How to plant Hoya
Today's focus is to introduce how to plant Hoya and the planting methods and maintenance knowledge of Hoya flowers, let's learn about it together.
Hoya is a type of succulent plant in the Apocynaceae family, native to East Asia and Australia. It is very suitable for indoor plants and has enchanting waxy leaves with glossy surfaces and can bloom fresh ball-shaped flowers.
Hoya carnosa compacta
I. Key to promoting flowering:
1. Compact pot
To let Hoya's roots fill the potting soil, creating some growth pressure, it is easier for it to form flower buds. If a too large pot is used or the seedling is too weak, with poor root growth, it can lead to no flowering. Don't use a large pot when planting Hoya in a pot, and don't change the pot until the roots have filled the soil. You can choose to change after flowering.
Hoya macrophylla
2. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer
In addition to letting the roots fill the potting soil, it is also important to supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizers regularly during the growing season. In spring and autumn, you can sprinkle some slow-release fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium elements, such as Ogreen A2, on the potting soil. In other seasons, if the temperature is between 18-28 degrees, you can supplement phosphoric acid potassium or other flowering fertilizers every two to three weeks.
Hoya carnosa compacta variegata
3. Control watering
Hoya does not like water much. Before each watering, you can use your hand to move the soil and feel it. If the soil is very dry 3 centimeters below the surface, water it thoroughly, or wait until the leaves are slightly soft before watering thoroughly. During the high summer temperatures, it is watered thoroughly, occasionally watering a little at dusk on sunny days.
II. Growing environment
If you are in southern China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, and southern Taiwan, you can plant Hoya directly outdoors. Of course, it is easier to manage as an indoor potted plant, which prefers bright diffused light, and the maintenance environment should avoid frost. As long as the roots fill the potting soil, it is easy to bloom.
How to plant Hoya
Hoya archboldiana
Hoya leaves are succulent, with glossy surfaces, usually ovate or elliptical leaves, with various shapes, including curly varieties.
To grow Hoya well, in addition to having a compact pot and plenty of diffused light, it is necessary to set up a small flower trellis in advance in the pot for it to wrap and climb. Or let its branches and leaves hang down to grow into a hanging plant.
III. Hoya flowers
Hoya's ball-shaped large flowers are made up of many star-shaped small flowers, with common colors such as pink, white, and red. The flowers have a strong fragrance (which is stronger at night), and sometimes you can even see nectar dropping from the flowers.
Hoya's flower stems grow from between leaves and branches, specifically from the leaf axils. After flowering, the flower stems should not be cut because this stem can rebloom new flowers.
Hoya's main flowering season is from spring to the end of summer, with the same flower stem capable of producing 10 to 50 star-shaped small flowers.
IV. Tips for Hoya maintenance
1. Moderate sunlight
The key to maintaining a potted Hoya is to choose the right location. It is especially suitable on an east-facing balcony or windowsill, with at least 2 to 4 hours of sunlight every day, avoiding direct strong sunlight or excessive intense light, as the leaves can be sunburned。
If kept on a balcony with more sunlight, you need to pull a sunshade net for it, especially during the hot summer; if it is in the colder winter and spring seasons, with softer light, you can expose it to more sunlight.
2. Pot and soil
Never use too large a pot to plant Hoya. Hoya has a characteristic that the roots must fill the potting soil to bloom. If the roots have not filled the soil, it will keep growing roots and will not bloom.
The soil for maintaining Hoya must be as loose and breathable as possible, with good drainage and no need for strong water retention. You can use common peat soil, fine coconut bran, coarse coconut shell, perlite, bark, and other granular stones for planting.