ensure that the nodes are well-covered because that’s where the roots develop from.

Regularly moisten the moss by sprinkling some water and also continue to take care of the mother plant. Do not disturb the plant but rather wait patiently for it to develop some roots. Once the roots are established, cut the stem just below the node to separate it from the mother plant and start maintaining it separately.

One of the advantages of air-layering is that the new Hoya mathilde will bloom the next flowering season.

Problems

Hoya mathilde can be affected by pests and diseases although the plant is relatively not problematic. Always look out for these problems so that you can get rid of them as early as possible before they cause more harm to your plant.

– Pests

Hoya mathilde’s succulent-like leaves attract mealybugs, which are sap-sucking pests that multiply quickly. Identifying mealybugs at an early stage can help you to eradicate them before they cause permanent damage to the plant. Remember to isolate the affected plant to avoid spreading the pests to other healthy plants.

Mathilde splash is also prone to spider mites, thrips and scales. You can use Neem oil, insecticidal soap, or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol to get rid of these pests.

Neem oil can be used indoors as it is not poisonous to human beings and pets. You can also wash the pests off the plant with a stream of water using a garden hose and don’t forget to spray on the undersides of the leaves where most pests hide.

– Diseases

If you exercise proper care, your Hoya mathilde will not be at risk of being affected by diseases. When you are taking care of this hoya, most infections are due to negligence when it comes to watering the plant.

Overwatering is a big problem for the Hoya mathilde plant. Stem and root rot may develop if the plant is always in soggy potting soils.

The stem and root of the plant can turn black when affected by root rot. If the roots are wholly damaged, discard the plant. Another alternative is cutting the healthy stem and propagating it to produce a new plant.

You can use fungicides to control these diseases if they are still at their early stages, otherwise, these chemicals may fail to work.

Do not allow the leaves of your Hoya mathilde to stay wet every day to avoid leaf rot from developing. Make sure you do not water the foliage when irrigating the Hoya mathilde.

If you mistakenly water them, use a fan to speed up the evaporation process or make sure the room is circulating enough air that can assist the leaves to dry quickly. You can dry the leaves by dabbing them using paper towels.

– Toxicity

The Hoya mathilde is not harmful to humans, cats, and dogs but still, the plant is not edible. The plant can cause vomiting and gagging to human beings if they chew or swallow any part of the plant.

Be careful and keep it away from the reach of children and pets.

FAQ

Does Hoya Mathilde like hanging baskets?

Yes, Hoya Mathilde enjoys hanging baskets.

What kind of pots does Hoya Mathilde prefer?

Hoya Mathilde prefers pots with good drainage and airflow. Terracotta pots or porous materials like unglazed ceramic can be a good choice. It’s also essential to choose a pot that is not too large for the plant’s size to avoid waterlogging and root rot.

How often should Hoya Mathilde be fertilized?

Hoya Mathilde should be fertilized during its growing season, which is typically from early spring to early fall. A balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 can be used every 2-4 weeks. However, it’s essential not to over-fertilize as it can cause salt buildup in the soil, leading to root damage. It’s recommended to dilute the fertilizer to half or quarter strength and to water the plant thoroughly before and after fertilization.

Conclusion

Below is just a quick summary of the care tips that you should consider employing to your plant for best results. Let’s quickly peruse through them together.

• Hoya mathilde plants prefer indirect bright sunlight so they are best grown indoors or under the shade.
• The plant should be watered when the top two inches of topsoil is completely dry.
• Well-draining potting mix should be used when growing the Hoya mathilde in order for the roots to breathe.
• Hoya mathilde splash can be propagated using stem cuttings and air layering.
• The plant is not easily affected by pests and diseases but is not completely resistant to both. Mealybugs, scales, as well as leaf and root rot are some of the most common problems the Hoya mathilde plant faces.

This guide has empowered you to have your own Hoya Mathilde and take proper care of it with enhanced ease. Enjoy both the process and the results!