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If you are thinking about getting a trailing plant that takes a beautiful curtain-like shape and has a consistent reputation of being both beautiful and easy to manage, the hoya” hanging plant” or hoya linearis is right up your alley!
In case you are short on time or want to see what the contents of this article are, here is a quick look. Hoya linearis need abundant amounts of light each day, preferably indirect. They can also tolerate direct exposure for a time if it is not too intense. Refrain from watering the plants if you are unsure if they are dry or not. When the watering period does come, don’t be afraid to give them a larger quantity of water. In the best-case scenario, humidity ranging from 40% to 60% will be ideal. Prioritize soil that is quick to dry and allows unrestricted airflow. It is non-toxic and fits in most pots that follow the requirements. It blooms within 2 years and these blooms last for about two weeks. They suffer from several potential issues that are mostly related to overwatering, aphids, and spider mites.
Seems easy so far? Despite a large amount of information, it is almost effortless to follow through with them and have yourself an enjoyable growing experience with the hoya linearis. Now, let’s see for ourselves what we need to know about the hoya linearis plant care.
Hoya Linearis Light Requirements
As you might be already familiar with how much hoyas adore indirect exposure to the sun, this specimen will be no different. If you made it your goal to grow hoyas, prioritize this essential aspect of hoya linearis care.
However, there is a specific piece of information you need to be aware of. As a hanging plant, it will require an enormous amount of light intake to cover its top, or it will be at the risk of getting bald.
Now, you should layout this plant to start receiving sun rays from the early morning. That way, in case of scorching summer days, you can take advantage of the often less intense mornings and afterward store your plant in a more secluded location. Try to give it from 6-8hours of indirect exposure, but this can vary based on the intensity of the light.
Although it may sound counterintuitive, I would highly recommend that you reserve a particular, lightless spot for this species of Hoya.
The bathroom is an ideal candidate, as it usually has high humidity and can provide the plant a few hours of darkness.
It needs some time without light to thrive properly. If nothing else, you can always just pull down the curtains!
Temperature Requirements for Hoya Linearis Care
As Hoya linearis grows at higher altitudes, it possesses incredible resistance to colder temperatures, compared to other members of the Hoya family. However, this does not mean it should be confined to a cold environment.
Stick to from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius, and you will be fine. These plants are temperature flexible and can quickly grow unhindered in these conditions. But, whatever happens, make sure it never goes below 10 degrees Celsius, and you are all set.
Watering Hoya Linearis
If there was one universal tip that would extend to all houseplants, it would be “if in doubt, better let it dry before watering”.
One of the largest numbers of indoor plant deaths is due to the owners’ negligence when it comes to overwatering.
These plants are infamous for being extremely sensitive to the most common anathema of indoor plants, root rot. That is why you must thoroughly check if the top layers of your soil are bone dry.
The aforesaid might give you the impression that these plants disdain large quantities of water, but that cannot be further from the truth!
These plants adore water, and when you do get down to the watering, soak your plants until the hole at the bottom of the plant starts leaking!
This is especially important during the growing season. The high amount of light and temperature accommodate the plants need to expand rapidly. So be sure not to hold out on it.
This wax vine plant appreciates weekly watering during summer periods. It is always better to do this during the morning or daytime.
Nighttime is quite often colder, which leads to lowering evaporation, putting the roots at potential danger from rot.
This issue is often tackled by providing adequate drainage, a good quality pot that won’t be holding up any excess moisture, and sticking to a struck watering schedule. Still, it is always a good idea to forgo nighttime watering sessions.
It becomes apparent that your hanging hoya plant will slow its growth or even come to a halt during winter.
This is all normal, but you should tone down the quantity of liquid you are giving to accommodate the plants changing needs.
Always take into account the conditions the plant is in when determining if you should water it at a later date or not.
Also, keep an eye out for signs of stress. The consequences of stress could be potentially fatal, as the plants could start drying out despite optimal conditions.
Whatever you do, always follow the golden rule; ever let it dry out completely before adding a single drop of water!
Humidity Requirements for Hoya Linearis Care
As epiphytes, these plants accumulate immense amounts of moisture from the surrounding air, which speaks a lot about how much they adore high humidity levels. Most tropical indoor plants do.
Picking the right location is equally as important as maintaining high levels of moisture. The ideal percentage is from 40% to 60%.
In most cases, choosing a location guarantees humidity and a high control level regarding other factors Like, for instance, putting it in the bathroom. Picking the right place can go a long way in assisting you with this, sometimes taxing, section.
But, indoor gardening is nothing if not adaptable! There are numerous ways you can keep the moisture high, and these are some of the best.
1. Misting
The most straightforward and most uncomplicated approach might just be the best! You can adapt your misting schedules to your plant’s needs.
Also, you don’t need to invest large sums of money to get the job done. As long as you use clean water and stick to your designated schedule, you will have no issues providing your plant with much-needed refreshments, even in dry conditions.
2. Humidifiers
If you don’t wish to take care of this personally, you can always invest in a humidifier that will do the job for you.
Coming in a wide selection and many different prices, you can rest assured that these dedicated machines are an excellent choice for small indoor gardens.
Their most significant advantage lies in precise humidity control and the ability to function without supervision, allowing you to shift your focus elsewhere.
3. Placing Your Plants Near One Another
If you have more than one plant in your indoor garden, a great way to supplement moisture intake is to place them near each other.
As plants passively release moisture, having them together all in one place produces a mutually beneficial relationship among the plants themselves. This can save you time, money, and effort when it comes to overall humidity.
These methods alone are great for dealing with sub-par environments, which might not fit your plants correctly.
They are also great when applied cumulatively during winter when maintaining humidity becomes more difficult at an optimal level
Hoya Linearis Fertilizing Care
While it offers an advantageous option for boosting overall growth, it remains a purely facultative category.
You can give it feedings two times a month but not more than that, as it will have no positive effects on the Hoya itself.
Ensure that the dilution ratio is correct and that the soil moist. Otherwise, you risk the rotting effect, which can further inflict rot on your other plants.
Toxicity
This is a standard topic whenever people bring in new household plants, and they might have an allergy, or they have children/pets in their home that might be afflicted.
To get the most significant bit out of the way – this plant is not toxic. The most irritating attribute it possesses is the secretion of a milky-sap substance, which could irritate the skin.
You can place it in hard to reach places for safety reasons to avoid most issues. It is most often kept hanging anyway, so don’t worry about this particular topic too much.
Hoya Linearis Propagation
When it comes to hoya plant propagation, hoya linearis stands as a champion of easy propagation. It is straightforward and easy as it requires you to take the hoya cuttings and carefully follow the instructions.
You will need sterile tools to conduct this operation. Just to deter any kind of illness or infection from taking place.
Diligently remove a segment of the stem with a minimum of 3-4 nodes still attached to it while pulling away any leaves left at the lowest node.
When this is done, you just need to get your hands on some potting soil and an ample amount of water. Plant it in the ground, water it often, and wait for a couple of weeks.
Hoya propagation, in general, requires some patience before you start seeing results. You can speed this process up by getting some rooting hormones.
After you notice roots settling in, your wax vine plant is ready to be potted in and secured in a new location.
Potting Mix for Hoya Linearis Care
The mix’s main attributes must be aeration and lightness, as it needs to dry up properly before each watering session. Here are a few suggestions for hoya linearis potting mix:
- Mixing 3/4 of standard cactus mix with 1/4 perlite is a golden combination that is easy to find.
- A popular combination contains 1/3 grain bark and 2/3 of a soilless mix. This is fantastic not only for most hoyas but for epiphytic plants in general. So, you can use it for other plants for optimal results as well.
Potting Hoya Linearis
Pots that are a tight fit and don’t keep moisture holed up for too long will work best for this plant. Avoid containers that don’t drain quickly, as constantly moist soil is like an invitation for root rot to settle in.
It is recommended that you take the standard hoya pot set: terra cotta, plastic, or glazed ceramic variants.
These are tried and tested pots that will keep the soil’s moisture levels under control, giving you the ability to adapt to your plant’s needs. Just make sure the drainage hole can quickly get rid of excess liquids.
Hoya Linearis Repotting
This activity is one of those that you will seldom engage in as your Hoya won’t mind being root-bound for a long time, even for a couple of years.
However, you can only be sure if it needs a new pot by inspecting the situation yourself, preferably during the start of spring.
Take the Hoya out of its container and take a good look at the roots. Are they spiraling in a way that gives you the impression that the roots cannot go further down the pot? If this occurs to you, it is undoubtedly a sign that it is time to pick a new pot that is a few inches deeper.
Blooming Hoya Linearis
This majestic plant’s blossoming is widely praised as a sight worthy of any indoor setting, in no small part due to its consistent beauty. It’s one of the reasons a lot of people choose to care for Hoya linearis.
These white flowers take the appearance of miniature stars. Each season can produce from 10 to 15 flowers.
The blooming period usually occurs after 2 years, with leaves following after the flowers closely in terms of splendor.
They can last from summer to autumn if you take care of them right. They last for two full weeks under appropriate conditions.
The secret to a perfect blooming session lies in excellent care. Even yellow leaves can be avoided by providing adequate hoya plant care.
Hoya Linearis Growth
These plants, in the wild, can rapidly grow and reach unprecedented heights rather quickly! This is not the case for indoor conditions, as it can reach a maximum of 2m large.
Do not be alarmed if you notice discoloration at the plant’s leaves! You might even catch them taking a light green or completely white coloration, but this is entirely normal.
This Hoya’s leaves can sometimes start shriveling due to a lack of water. Or the stems can begin to show signs of weakness by being quite stretched compared to their typical lengths.
This means it’s not getting nearly enough light. These are signs of alarm, so be sure to always be on alert for those issues.
By this time, I’m positive you pretty much fell in love with Hoyas, haven’t you? In case you want more, here are some suggestions:
Common Issues About Hoya Linearis Care
While we can marvel at the genuinely fascinating specimen of nature in front of us, we should not get ahead of ourselves.
Let’s leave out the” weak links” which characterize this plant’s characteristics of being prone to several issues.
1. Wilting Leaves
This is a tricky topic as old as the sun! It occurs when you underwater your plant for a prolonged period or just forget to stick to your watering schedule altogether.
If you notice the roots becoming increasingly damp or already rooting, it might be your best bet to start the propagation process. If they tend to be too dry, the issue might not be so severe to result in you losing your Hoya.
2. Aphids
As an unfortunate mainstay within the gardening community, these pests can be a massive detriment to your plant’s overall health.
They don‘t only extract the plant’s essential juices out of leaves and stems but also leave a sticky substance. That substance makes your plant a target to ants and can promote mold growth.
As if this was not enough, they can also be a potential carrier of viruses that can potentially annihilate your entire garden if left unchecked.
Luckily, we have the tools necessary to combat them. Use horticultural oils, standard insecticide sprays, or soaps and water to counteract a potential infestation.
Use them sparingly, and do not put any of the aforementioned products (except water) on the flowers themselves.
3. Spider Mites
If you notice your Hoya linearis losing color and becoming stunted, you might be having spider mites infesting your plant.
This type of pest attacks your garden by sucking away all of the sap and leaving tiny white and yellow speckles all over its leaves.
If left unchecked, they can create webs scattered across the entire plant, ruining its aesthetic qualities. Your hoyas foliage can drop within a short timespan if nothing is done.
As they are not usually killed by any kind of insecticide, excluding specialized ones, but a simple and affordable option is present.
Isolate the infected plant and use insecticidal soaps every week. Even heavy infestation can be culled this way.
Therefore, don’t lose hope if you happen to be too late to prevent them from spreading during the initial infestation stages.
