Planning on adding some exotic-looking flowing plants to your garden or room? Try Hoya Caudata, a tropical epiphyte native to South-east Asia. Due to its beautiful outlook and need for medium care, Hoya Caudata Sumatra has become extremely popular around the world.
Hoya is a relatively easy-to-grow vine with minimum requirements. Still, the plant is vulnerable to several conditions and can die if you aren’t careful.
Cheer up! As long as you are knowledgeable regarding the plant, you should face no issues cultivating it successfully. Here you’ll find all information you might need to grow your Hoya without fail. So let’s see what it entails, shall we?
What is Hoya Caudata Sumatra?
First, let’s see what Hoya Caudata or Hoya Caudata Sumatra exactly is. In simpler terms, Hoya Caudata Sumatra is a terrestrial plant native to South-east Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. The Scottish botanist Robert Brown discovered this tropical vine in the early 1800s when he was on an expedition in West Australia, and named the newfound plant on his English botanist friend Thomas Hoy. He also classified the plant’s genus in the Apocynaceae family. In its native habitat, the vine can grow up to 40 feet long using other nearby towering trees as support.
Despite being a foreign plant, gardeners love this vine for its exotic flowers and attractive leaves. Its eye-catching look is bound to make for an attractive hanging decoration even when it is not flowering. Aside from this fact, Hoya has more extraordinary characteristics. If you feel doubtful, feel free to check the following table:
| Family | Apocynaceae dogbane | |
| Genus | Hoya | |
| Species/ Scientific name | Hoya Caudata | |
| Common names | Wax Plant
Porcelain Flower Angel rope |
|
| Plant type | Vine, Epiphyte | |
| Maintenance | Medium | |
| Growth rate | Slow | |
| Maturity period | 10 years | |
| Max height (indoor) | 10 feet/ 3 meter | |
| Max height (outdoor) | 40 feet/ 12 meter | |
| Sunlight preference | Indirect sunlight | |
| Temperature preference | 60F- 95F/ 15C- 35C | |
| Humidity preference | High | |
| Humidity tolerance | Low | |
| Soil type | Light soil | |
| Soil pH | 6.1- 7.5 | |
| Soil drainage requirement | Excellent | |
| Flower
|
Size | About 1 inch |
| Type | Cluster | |
| Color | Pink/ peachy-white + red/purple center | |
| Fragrance | Yes | |
| Lifespan | 3-4 days | |
| Time | Spring-Summer | |
| Leaf | Type | Ovoid/ elongated |
| Size | 4×2- 7×3 square inches | |
| Texture | Waxy | |
| Color | Deep green + reddish underside + silver specks | |
| USDA hardiness zone | 11 | |
| Region of origin | South-East Asia | |
Quite an amazing plant if you ask us. However, you better learn about all of its characteristics to ensure the maximum possibility of success if you plan on growing it at home.
Hoya Caudata’s Characteristics: Advantages and Disadvantages
Every tree on our planet has its own unique characteristics and growing requirements. So, whether you will have success raising your Hoya depends significantly on the understanding relating to the plant’s nature. With proper knowledge, you will have an easy understanding of the issues you might face during this epiphyte’s growth.
The plant can reach a gigantic size if planted outdoors. But as Hoya’s growth rate is quite slow, it is possible to control its growth in indoor settings. As Hoya’s heat and humidity tolerance are pretty low, unless you keep it in shade, there is a high possibility that its leaves will suffer from sunburn. If your house has windows facing southwest or southeast, that would be the best location for its flowerpot.
You should pay close attention to the soil humidity as well. It is fine if you live in a humid environment as air humidity is beneficial for Hoya Caudata Sumatra’s growth. But there is a 90% chance that your plant will die if you keep the soil wet. Yet, all things considered, your Hoya should prosper well under minimum care as long as you pay some attention.
Required Items to Grow Hoya Caudata
Now that we know about its characteristics, we have a higher chance of growing a Hoya successfully. But that doesn’t mean we will be able to do so without the necessary equipment. So make sure to secure the following items before you begin.
- Hoya Caudata seed/stem/plant
- Rooting hormone/powder
- Soil mixture
- Hanging pot
- Trellis (optional)
- Knife/scissors
- Pebbles
- Spray bottle/watering can
Providing Appropriate Growing Environment
Aside from these materials, you also need to ensure that the vine will receive a growing condition as close to its native environment as possible. Especially, you should pay close attention to its soil condition along with its light, temperature, and humidity exposure.
Soil Prepare with Organic Fertilizer
So let’s see what kind of soil your Hoya needs. According to experienced gardeners, Hoya Caudata grows best in well-drained, light soil with a mildly acidic to neutral (6.1 – 7.5) soil pH. The orchid mixture is extremely suitable for Hoya plants. You can make it at a low price at home. Don’t forget to add enough fertilizers either.
- First, prepare your orchid mixture by mixing fir bark/pine bark/coconut husk, perlite, and sphagnum moss in a 3:1:1 ratio.
- Then prepare the final mixture using perlite, orchid mix, and peat in a 1:1:1 ratio.
Pot Preparation
Hoya likes to be pot-bound and grow in small pots. Unless you are planning on letting the plant grow using a trellis, a hanging pot is the best choice for it. A 7-inch diameter pot with a draining hole would be the best for this purpose.
- First, place some pebbles at the bottom of the container.
- Then, fill it until the topmost 1-inch with potting mixture.
- Your pot is ready.
Required Sunlight and Temperature
Aside from dry soil, Hoya also prefers indirect, bright sunlight. Therefore a southwest/south-east facing window would be the best location for it. Place the pot from at least 1ft away from the window. That way, the tree will not get into direct contact with the sunlight. It will also get good ventilation.
As a tropical plant, Hoya Caudata thrives in 15C- 35C temperature. Having no contact with direct sunlight inside a room, H. caudate should do well in the spring and summer seasons. If necessary, placing it close to sunlight for a few hours a day is good as well. But you need to be careful in harsh winters as the plant might die in freezing temperatures. Try to place the pot in warm areas of the house in such weather.
Humidity Tolerance and Preference
Aside from all these, Hoya also loves a humid atmosphere and will thrive in an over 60% humid environment. But its humidity tolerance is exceptionally low. In wet soil, the plant will die off root rot. Therefore, you must never overwater it. If necessary, we suggest you use a humidifier rather than frequent watering.
How to Grow Hoya Caudata Sumatra?
If you have everything ready, growing H. Caudata will be a cinch. The easiest way of getting your plant is by buying a sapling from a nursery and planting it in the soil mixture. But if you have access to a grown plant, then you can easily get your vine through multiple different methods even without buying a sapling. Let’s check out:
1. Growing Hoya Caudata Sumatra from Sow seeds
Propagating Hoya Caudata Sumatra from seeds is one of the easiest methods of getting a new plant.
- Place some seeds into a jar and submerge them underwater for several hours.
- Afterward, rinse and sow the seeds into the potting mixture.
- Water them using a spray bottle until the soil is moist
- Cover the pot with plastic to keep humidity.
- Place the pot in a shaded place where it can get indirect sunlight.
- Keep watering the seeds daily until germination.
2. Hoya Stem Propagation: How To Propagate Hoya Plant
Except for seeds, you can also use both non-woody and woody stems for propagation. Summer and early spring are the best seasons for propagating Hoya Caudata using non-woody stems. But if you use woody stems, the best time would be the period between the fall and winter.
Soil Propagation
- Cut at least 6-inch of a healthy stem with nodes with a sharp knife.
- Then remove leaves from at least a 1.5-inch near the ‘cut’ area. But don’t remove all the leaves, keep at least 2-3 leaves at the top of the cutting.
- Now dip the ‘cut’ part into the rooting hormone and plant the 1.5-inch leafless area into the prescribed soil mixture.
- Then use a spray bottle to water the cutting until the soil is moist. But don’t over-water it lest it rots.
- Use a plastic bag to cover the pot to preserve humidity and place it in a shaded area near sunlight.
- Water it daily. It will take about 7-10 days for the roots to grow.
- When a week passes, you can try to lightly pull the stem to see if the roots are formed.
- When the roots grow and get a stable hold, remove the plastic covering and follow the normal care tips.
Water Propagation
Or, you can also use water propagation to multiply your Hoya. Simply place the cutting in a half-filled jar keeping the leaves above water and wait. It will take about a month for root formation. In the meanwhile, you just need to change the water at 2-3 day intervals. After the roots form, take the cutting from the jar and plant it into the prepared soil mixture.
Maintenance and Care for Hoya Caudata Sumarta
Now you have your plant, but it’s not time to relax yet. A successful propagation doesn’t mean a successful harvest. To ensure that your Hoya will thieve, you need to care for it accordingly. We have already mentioned how you can give it an appropriate growing environment. So simply follow these tips and all should go well.
- Hoya loves humid weather but can’t tolerate wet soil. During warm seasons, just water in 3-4 times a week. In winter, watering once or twice a month is enough. But be careful not to overdo it when you water the soil lest it dies.
- Using a humidifier is the best method for creating a humid atmosphere. But if you can’t afford it, you can fill a disk pot with pebbles and water. Then simply place it under the epiphyte’s container, and it should help.
- Hoya loves eating, but using too much fertilizer is also unnecessary. There is no need to fertilize it during fall and winter. During blooming seasons though, you can use one tablespoon of nitrogen and phosphorus-rich fertilizers once a week to promote growth and blooms.
- Hoya tends to suffer from bugs like aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. If you notice any infestation, use insecticidal soaps or neem oil to kill the bugs.
- And lastly, take care not to prune flower stalks during pruning as the Hoya flowers will bloom multiple times from them.
How to make Hoya Caudata bloom?
It doesn’t matter how lively your plant is if it doesn’t bloom. To ensure that your plant will bloom in time, try to give it some incentives. We suggest you expose the plant to gentle sunlight during summer and spring, the blooming period. You can do that by placing the plant near sunlight for several hours during the early or late hours of the day. Also, don’t skip on phosphorus-rich fertilizers. Follow through with these tips, and you can expect beautiful blooms within weeks that will brighten your home for 3-4 days.
FAQs
Do Hoya plants like direct sunlight?
No, they don’t. In the native environment, Hoyas grow under plant canopy. Thus, despite favoring bright sunlight, they can’t tolerate exposure to direct sunlight. Rather, Hoya prefers shaded light.
Do Hoyas like to be misted?
Hoyas love a humid environment. Misting increases humidity around the plant, and helps cleaning its leaves. But make sure not to overdo it.
How do you get rid of aphids on Hoya plants?
As long as you have insecticidal soap, getting rid of aphids is nothing. Make a mixture using 2 tbsp neem oil, 2 tbsp insecticidal soap, and 1-liter water. Then put the mixture into a spray bottle and gently spray it over the plant to kill the insects.
How long should Hoya roots be before planting?
Just because your cutting has started rooting doesn’t mean it is ready for planting. Your Hoya roots should reach an appropriate length to help the cutting grow well in a new condition. Thus, you should wait until the roots reach 5-10cm in length before planting.
Will dish soap kill mealybugs on the hoya plant?
If you don’t have insecticides, you can also use dish soap to kill your bugs. The best part of this is that you can grow it at home at a minimum cost. Simply mix 1 tbsp of dish soap with about 1-liter water and use a sprayer to rain it over your plant. The bugs will die in on time.
Final Thoughts
Done reading the entire writing? Then what are you waiting for? It’s time to get your very own Hoya gracing your lovely abode. Don’t worry about killing your plant. As long as you don’t over-water Hoya Caudata and keep it near indirect sunlight, your vine will thrive. All you’ll need to do is to follow our care tips well, and you’ll have a lively, blooming Hoya within a few years.