Hoya Vitellinoides: Best Care Tips for the Indonesian Epiphyte

Hoya Vitellinoides of the Apocynaceae family is a spectacular Hoya with unique, glossy leaves that make it stand apart from other plants. Hoya Vitellinoides is also known by the names Wax plant and Porcelain flower.

Hoya vitellinoides leaves are beautiful, large, and thick that can grow up to ten inches long and three to six inches wide, having a beautiful lime green color with a web of dark green veins all over. Learn all about the growth requirements of this hoya genus plant from our comprehensive care tips.

What Is a Hoya Vitellinoides?

Hoya Vitellinoides is a compact, evergreen, climbing plant native to Indonesia. It is an epiphyte that grows naturally on other trees and plants debris. It was found in high elevation jungles of Indonesia in the 1950s which means that it probably likes relatively cooler temperatures than most other tropical Hoya varieties.

Hoya Vitellinoides Care

Hoya Vitellinoides is an easy plant and can be grown by beginners and experts alike. Let us take a look at Hoya Vitellinoides indoor care in detail from its growth requirements given below.  

Water Requirements

Hoya Vitellinoides can tolerate short periods of dryness but do not allow the soil to go completely dry in between waterings as it will be dehydrated. Allow the soil to dry out considerably in between the waterings. It does not want constant moisture at all times. 

Hoya Vitellinoides is prone to root rot due to overwatering which is why it is essential to let the soil dry out a bit in between the watering sessions.

Check the top one to two inches of the soil by inserting your finger. If the soil sticks to your finger, do not water the plant and wait for a few more days before checking again. 

Checking the soil each time before watering ensures that the plant does not face problems related to overwatering and underwatering. You can lift the plant before watering to see if the plant needs to be watered or not. If the pot feels heavy, there is still moisture in it and a lighter pot means that the soil is dry. 

Light Requirements

Grow Hoya Vitellinoides in a spot that receives lots of bright light but not direct sunlight throughout the day. Choose a well-lit location away from direct sunlight. The more the light, the happier and healthier your plant will be. 

If your home does not receive adequate light, try growing the plant under grow lights. In bright light conditions, the leaves develop a bright red or bronze tinge. If they start getting brown in sunlight, consider it a warning sign and shift the plant to shade away from direct sunlight.

The idea is to provide the plant with five to six hours of bright light with two to three hours of morning and evening direct sunlight and shade in the afternoon. A north or east-facing window is ideal for this plant’s growth. 

Avoid west or south-facing windows as they usually get the afternoon sun which can cause burns on plant leaves. If you are growing it in outdoor spaces, keep it under a tree or a covered spot under partial shade. 

Soil Requirements

Hoya Vitellinoides soil should be fast-draining like orchid soil mixes. Since Hoya Vitellinoides is an epiphyte that grows attached to tree barks, it does not need the regular potting soil to grow. The idea is to make the soil as well-drained and chunky as possible to keep the plant roots healthy.

Use thick orchid bark chips mixture or leca balls to grow Hoya Vitellinoides. You can prepare an airy potting mix by mixing two parts of peat moss with one part of perlite or charcoal. You can also use one part succulent mix with one part orchid mix and one part perlite. 

Temperature Requirements

Hoya Vitellinoides is a tropical plant and grows best in the temperature range of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate high temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit better than temperatures less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are growing Hoya Vitellinoides outdoors and the temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, shift it indoors to a bright, warm spot. Cool temperatures coupled with frost can be detrimental to your plant’s growth.

In winters, the days are shorter which means that the plant receives a lot less light than in summers. In winters, you can place the plant near south-facing windows because the plant enjoys the afternoon sun in winters.

Humidity Requirements 

Under artificial grow lights with high humidity, the plant can grow quite fast. It thrives in humidity levels between 40 and 80 percent. The plant will be happy if you keep the humidity levels above 40 percent. 

The usual humidity levels in most tropical homes work well for this Hoya. However, if you live in a dry area where the air gets significantly dry in summers, invest in an indoor humidifier or prepare a humidity tray to keep the humidity levels up.

Fertilizer Requirements

Fertilize Hoya Vitellinoides once a month in spring and summer with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to stimulate new growth. The plant grows actively in spring and summer, so feeding during this period encourages growth and makes the plant bushier. 

Avoid overfertilizing the plant as it is not a heavy feeder. Always dilute the fertilizer to half strength to avoid root burn due to salt build-up. Apply phosphorus-rich fertilizer when the plant is about to bloom and switch to nitrogen-rich fertilizer for greener foliage. 

Pruning

Prune the branches regularly to prevent the plant from getting messy, since the Hoya Vitellinoides can grow up to 40 feet in the wild jungles. Its vining nature makes it grow on various surfaces and spread rapidly. If you want to keep your plant compact. 

However, as per the repotting, the Hoya Vitellinoides has a small root system which is why it does not need frequent repotting. The plant likes to remain pot-bound and this also increases the chances of flowering. Repotting is only needed every two to five years when the old potting mix decomposes. 

Propagation 

Hoya Vitellinoides can be propagated easily using stem cuttings. It is possible to propagate it from seeds too but it demands more time and expertise for germination. We recommend using the stem cutting method as it is much easier and more convenient.

Take a stem cutting that has about two to three nodes. Try to choose a cutting with aerial roots as rooting gets much easier when there are aerial roots present. In a fresh, airy soil mix, place the cutting such that the leaf nodes are in the soil. 

Cover the planted cuttings with a plastic bag to increase humidity. It can take three to four months for the cutting to develop roots. Keep the soil moist at all times for faster root growth. 

Problems

Hoya Vitellinoides can sometimes face certain diseases and problems. Let us look at some of them in detail. 

– Crisping and Browning of Leaf Tips

Drying, crisping and browning of leaf tips indicate a lack of humidity around the plant. Keep humidifiers or humidity trays around the plant to manage the humidity levels. You can group many plants or move your plant to the bathroom to solve the problem of low humidity. 

– Root Rot

Root rot is a very common problem in Hoya Vitellinoides. It is caused by overwatering combined with high humidity and low-light conditions. When the plant is overwatered, its root system ends up in the water and prevents the roots from getting oxygen. This suffocation of roots leads to root rot.

The problem of root rot can be prevented and controlled by keeping a constant check on the plant. Look for the signs that your plant is trying to give and take the necessary action. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us look at some of the commonly asked questions about Hoya Vitellinoides.

– How Big do Hoya Vitellinoides Grow?

Hoya Vitellinoides grows epiphytically and in the wild, it creeps over other bigger tree barks. It looks quite similar to Hoya Meridithii. The plant is not a slow grower but it does take some time to grow enough leaves to be able to be propagated.

The epiphyte uses its aerial roots to absorb moisture and nutrients from the air and debris on tree branches. 

– Is Hoya Vitellinoides a Rare Plant?

Hoya Vitellinoides is not exactly a very rare plant but it is slightly more uncommon in stores than most other Hoyas which makes it a bit more expensive to find in stores and nurseries. 

– Can Hoya Vitellinoides Climb?

Hoya Vitellinoides is a climbing plant that needs support to grow upwards. Keep a moss pole or trellis to train the plant to grow around the wires. When the plant gets proper support from a trellis, the new leaves grow larger and healthier. 

If you do not want to grow Hoya Vitellinoides using a trellis, you can grow them in hanging baskets. They tend to get messy in the regular pots and containers but hanging baskets are also a good option to turn the mess into a beautiful display. 

– Does the Hoya Vitellinoides Bloom?

Yes, the Hoya Vitellinoides blooms and gives flowers that are a lovely pink color with white and yellow centers. They are quite small as compared to the larger and much more striking leaves. The spherical flowers look beautiful in hanging baskets. 10 to 30 flowers bloom in one cluster called an umbel. These blooms can last up to six days. 

Conclusion

Hoya Vitellinoides is a beautiful plant with unique leaves and is a must-have if you like big, textured leaves. Let us once more take a look at the most important care guidelines. 

• Hoya Vitellinoides is an epiphytic, climbing plant native to southeast Asia where it grows rampantly in warm and humid weather conditions. 
• It needs bright, indirect light along with warm weather and high humidity conditions to grow well.
• Water the plant when almost 50 percent of the soil has dried out to prevent problems related to overwatering. 
• The leaves get broad and oblong as the plant matures, they work like succulent leaves and store water to help the plant in drier periods. 

Now that you know all about this stunning plant, we hope you get one for yourself soon!