How to Plant and Care for Hoya Kerrii
Here are some tips for caring for Hoya kerrii and the planting methods and maintenance precautions for potted Hoya kerrii.
Hoya kerrii is a succulent plant from the Apocynaceae family, native to East Asia and Australia. It is very suitable for indoor plants and has enchanting waxy leaves with a glossy finish, and can also bloom fresh ball-shaped large flowers.
One, the Key to Promoting Bloom:
1. Compact Pot
To make the Hoya kerrii roots fill the potting soil, creating some growth pressure, it is easier to induce flower buds. If a too large pot is used, or the seedlings are too weak, with poor root growth, it will lead to no blooms. When planting potted Hoya kerrii, avoid using a large pot. Do not repot until the roots have filled the potting soil, and you can choose to repot after flowering.
2. Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer
In addition to letting the roots fill the potting soil, it is important to supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizers regularly during the growing season. In spring and autumn, you can sprinkle a little slow-release fertilizer with more phosphorus and potassium, such as Osmocote A2, on the potting soil. In other seasons, if the temperature is between 18-28 degrees, you can supplement with monopotassium phosphate or other flowering fertilizers every two to three weeks.
3. Water Control
Hoya kerrii does not like too much water. Before each watering, you can use your hand to move the soil a little to check. If the soil is very dry 3 cm below the surface, then water thoroughly, or water thoroughly when the leaves are slightly soft. In the hot summer, water thoroughly and occasionally water a little in the clear evening.
Two, Growing Environment
If you are in the southern part of China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, and southern Taiwan, you can plant Hoya kerrii directly outdoors.
Of course, it is easier to manage when grown as an indoor potted plant. It prefers bright diffused light, and the care environment should avoid frost. As long as the roots fill the potting soil, it is easy to bloom.
How to Plant and Care for Hoya Kerrii
The leaves of Hoya kerrii are fleshy, with a glossy surface, usually ovate or elliptical, with various shapes, and even varieties with curled leaves.
To care for Hoya kerrii well, in addition to having a compact pot, it needs more diffused light and a small flower stand should be set up in advance in the pot for it to climb and grow. Or let its branches and leaves hang down to grow into a hanging pot plant.
Three, Hoya Kerrii Flowers
The ball-shaped large flowers of Hoya kerrii are composed 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 dripping from the flowers.
The flower stems of Hoya kerrii grow out from between the leaves and branches, that is, from the axils. After the flowers bloom, do not cut off the flower stems because they can rebloom new flowers.
The main flowering season of Hoya kerrii is from spring to the end of summer, with the same flower stem capable of producing 10-50 star-shaped small flowers.
Four, Hoya Kerrii Care Tips
1. Moderate Sunlight
The key to caring for potted Hoya kerrii is to choose a good location. It is particularly suitable on an east-facing balcony or windowsill, with at least 2-4 hours of sunlight a day, avoiding direct strong sunlight or excessive lighting, as the leaves can be sunburned.
If kept on a balcony with plenty of sunlight, a sunshade net needs to be used, especially in the hot summer; if in the cooler spring and winter seasons, with softer sunlight, it can be exposed to more sunlight.
2. Pot and Soil
Do not use a too large pot to plant Hoya kerrii. One characteristic of Hoya kerrii is that the roots must fill the potting soil before it can bloom. If the roots have not filled the soil, it will continue to grow roots and will not bloom.
The soil for caring for Hoya kerrii 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.