Hoya Care: Light, Water and How to Get Your Hoya to Bloom

Hoyas are one of those plants that grow on you. They start slow, they don't ask for much, and then one day you've got long vines of thick, waxy leaves, and maybe a cluster of star-shaped flowers. That payoff is why people end up with ten of them.

Here's how to care for a hoya without overthinking it.

The short version

Bright indirect light, let the soil dry out between waterings, use a chunky fast-draining mix, and don't cut off the long bare vines. That's most of hoya care.

Light

Hoyas are sun lovers at heart, but their leaves can still scorch.

Best: bright, indirect light. A little gentle morning sun is fine.
OK: medium light. It'll grow, just slower, and probably won't flower.
Avoid: harsh afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. Dim corners mean slow growth and no flowers.

If you want blooms, light is the thing to work on first. Variegated types like 'Tricolor' also keep their color better in good light.

Water

Hoya leaves are thick and a little succulent. They store water, so hoyas would rather be a bit dry than too wet.

Let the soil dry out between waterings. Check with your finger before you water.
Water thoroughly, let it drain, and empty the saucer.
Water even less in winter, when growth slows down.
Watch the leaves. Wrinkly or soft leaves usually mean it's thirsty.

If you're used to watering everything on the same day, hoyas will teach you to check first. Our post on how often to water houseplants goes into that. It's a lot like watering peperomia, another plant that stores water in its leaves.

Soil and pot

Light, airy and fast-draining. A mix of regular potting soil with orchid bark and perlite works well. The pot needs a drainage hole.

Hoyas don't mind being a bit snug in their pot, and many growers think they bloom better that way. Repot only when it's clearly outgrowing the pot, and do it in spring. Here's how to repot a plant when the time comes.

Don't cut the long vines

Hoyas send out long, bare stems with no leaves, sometimes called whips or tendrils. It looks like the plant is doing something wrong. It isn't. Those vines are looking for something to grab, and they leaf out later.

So leave them alone. Wrap them around a hoop or trellis, or let them trail from a hanging planter.

How to get a hoya to bloom

Hoya flowers come in round clusters of small star-shaped flowers, and many are fragrant. To give yours the best shot:

Give it more light. No flowers is usually not enough light.
Be patient. Young plants often need time before they bloom.
Leave the old flower stems on. Hoyas rebloom from the same little spurs, so don't snip them off after the flowers drop.
Don't move it around a lot once it's settled and growing well.

Propagation

Take a stem cutting with at least one node and root it in water, moss or soil. Hoyas are slow starters, so give it time.

Common issues

Wrinkly, soft leaves → thirsty. Water thoroughly.
Yellow leaves with wet soil → too much water. Let it dry out and check the roots. More on that in overwatered vs underwatered plant signs.
No flowers → usually not enough light, or the plant is still young.
Slow growth → normal at first. Once settled in, many hoyas speed up.
Fading variegation → more light.
Pests → mealybugs and spider mites are the main ones. Check under the leaves and treat early with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Three hoyas we like

Hoya Carnosa 'Tricolor' - waxy leaves splashed with green, cream and pink.
Hoya Carnosa 'Krimson Princess' - creamy centers with pink tones, a nice partner to the 'Tricolor'.
Hoya Rope Plant - thick, twisted, curly leaves on trailing vines. A little quirky and slow, but worth it.

You'll find more in our Hoya collection. For care on everything else, check out our Plant Care Guide.

Pets

If you have pets, check your exact plant on the ASPCA list before it goes on a low shelf.

The takeaway

Bright light, let it dry out, leave the vines alone and be patient. Hoyas reward that. Ready to start one? Grab a Hoya Carnosa 'Tricolor'. Let us know if you have any questions!

Keep reading

Happy growing,
Alex
Chief Leaf Officer, Austin Jungle Co.

Written by Alex Salcido