Hoya Carnosa plant

Hoya Carnosa Compacta – How to Care for Hindu Rope Plant

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Hoya carnosa compacta is a plant that immediately attracts attention because of its beautiful shiny foliage and adorable blossoms. 

Not only does this plant give an elegant touch to your home design when kept indoors, but it is also super-fun and pretty for outdoor lounges as a hanging plant. 

It will give any space an instant boost of bright colors and make any room a happier and more relaxing place. 

Even though the Krinkle Kurl plant isn’t too demanding and doesn’t demand special care, it will bloom better if you invest more time in taking care of it in the right way. 

Since this beautiful plant is very durable, you won’t have problems with your Hoyas during winter. 

It also doesn’t need a lot of watering, which is great if you’re not home often. 

Having said that, this guide will be helpful if you want to learn which soil to choose, how humid the air should be, which container will allow your Wax plant thrive, and similar. 

So, without further ado, let’s talk about:

Ideal Conditions and Environment for Hindu Rope Plant Growth

Hindu Rope Plant

As said, this “wax plant” is very easy to take care of. 

That’s why many people choose to have it as their house plant or in the gardens. 

If you want this plant to reach its full potential so that you can enjoy clusters of mesmerizing blooms, here’s how you should take care of and maintain Hindu rope plant and how to create the best environment for its growth. 

Before we discuss the most important aspects of care, allow me to introduce you to a couple of more lovely Hoyas.

How to Choose the Best Potting Mix for Hindu Rope Plant?

Similarly to any succulent, Hindu rope plant also prefers a soil mix that enables excellent air circulation at all times. 

The roots need air to be able to grow and consume all of the necessary nutrients. 

That’s why the best potting mixtures would be those that are used for plants like succulents, Saintpaulia, and similar. 

You can also be safe with adding perlite to any commercial potting mix and using that as your Hindu rope plant potting medium.

Whichever option you choose, remember to always have in mind the airflow and purchase the mixture according to that. 

Avoid adding sand to the soil as it can become compact due to water, which can significantly stop the air. 

Do you prefer homemade soil mixtures? 

Consider using leca (Lightweight expanded clay aggregate), pumice pebbles, pine barks, and similar additions to your compost. 

Those will retain enough moisture for your plant to stay hydrated yet allow the air to circulate without obstacles.

How to Know What Is the Right Size of the Container?

Since the Hindu rope plant looks absolutely beautiful when placed in a hanging basket/pot, look for the planters that are suitable for that. 

Keep in mind that the root system of this plant prefers being crammed in order to stay strong and healthy. 

You won’t have to stress about repotting often because the Wax plant grows slowly, which means that you’ll very rarely need to purchase a larger container. 

Another advantage of small plant containers is the fact that the soil will dry out in a short time. 

This means that you’ll avoid the root rotting. 

An important thing to remember is that drainage openings are super-important as the root system of the plant needs air circulation and excellent water drainage.

In conclusion, the best pot for the Krinkle Kurl plant is 

  • Hanging, for the decor
  • Small, for packed roots
  • With drainage openings, for good water drainage

What Temperature and Humidity Level Helps Hoya Carnosa Compacta Thrive?

Hoya Carnosa Compacta – How to Care for Hindu Rope Plant

As any tropical plant, this one also needs warm temperatures to grow and flower its best. 

For that reason, the Hoya carnosa compacta is an ideal house plant. 

The best temperature range for the Wax plant is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (16-21 degrees Celsius).

So, whether you live in a very warm or cold area, the best environment for your plant will be indoors because of the optimal temperature.

Wax plant really likes humidity, which isn’t very common for indoor plants. 

While other plants usually prefer the optimal humidity levels inside everyone’s home, which is around 20 percent, this one thrives when that percentage is around 40-60. 

How to achieve it? 

Well, the most practical thing to do is invest in an air humidifier that will keep the air around the Wax plant humid enough for it to grow lush leaves and flowers. 

What Type and Amount of Light Exposure “Porcelain Flower” Needs?

Being very durable and resistant, Wax plant can survive even if you keep it in a place that doesn’t offer a lot of light exposure. 

However, even though it will be able to survive, it won’t blossom, and it will grow very slowly. 

That’s why the ideal exposure is bright but indirect sunlight. 

This will help your plant to be green, “waxy”, and filled with blossoms.

Even though this tropical plant also has a high tolerance when it comes to direct exposure to sunlight, if it is too intense and if the temperature is high, the plant will burn and die. 

If you own a grow tent and have purchased lighting for germination or any other stage of growth, you can even use the fluorescent lights.

These will offer the ideal amount of lighting for your wax plant.

The lights should be very bright, and your plant needs to be exposed to them for around 14 hours each day. 

If you want your lant to blossom, leave it under the lights for 16 hours.

The rest of the time, the plant needs the darkness to consume all of the energy produced during the light exposure.

How Often Should You Water Porcelain Flower Plant?

Another aspect where the Wax plant is such low maintenance is the watering schedule. 

Not only will you be able to water it very rarely during its growing stage (in warm months), but this beauty also requires even less water during the cold months in its resting period. 

When it comes to the period of growth, you should add water to the pot when the soil becomes close to dry. 

During winter, you should add even less moisture, because the plant doesn’t consume a lot of water since it’s resting.

Are you wondering how much water to add to the Hoya carnosa compacta? 

The best thing to do is pour a lot of water into the soil and practically flood it. 

Then, you should make sure to wait for 15 minutes and allow the excessive amount of water to drain. 

The potting mixture will retain the right amount of water and let go of the rest.

Too much water can be dangerous for the root system and if there’s too much moisture, the roots will rot, and your plant will eventually die. 

Which Fertilizers to Use and How Often to Feed the Plant?

Hindu Rope Plant Fertilizing

An interesting thing about when it comes to feeding the Indian rope plant is that it is actually better off without any plant for than with too much of it. 

The wax plant prefers light fertilization only once a month while it’s in a growing phase, which means during spring and summer. 

Once it starts to flower or while it’s in the vegetative state, you shouldn’t add any plant food to the soil. 

The Hoya carnosa compacta plant loves plant food that is water-soluble. 

When it comes to the amount, you should actually dilute the fertilizer two times more than it’s advised by the brand. 

Wax plant hates being overfed, and you’ll easily notice if that’s the case. 

Some of the signs are dried out edges on the leaves, white residue on the soil, slow growth, etc.

How to Promote Flowering?

The only stage when the Hindu rope plant can be sensitive is when growing blossoms. 

As you already know, Hoya carnosa compacta produce beautiful clusters of flowers that have a unique shape. 

These are not only very pretty but also smell very nice. 

Keep in mind that not every plant will grow flowers in its first year. 

Some of them require a bit of patience, maturity, and ideal conditions to reach the said maturity. 

So, even though your Hindu rope plant may have beautiful, waxy leaves, this doesn’t mean that it is provided all of the necessary conditions to bloom, bright and indirect sunlight being one of them.

Another important thing to know if you have a plant that’s blooming is not to cut the spurs because the flowers grow from them every time. 

If you cut them, it will take some time for the new ones to grow and start flowering again. 

Lastly, we should also mention that you shouldn’t rotate, repot, or move the plant while the blooms are present. 

If you change the surroundings or the amount of light exposure, the flowers most likely won’t survive the stress and will die.

The Best Way to Prune and Propagate Hoya Carnosa Compacta

While pruning isn’t actually necessary, it can be beneficial for your plant’s growth and appearance. 

Cutting dead or damaged leaves every once in a while or simply trimming the parts that seem out of place for the overall shape isn’t harmful if you do it in the correct way. 

Don’t forget to sanitize the tool you’re going to use to cut. 

You can, of course, remove the damaged parts of the plant any time during a year. 

However, if you want to get rid of a few stems, make sure to do it in the spring. 

You should be very careful not to damage the rest of the plant as it can be harmful to its growth and blooming.

NOTE: After cutting, you’ll notice milky fluid that this plant leaks. So, be aware of that and do the pruning away from the furniture.

If you decide to propagate the Hindu rope plant, you should also use a sharp, sanitized tool to carefully cut the stem at an angle. 

This should be done when the plant is in active growth (spring or summer). 

The next step is to leave the fluid to dry and harden. 

Then, you should put the stem in a pot with loose and light soil that’s moist. 

Place a clear plastic bag on the container and leave it in a place that’s in the shade until your baby plant develops roots. 

After that, take care of it as you usually would. 

Repotting Hindu Rope Plant – Step by Step Guide

Repotting Hindu Rope Plant

It’s true that this beautiful plant will very rarely require replanting since its roots love being packed and in a small space. 

However, sometimes the change of a container may be necessary, especially if you went a bit too heavy with fertilizers. 

Having said that, let’s see which situations actually require the change of the container so that you can know when you should repot your Hindu rope plant.

BONUS TIP: If you notice that the soil inside the pot becomes dry soon after you water it, it’s time to repot your plant.

  • Another situation when you should think about purchasing a larger pot is if you notice that the roots of your plant block the drainage holes on the container.
  • As said, after using too much plant food, it can be very difficult to wash it out from the soil. 

That’s when transplanting is the best option because a large amount of fertilizer can kill your plant.

  • Sometimes, the soil inside the pot can become too heavy, compact and without air, due to the watering. 

That’s when repotting should be done because, as we already said, the roots of the Hindu rope plant need a lot of air circulation and oxygen to stay healthy and rot-free.

  • Lastly, if your plant is dry, not growing, or seems unhealthy in general, a larger pot with new, fresh soil mixture can help a lot.

Now that you know which things to take into consideration before deciding to repot your plant, let’s see how to do it!

  1. First Step 

Choose the right size of the new container. 

Even though your new pot should be slightly larger, it still shouldn’t be too big. 

The ideal size is around 2 inches larger from the old container. 

This will provide enough space for the roots while still keeping them packed.

  1. Second Step

Fill one half of the new pot with the soil that’s lightweight, allows air circulation and fast drainage.

  1. Third Step

Carefully take out the plant from the old container. 

You can use gardening tools to separate the roots from the container and then to clean them from the soil. 

Be gentle and careful not to damage the roots.

  1. Fourth Step 

Place the plant into the new pot carefully, and fill the rest of the container with the new soil.

  1. Fifth Step 

Water thoroughly and wait until the excess water is drained. 

Add fertilizers if needed.

When is the best stage of the growth to repot the Hindu rope plant?

As with any other indoor plant, the best period to change the container is during its growing phase, which means during spring or summer. 

Make sure not to repot it while it’s blooming as the transplant shock may be deadly for the flowers. 

Of course, if it’s absolutely necessary, you can do it. 

However, be ready to potentially lose the beautiful blooms that year.

FAQ

Is Hindu rope plant a succulent?

Hoya carnosa compacta plant is a semi-succulent, which means that, other than the humidity, they more or less require the same conditions and environment to grow their best.

Which are the main pests and diseases that attack Hoya Carnosa Compacta?

The most annoying things when caring about a plant are the diseases and pests that can be dangerous for their growth and health. When it comes to the Hindu rope plant, they, luckily, don’t attract many pests. The most stubborn and frequent ones are spider mites and mealybugs. You can easily remove them with the soapy water. Also, as prevention, clean the leaves regularly with a moist cloth.

Is the Hindu rope plant safe for pets?

Absolutely! This plant isn’t toxic for pets, even if they ingest them. The only problem that this plant can create is a reaction to latex while touching the leaves if you’re allergic. 

Why does the Hindu rope plant stop blooming?

Being a very adaptable and durable indoor plant, your Hoya carnosa compacta will be able to grow even if the conditions aren’t ideal. However, flowering does require special care. For example, one of the most frequent reasons why your plant isn’t blooming is the lack of indirect sunlight. Another cause of fewer blooms is the repotting of the plant while it’s in the blooming phase. This can create a shock that causes the flowers to fall off. Lastly, if you cut the stems of the Hindu rope plant, it won’t grow flowers in that place until the stems appear again. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why a lot of people love having Hoya carnosa compacta as their indoor plant. 

Other than being mesmerizing as a hanging plant, this beauty is effortless to grow and maintain.

With very little care, you can expect the Wax plant to be very beautiful, lush, green, and abundant with pretty flowers. 

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