Hoya lanceolata

Hoya lanceolata is an ornamental, epiphytic, shrubby, climbing, or trailing member of the milkweed family. The leaves are elongate-rhomboid to ovate lance-shaped, tip pointed to tapering, base wedge-shaped, thick, fleshy and leathery, hairless dark green above paler below. The flowers are borne in 6-10 waxy, star-shaped, sweetly scented flowered umbels, at branch-ends or in leaf-axils and they are hairless outside, minutely velvet-hairy inside. The staminal coronal scales are shorter and more rounded elliptic, white or crimson. It is a long-lived house plant that is perfectly suited for pots or a hanging basket.

Scientific classification:

Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Hoya
Species: H. lanceolata
Scientific Name: Hoya lanceolata
Common Names: Lanceleaf Wax Flower, Hoya Plant, Wax plant.

How to care and grow Hoya lanceolata?

Light

It thrives best in bright, indirect light or full morning sun in order to store up enough energy to be able to produce spurs, where the flowers grow from, and bloom. But strong direct sunlight will burn and bleach the color from the leaves. Also, it does well under artificial light making it ideal for office environments.

Soil

This plant requires soil that is rich, aerated, and drains well. Use a natural soil mix that really helps my wax plant prosper and grow. It is produced using naturally fertilized soil, compost, worm castings, and fine fir bark.

Watering

Water your plant altogether spring through fall, allowing the soil to dry out a bit between each waterings. Flowering wax plants are thirsty but don’t like to sit in soggy soil. Be sure to use a pot with drainage holes and empty the drainage tray. Use room-temperature water for your tropical plants. Coldwater can shock them. In winter, water sparingly giving the plant just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely.

Temperature

It grows well in temperatures between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime. These wonderful blossoms are tropical plants, so you would prefer not to keep them in greatly cool temperatures.

Fertilization

Fertilize monthly during the spring and summer with a water-soluble plant food diluted to half the recommended strength. Use a fertilizer high in potassium to encourage Hindu Rope plants to bloom.

Propagation

Hoya lanceolata can be easily propagated by cuttings. Take 3 inches (7 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring. Cuttings should include at least 1 pair of leaves. They will root easily in a moist potting mix.

Pests and Diseases

Hoya lanceolata may be susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and other sap-sucking pests. Also susceptible to some fungal infections if they are not receiving proper care. Usually, regular treatment with a natural organic neem oil spray is enough to get rid of pests from your evergreen plants.

Toxicity

Hoya lanceolata plants contain latex which is a skin irritant and is considered toxic, therefore keeps away from children and animals.