Hoya Merrillii: A Must-have Care Guide For Every Gardener

The Hoya Merrillii of the Apocynaceae family is perhaps one of the most beautiful cultivars of Hoyas. It is known quite fondly in the gardening community, especially for its gorgeous leaves that give off a reddish hue when they get high amounts of sunlight.

While caring for this plant is mostly a no-brainer, it is still essential to get the basics down right so you can give your hoya genus plant a healthy home, and this article is meant to do just that.

What Is Hoya Merrillii?

The Hoya Merrillii is a native of the Philippines, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful plants in the Hoya genus. It depends on other plants for support to climb. You can grow it in pots that dangle from a hook and give it a support pole.

Hoya Merrillii Plant Care

Given that they require less upkeep than other plants, this Hoya is one of the simpler plants to grow. This plant must be kept in soil that drains well, which can be prepared using a combination of perlite, orchid bark, potting mix, and horticultural charcoal. Please put it in filtered, bright sunlight for healthy growth.

Water Requirements

A typical amount of water is required for this Hoya to survive. Never water the plant too frequently as this can result in overwatering it. To get a good notion of when to water your plant, you should wait until the soil has dried up completely before giving it another watering.

We suggest you only water your plants once the soil has dried out and after letting them go without water for a few days.

The plant must be kept dry and receive lots of sunlight as winter approaches. There is a good probability that the plant will contract fungus if the winter months are not spent keeping it dry. But after winter, you need to start giving your plant higher humidity levels and more frequent waterings.

The amount of water needed for this Hoya increases during the summer because of the excessive heat. Keeping your soil moist for most summer days won’t make your roots decay.

You can leave the plant outside during spring to rest for a bit so that it can absorb some precipitation and sunlight for growth. The flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer; therefore, it’s important to give them some brief exposure to direct sunlight.

Light Requirements

The Hoya like to be kept under filtered sunshine. The plant may endure brief exposure to direct sunlight; however, continuing to do so will result in burns and yellowing of the leaves.

This plant needs some direct sun exposure, but this is only the case when sunlight isn’t too harsh and hot. Ideally, the spring sun is the best for direct exposure. Spend at least two hours each day exposing your Hoya to the sun. In the summer, keeping your plant away from the harsh sun is better to avoid scorching the leaves. 

Soil Requirements

This Hoya is not particular about the potting mix it likes. Your plant will thrive as long as it is given the correct soil that drains correctly.

It helps your plant grow by keeping extra water from remaining in the soil, so you can use any indoor potting mix or locate a soil mix with a blend of chunky and porous materials.

The roots may rot if the plant is overwatered or if the soil has not been kept in a well-draining condition. For your Hoya, you can alternatively mix the soil can be of different things such as orchid bark, or container fillers, you may add charcoal which can be used in gardens not the type that is used for grilling, and lastly you can use perlite for the roots to be nurtured and thriving.

Nonetheless, it is important for you to note that you also need to take care of other things besides the soil mixture. You must maintain your plant in pH-appropriate soil. This Hoya thrives on soil with a pH range of 6.1–6.5 (slightly acidic) to 6.6–7.5. (which is neutral). The USDA hardiness range for this plant is 11a to 11b.

Temperature Requirements

The temperature should be maintained at 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 to 4.4 degrees Celsius) (10 degrees Celsius).

This Hoya can survive in outdoor temperatures; however, it is better to maintain them at or below room temperature to maximize their longevity.

Humidity Requirements

Hoyas come in a variety of varieties, and each one has a particular preference for humidity levels. In this case, the plant prefer to be maintained in environments with humidity levels of about 60 percent. Although it won’t grow as quickly, the plant can still thrive at domestic humidity levels.

Humidity is an extremely important growth factor for this plant, and maintaining optimal humidity levels ensures that your plant stays healthy and matures well. Therefore, if the humidity is low, misting your Hoya can help raise it.

However, it is important to remember that you must be cautious with your misting; you must mist your plant sparingly and not excessively to maintain the humidity of the plant. 

Fertilizing Requirements

Since this Hoya has long leaf is an epiphytic plant, it can absorb nutrients through its leaf, which allows it to do so even while it ascents up a supporting plant. The best fertilizers for Merrillii are the slow-release ones that gradually release nutrients into the soil to avoid overburdening and overfeeding your plant. 

Nevertheless, this plant even appreciates fertilization to encourage development, particularly in the spring and summer seasons when the plant is in its growing stage.

Use an organic fertilizer that has well-balanced nitrogen to phosphate ratio to fertilize your plant. Weekly to monthly fertilization of your plant is possible.

The best way to avoid overfertilizing your plant is to keep a timetable for your fertilization treatments.

You can also use artificial fertilizer, but only a fifth of its potency. Most growers will let you know this hoya enjoys monthly spraying. Most people would prefer to spray their Hoyas at least once a week, but you should leave more time between sprays to avoid overfertilizing it and turning the leaves yellow.

Pruning Requirements

Because your plant is particularly sensitive to hard handling, you must be very careful when pruning it. Never attempt to cut off any parts of your plant that might have spurs on them.

Your plant’s spurs are what cause the gorgeous flowers to bloom. Even if the blooms on an old spur begin to droop, they will regrow once the next growing season starts.

Flowers that bloom from ancient spurs get better and more numerous with each passing year. Even if your plant has spurs, you can still chop off a portion of it because the plant won’t perish if its spurs are removed. The gardening community always favors older spurs because they produce more blooms.

Follow these instructions to prune your plant go as follows: start by pinpointing the area of your plant that you want to trim, this is important, be mindful of this step in order not to break the plant’s comfort. After which, you have to search for a nice angel to cut your plant off because a bad angel will harm your entire plant. 

When pruning your plant, keep in mind to use sharp tools, it is advised to use rubbing alcohol to clean and sterilize your equipment. The reason you need to keep them sterilized is in order to avoid any infestation problems that might have left a residue from another plant’s illness.

Always cut your plant below the nodes to avoid doing too much damage. And lastly, cut off any plant parts that are diseased or contaminated.

Propagation 

There are various ways to spread this Hoya. However, there are some steps you must do in order to propagate your plant before you decide to use these methods.

Following the procedures outlined, you can begin to propagate your plant using one of the following techniques:

Even if it’s simpler to grow Hoya stem cuttings in water, we nevertheless suggest that you give Perlite propagation a go. Perlite is favored because it allows the air to circulate during the cutting of the stem, lowering the risk of root rotting. Follow these simple steps to propagate your plant in perlite:

Start by choosing a container that can accommodate your cutting should be used. In this phase, if any pot is acceptable, keep in mind that plastic bottles or food containers can also be used. However, it is essential that your chosen container should have about one inch of perlite added to it.

Perlite should be added to the water, and the perlite should soak in the water for a few minutes. Now, once your perlite is moist, drain any remaining water from it. In this step, you have to make sure that your stem cutting should be put into the perlite container. Ensure to leave a few leaves exposed at the top before burying the stem in the perlite.

To raise the humidity levels, cover your container with plastic wrap or anything else that will slow down the passage of air. Place the container somewhere warm and sunny but out of direct sunlight. 

This plant has whitish-yellow flowers when its blooms. Even the plant’s center is a darker yellow shade than the flower’s petals. Only when it receives brief periods of direct sunlight can its buds begin to bloom.

Problems 

– Aphids

In practically every Hoya plant, aphids are a frequent occurrence. Additionally, it is also frequently attacked by these pests for its nutrients; therefore, it is not an exception to this rule.

Aphids drain the plant’s nutrients, but they also leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew that draws ants and fungi that can harm the plant.

However, eliminating aphids is simple because all you need to do is remove the infected portion of your plant. You may also rub some neem oil on the leaves to avoid further infection. 

– Mealybugs

These plants are simple prey for mealybugs since they may conceal themselves beneath the huge leaves of this plant. They seem white, making it challenging to see them on the plant’s leaves.

Mealybugs also frequently leave behind a gooey substance that can infect your plant with fungus and cause it to curl up and turn yellow.

If discovered in the early stages of infestation, mealybugs are simple to eradicate. You only need to brush little alcohol on the leaves of an infected plant to get rid of them. Using pesticide sprays is also a good idea if the infestation continues to spread.

– Scales

Once your plant has become plagued with scales, it isn’t easy to get rid of them. Pesticide sprays have difficulty killing these pests because of their armor, which resembles scales.

The simplest way to get rid of scales on your plant is to handpick them or spray them with pesticide one day, watch, and then get rid of any scales that didn’t die as a result of the pesticide application.

Spider mitesHumid environments are favorable for the development of spider mites because they support the growth. Plants that are located in humid, warm climates are more likely to become infested by spider mites.

Spraying the front and rear of each leaf on your plant with high-pressure water can get rid of them. Don’t forget to pour water on the leaf stems as well. It’s also a good idea to spread your plant with pesticides once weekly as an added precaution. 

FAQ 

– Is Hoya Merrillii Water Propagation Successful?

One of the simplest methods is water-based plant propagation. The plant cutting of the Hoya can be easily propagated in water; submerge it, and after the water turns hazy, change the container.

Keep in mind that any area of your plant with a disease or spots on it should be cut off. You must choose a piece of the plant that seems appropriate for transplanting. Choosing a vine in your plant that is not expanding or has some immature leaves is best.

Locate the node of your Hoya, and then cut the plant from the final leaf node at the node location. When propagating plants, always use sterilized tools to lower the risk of infecting your plant. In the final stage, you can use a rooting hormone to aid in your plant’s growth by dipping the cut portion of the stem into it. 

We would suggest that you replace your water frequently, even if it isn’t yet muddy. The water will stagnate if you neglect to change it regularly. Your plant will perish from a lack of oxygen if the water is stagnant, which increases bacterial activity.

It is very important to keep in mind that the spring and summer months are typically when your plant will start blossoming its magnificent flowers, hence that is when you will see the flowers bloom after the propagation has been successfully done.

– Does the Hoya Merrillii need Repotting?

Yes, the it can stay in its original pot for up to three years after repotting.

This plant likes to stay in its current pot; thus, it does not like to be replanted frequently. According to seasoned gardeners, it would be best if you only repotted your Hoya when it is absolutely necessary.

Due to the stress, you could put the plant under when attempting to repot it, since it has a higher risk of being harmed.

This plant blooms when it is kept root-bound for a protracted amount of time. Keep your Hoya Merrillii in its nursery pot as long as possible for optimal results. It is imperative to choose a pot that matches your aesthetic when starting to pot the plant if the appearance of the pot does not appeal to you.

Only undertake to repot your Hoya when under the following circumstances: keeping the potting mix that your Hoya sp is planted in begins to retain excessive water. The latter would slowly cause your roots to decay in excessively wet soil.

When The plant is starting to display indications of an infection or pest invasion, try and repot it to another pot. Furthermore, when the soil begins to dry out quickly even when the plant receives regular irrigation and as you have observed the roots to assess your plant’s health and condition, then you have to undoubtedly repot the plant to a safer one.

Even after you have been growing it for months or years, if your plant is still much smaller than the pot, it is time for you to change the pot.

– Is My Hoya Merrillii Not Safe For Pets?

Yes, it is poisonous to both humans and other animals. For this reason, you must keep it out of reach for your children or pets because these should not be consumed. 

– How Big Does Hoya Merrillii Grow?

Your plant can reach a length of six to eight feet if given the best growing circumstances for this Hoya. Spring and summer are the two seasons when this plant grows the fastest.

The plant has leaves that are dark green in color with maroon undertones, particularly at the leaf edges. 

These leaves have a striking appearance. The plant’s glossy leaves have distinct veins, which contributes to its ease of propagation. Hoyas have been well-liked for many years as easy-going, succulent-like, vining houseplants with fragrant flowers, variegation, and a propensity to produce colorful foliage. 

Conclusion 

Some of the Hoya Merrillii’s best blossoms are found on this plant. This plant may liven up your plant collection and looks gorgeous in any outdoor environment.

They don’t need much care, so you won’t have to worry if you forget to water them for a few days. All you need to do is:

• Keep your Hoya at a humidity level of up to 60 percent.
• Water it again when the dirt has dried out from the top.
• Keep your gorgeous plant in indirect sunlight and occasionally expose it to brief periods of direct sun.
• Maintain indirect sunlight for your Hoya and periodically expose it to direct sunlight for a few hours. During the plant’s growing season, fertilize it at least once each month.

You’re all set as long as you take the measures above in your Merrillii care and propagation regimen. Happy planting!