Hoya Mindorensis: Care Guide To Grow the Vining Plant Stress-free

Hoya Mindorensis is an exciting vining plant of the Apocynaceae family that is easy to grow and it makes any space attractive. If you are looking for information on this delightful variety, then this article is just the right one for you.

Our experts provide in-depth information on how to care for, grow and propagate this hoya genus plant. Don’t worry and wait no longer to find tips and techniques to grow the healthiest Hoya plant, keep reading because it’s all in this article!

What Is Hoya Mindorensis?

Hoya mindorensis is an uncommon flowering and vining tropical succulent plant that blooms throughout the year. The plant is also known as the Hoya Elmeri Splash and is native to the Philippines. It is a favorite among many gardeners due to its evergreen leaves and wildflowers that grow in clusters.

Hoya Mindorensis Care

This Hoya variant is an epiphyte and a succulent and very similar to the other varieties in the Hoya family. In the below section, we are going to give you deeper insights into each of these aspects. Ensuring proper plant care and meeting each of these ideal requirements of the plant will keep the foliage green and the blooms intact all the time. You can get the best out of your plant to charm your garden and home.

Water Requirements

The health of the plant greatly depends on your watering schedule. Being a succulent, the hoya variant dislikes soggy and overly moist soil, so water to keep the soil moist. The pot it is placed in must have proper drainage holes.

Nonetheless, as the plant develops an intricate root system, watering the plant from below rather than from the top will be beneficial to its health. This also will prevent fungal issues which the plant is easily susceptible to. Increase the frequency of watering as per the season with hot summers requiring more in comparison to frosty winters.

Light Requirements

The plant produces blooms throughout the year and therefore prefers bright yet indirect light to thrive. Keep it away from harsh sunlight as this will not only reduce blooms but can also scorch the leaves.

Even if you are growing them indoors or on patios, provide the plant with at least two hours of bright sunlight in a day. This is vital to keep the blooms intact and recurring. The plant will survive in a shady spot; however, it may fail to produce blooms.

Soil Requirements

Hoyas are epiphytes and draw their nutrition from the air. So keep the potting medium light, well-draining, and organic. The soil needs to be chunky and not sand-like, with a mix of orchid bark, perlite, and peat.

Throw in some mulch to increase aeration. The latter will help the intertwining roots to soak in some air from between the bark chunks and draw in their nutrition. Never let the plant sit in a pool of water or soggy soil as this could lead to root rot and fungal diseases.

Temperature Requirements

The plant loves warm climatic environments not only to keep its succulent leaves looking shiny and green but also to produce adequate blooms. You will need to strive to keep the plant in a constant range of warmth as the plant seldom likes sudden changes or fluctuations in temperatures.

The ideal temperature needs to be above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant struggles to sustain itself. So keep it away from chilly winds, cold drafts, and frost conditions. Move the plant indoors in winter and place them under artificial grow lights for the required warmth and heat.

Humidity Requirements

These succulents love humidity in the air. An arid zone is just not going to work for this plant and they shrivel up, looking limp without moisture. Thus, maintain the humidity over 60 percent even in winters when you move the plant indoors.

If you are living in a hot and dry area, mist the plant frequently to bring in some humidity. Alternatively, you could place a pebble tray with water below the pot or group the epiphyte along with similar plants to benefit from collective humidity. You may also consider using a humidifier if you are growing them on closed patios or balconies.

Fertilizing Requirements

The plant is a light feeder thus you wouldn’t require fertilizing it very often. However, the sparing use of a diluted liquid formula, once every month, helps it to produce adequate blooms, especially during the growing season. Alternatively, you could add in a bloom-boosting fertilizer just before the buds burst into flowers.

Pruning Requirements

As a vining epiphytic plant, the slender stems can grow to great lengths of about nine feet, wrapping themselves tightly around surfaces or barks of trees. Thus, regular pruning is required to prevent wild growth and to keep the plant in shape.

Always remember to sterilize your tools with diluted isopropyl alcohol to prevent the spread of fungal and bacterial infections. Never snip away any peduncles or spurs during pruning.

 

Propagation

Propagate the Hoya through root or stem cuttings. With just a few basic tools such as a garden pruner, light potting soil and a container, you can achieve success in bringing about a new plant offset. In the below section we explain in detail how you can go about the entire procedure of propagation hassle-free and with just basic gardening skills.

– Right Season to Propagate

If you are propagating using stem cuttings, the ideal season is between early spring to mid-summer, if you are using stem cuttings. These months are warm and the roots of the new offset will be able to establish their roots faster and healthier.

If you are propagating using roots, then you need to do it during the dormant period of winter. This gives enough time for the roots to develop and establish themselves as it approaches spring

– Tools Required

Keep the following plants ready before you begin the process of propagation. It makes the job at hand simpler and faster

The tools that you need are essential to be sterilized in order to have a safe procedure of the propagation, a sharp and sterile garden pruner, in addition to a well-draining potting soil. Lastly, the container or the pot where the plant will settle must have holes below to help with the drainage of the excess water.

– Propagation Method

The Hoya could also be propagated using seeds, however, it is a slower process and the success rate is lower as well. Thus, the best way to achieve success and propagate faster is through root or stem cuttings. Here are the detailed steps that you need to follow in both methods.

– Through Root Cuttings

In order to propagate this lovely plant, you may do it through root cuttings. Start by simply cutting a small root section and planting it in well-draining nutrient-rich soil.

All you have to do is to keep the soil slightly moist and let it rest undisturbed for several weeks so that it would adapt to the new environment gracefully. now, you must wait for the growing season until the first new growth will be spotted. Afterwhich, you will see the success of the propagation. 

– Through Stem Cuttings

When it comes to propagating through stem cuttings, you must begin with picking a healthy mother plant and cut a section of the stem with a few nodes and leaves intact. The stem section needs to be at least three to four inches in length.

After the sectioning, it is key to allow the cutting to be callous for two days until the cut wound heals, the latter is to stay safe and not harm the plant.

In organic well-draining soil, plant the cut section and let it remain undisturbed in warmth. Provide it with the ideal care you would do to an adult plant. it is crucial to remember that the soil must be kept moist.

Enclose the plant with a plastic sheet to kick in some humidity around it. Do remember to remove the sheet after a few days otherwise; you may have excess moisture setting in that could harm the plant.

Don’t worry, it won’t take so long, as in a few weeks, well-developed roots set in. However, keep in mind that this is the stage when you must consider transplanting into another pot if required.

Problems

Even though this hoya is succulent and grows well without active care, there are problems one may encounter with it. In the below section, we cover the common problems and quick-fix solutions to tackle them. Read on.

– Pest Infestations

The usual and common pests to attack the succulent plant are mealybugs, aphids and spider mites. The damage that the pests do can be considerably high if ignored or tackled late. These pests suck out the fluid out of the plant, making it go limp, weak and wilt. You will find the pests in clusters on the underside of leaves and also feasting around the buds and flowers.

Over time, a pest infestation causes the death of buds and reduces the chances of fresh ones occurring. Eradicate pests by spraying a blast of water over them and repeat the process until all of the pests fall off the plant.

Care to be taken not to aggressively spray over buds as this would make them drop before time. To prevent any future infestations, regularly apply organic liquids such as neem oil, which repel the pests with their strong odor.

– Root Rot

One of the most common outcomes of over-watering your hoya is root rot. The condition can get so severe that it can even lead to the death of the plant, if not tackled on time.

Not only is it important to prevent it from occurring, but timely treatment is also vital as well. Root rot could lead to yellowing foliage, wilted stems, buds dropping before time, swollen stems, or a foul odor at the base of the stem.

If you suspect root rot, stop and scale back on the watering immediately. Gently remove the plant from the soil and inspect for swollen and blackened root sections. With a sterile pruner, snip them away and repot the plant in fresh and aerated well-draining soil. You could choose to mix in some neem oil in the soil to prevent the spread or re-occurrence of fungal diseases.

Prevent root rot by monitoring the watering schedule. The plant is succulent and thus does not require frequent watering. You just need to keep the soil lightly moist.

– Dying Vines

The long vines of this epiphyte are quite a delight. However, there are times when these very slender stems may show signs of dying. This could be most likely because the plant has not been receiving enough light. The Hoya plant needs constant sunlight daily and they seldom fare well in the shade or dingy spots.

Move the plant into indirect yet bright light. Keep the exposure constant to at least four hours every day and see it limp back to life. Ensure there is enough ventilation around the plant and the humidity stays high as well.

– Slow or Stunted and Misshapen Leaves

If your Hoya plant is slow in its growth with misshapen leaves, or the bud seems to be falling before time, then it is time to recheck its light and temperature exposure. The plant needs a constant temperature and light range and will not tolerate sudden exposures or fluctuations.

Always keep the light and warmth around the plant constant. If you are planning to move your plant from indoors to outdoors or the reverse, always get the plant acclimatized instead of a sudden movement. Keep it away from the extreme heat of the sun as well away from chilly winds and frost conditions.

– Leaves Turning Yellow

One of the frequently asked questions about the health of the hoya plant is why the leaves turn yellow. The reasons for this could be several and it is important to identify the right one before you tackle the issue to ensure the plant picks up good health.

Too much water prevents the roots from taking in oxygen from the soil thereby turning the leaves yellow. Another reason for yellowing could be due to over-fertilizing of the plant, which leads to salt buildup or leaf scorch. A poorly draining soil or pot too could lead to this condition.

Always ensure the plant is in lightly moist soil and a pot with proper drainage holes. Ensure the holes of the pot are not clogged with the intricate root system. If you find roots sticking out of the pot, transplant the Hoya into a container one size bigger. To tackle fertilizer scorch, avoid fertilizing in winters and use a liquid formula only during the blooming season of the plant.

 

– Thin and Droopy Leaves

Do you find the vining stems thinning out with droopy leaves? Here is another outcome of an overly stressed plant caused by overexposure to heat and arid conditions. Hoya plants prefer a humid environment that is well-ventilated and has moderate heat. The soil should seldom be bone dry and the plant should not be placed under direct sun.

Fix the problem by moving the plant into partial light. Frequently mist the plant if you are in a dry zone and never expose the plant to direct sun’s heat.

Alternatively, you could use a garden sheet and place it over the plant to protect it, or create a greenhouse with a natural canopy formed by other larger plants. The hoya varieties are topical plants and thus survive in a similar environment with humidity, warmth, and indirect light.

– Buds Falling Before Time

The buds of your hoya plant may fall well before the time for one or all of these reasons. From inadequate light, exposure to sudden heat or cold, arid climates, or pest infestations, the cause could be any one of these.

The most important thing to do is to check the actual reason. Look on the underside of leaves and flowers for pests that may have infested the plant. Ensure your plant is in a well-lit spot and there is enough humidity in the air. Have these essential aspects in place to keep the buds intact and blooming through the year.

– Sticky Sap on Leaves

If you find sticky sap all over your leaf, it is due to sap-sucking pests such as mealybugs or aphids. These house garden pests not only suck the sap out of the plant foliage but leave their traces on the surface. This sticky sap can further attract ants if the issue is not tackled early. 

Eradicate pests with an organic insecticide and prevent their occurrence with neem oil. Clean leaves gently with a damp cloth to get rid of their traces once the pests have been gotten rid of.

FAQ

Does Hoya Mindorensis like to dry out?

Hoya Mindorensis prefers to have its soil consistently moist, but it’s important not to overwater. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.

Does Hoya Mindorensis like to be crowded?

Hoya Mindorensis does not appreciate being overcrowded. It’s advisable to provide enough space for each plant to allow for proper airflow and growth. Avoid overcrowding to ensure the health and vitality of the plant.

Can I divide Hoya Mindorensis?

Yes, Hoya Mindorensis can be divided.

Carefully separate the plant into smaller sections, making sure each section has sufficient roots and leaves. Repot the divisions into individual containers, using well-draining soil. This allows for propagation and the growth of multiple plants from the original one.

Conclusion

You have read, in this detailed guide, how easy it is to grow this Hoya plant. Here is a quick summary and round-up of all that we have discussed in this article.

• Hoya Mindorensis is a low-maintenance plant that has long vining stems and constant blooms that makes it a favorite among many gardeners.
• The plant is an epiphyte with bright green leaves and wildflowers with tufts of white hairs.
• This hoya variant requires bright yet partial light, slightly moist soil, moderate heat, and high hubmidity to thrive and maintain healthy foliage.
• Propagate the plant easily using root or stem cuttings. The process is hassle-free and with basic gardening skills, you can achieve success.
• Tackle problems of the plant by monitoring its watering schedule, providing it with the ideal light conditions, and keeping pests at bay.

Hoya Mindorensis with its vining stems is a delight in any garden due to its bushy look. Grow the plant stress-free with minimal care and time to fill up any space with charm!