Hoyas have become very popular house plants. Once the realm of specialized collectors, you can now often find them in big box stores. If you are new to Hoyas, or thinking about taking the plunge, it’s good to know that there is a lot of information about growing Hoya available on the web. It’s also good to know that not all of it is good information. Here are my top five Hoya myths; myths you can ignore.
Hoyas are succulents
Nope, not even close. Hoyas, for the most part, are epithetic vining plants. Though there are some terrestrial Hoyas, most of them don’t grow rooted in the soil, they grow clinging to other plants, like trees. They don’t come from deserts or even semi-arid regions of the world. They may store water in their leaves, and their leaves may be succulent, but that doesn’t make them succulents. If you think of Hoyas as succulents or cacti, you’re not going to be as successful. Try to recreate the conditions under which they naturally grow.
Hoyas hate water
No plant hates water. What Hoyas do dislike is having their roots sit in wet soil. Again, they are epiphytes and grow on the side of trees. They grow in parts of the world that often get rain every day, and places with high humidity. The roots may get wet but the water runs off and there is a lot of air circulation around those roots. They have evolved to thrive in these conditions.
Let your Hoyas dry out
I’ve even heard that you shouldn’t water your Hoyas until the leaves pucker. Don’t do that. If you’re growing your Hoyas in an organic medium, allow the medium to just get dry before watering again. Allowing the roots get overly dry and then soaking can damage the roots, too. There’s a lot of moisture available to Hoyas in their natural habitat – high humidity, frequent rains – so try and give them what they’ve evolved to want.
Use cactus soil
This goes back to the myth that Hoyas are succulents. If you remember that most Hoyas don’t grow in soil, why would cactus soil be appropriate? Hoya roots love a light, airy growing medium. Cactus soil, while it may drain well, compacts too tightly and there’s not enough airflow to keep your Hoya’s roots happy. Just keep thinking: how much soil do you see on the sides of trees?
Hoyas love to be root bound
In their natural habitat Hoyas will spread their roots out as much as they can. It’s one of the ways they attach themselves to other things. This myth came from the fear of overwatering. If you have a large root system in a small pot, it will use the available moisture in the medium quickly, thereby avoiding roots in damp soil. But it’s not the ideal situation for Hoyas. If you use a fast-draining and airy mix, there won’t be a danger of rot, and the roots can grow as much as they need. Always use a pot size that’s appropriate to the size of the root system, but the right mix will dramatically lessen the chance of rot.
The take-away is that epiphytic Hoyas love a well-draining, airy growing mixture. Hoyas like water, they just don’t want to be sitting in it. Hoyas like humidity, not usually excessive but the typical humidity in your home. With those myths out of the way, you can now go learn more about Hoyas and how you can make them part of your collection.
