Wax ivy usually pleases gardeners with its flowering in summer or autumn. The frequency of flowering depends on the correctness and regularity of care.. Of course, if you wish, you can achieve continuous flowering by creating summer conditions in the house in winter, but in this case the plant will not rest and gain new strength. And this is fraught with at least a weak next flowering, and at most with diseases and the general poor condition of the hoya.

How to make wax ivy produce flowers at home?

Usually this plant blooms in the second or third year after rooting. Maybe earlier, but this is more the exception than the norm. There are no special instructions for caring for wax ivy. The only requirement is proper lighting.

The more light that falls on your hoya during the day, the more likely it is to bloom and do so for a long time.

It will be good if the bulk of the light falls in the morning and evening hours. The plant must be protected from midday rays. But this only applies to hot summer days. During other periods, you can safely place a flowerpot with a flower in a place where there is always a lot of light.

An important point is the placement of the flower pot. Choose south-east, south-west, east and west window sills. Moreover, the farther you place the ivy from the window, the less light it will receive during the day. So, for example, a meter from the window the plant will receive only half of all possible lighting; at a distance of three meters only 10% of the light will reach the hoya. But directly on the windowsill the plant will receive all the necessary 80%.

What the process looks like, photo

In most cases, the inflorescences take the shape of an umbrella. This inflorescence contains flowers, the number of which ranges from one to fifty. Flower petals can have a wide variety of shapes and shades depending on. But all the petals have one common feature: their number is always five. During the flowering period, a pleasant light aroma appears in the room. Flowering duration can vary from several days to several weeks.

You can understand what a blooming hoya looks like thanks to this photo.

Care during flowering

If you notice the first flowers on the hoya, this indicates that you are doing everything correctly and there is no need to change the care items.

ATTENTION! During flowering, ivy cannot be moved from place to place or even simply rotated, changing its location relative to the lighting. And also don’t be too zealous with fertilizing. This will only lead to negative consequences.

The rules for caring for hoya at home are described in.

What should you do to see the flowers blooming?

To understand why your pet does not bloom, you need to analyze every factor in caring for the plant and find errors in them that should be eliminated immediately.

Flowerpot size

The reason may be due to excess space. There shouldn't be a lot of it. The pot should be as small as possible. Ideally, the root system should be even a little cramped in its “home”. You can avoid replanting Hoya for at least five years.

Lighting

There should be a lot of light all the time. But if you place the flower on the south side of the room in the summer, make sure that you have the opportunity to shade the ivy during the hottest rays. Use reflective foil or just a sheet of paper for this. Experienced people recommend avoiding open air for this vine.

Proper watering

Rare watering is considered correct.. After each moistening of the soil, wait until it dries completely. This applies to the hot summer period.

But if we talk about the cold season, then in this case you should not rush to water even after the soil has completely dried out.

Good drying of the soil and root system in winter is the key to abundant flowering of zoya in summer.

Wintering

At this time of year, you need to give the plant the opportunity to rest and gain strength for the new season. In winter you need to provide the following conditions:

• minimal soil moisture;
• reducing fertilizing to nothing;
• reducing the room temperature to 10-14 degrees above zero.

Substrate

The soil must be loosened, soft, and breathable. To properly prepare the soil for wax ivy, take ready-made store-bought substrate, peat and sand in equal proportions.

Top dressing

It should not be frequent in any season. In addition to ready-made complex fertilizers, gardeners recommend feeding the vine with mullein. Such nutrition will have a positive effect on subsequent flowering.

Age

This factor must be taken into account while waiting for the first flowers from. After all, young plants will not be able to bloom. This process should take a couple of years. Flowering in the first year of “life” is extremely rare.

"Bathhouse"

This method of making a vine bloom is considered extreme.. It is used in cases where all of the above methods do not help to achieve flowers.

What needs to be done for this?

1. In autumn or winter, place the ground part of the ivy in water heated to 35-40 degrees for about half an hour.
2. Soil with the root system in the same water - for an hour and a half.

This process activates all life processes of the plant, including flowering.

If the result is not noticeable the first time, you can repeat the procedure, but not earlier than six months later.

Further events

After wax ivy has finished flowering, it will produce seeds for. We do not recommend removing the remaining peduncles - flowers will appear on them again next season, and then you will not have to wait for the release of a new peduncle.

Conclusion

Any plant is like a small child that requires constant care. Therefore, if you decide to have even a simple flower in your home, get ready for the fact that you will now have to give some part of your time to your “baby”. And then this “baby” will answer you with its lush greenery and flowering.

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Among vines, wax ivy takes the lead in popularity. It was named so for its beautiful, glossy flowers, as if cast from wax. The real name of ivy is hoya. Caring for it at home does not require effort or skill. And all the subtleties of growing are described in detail in this article.

An evergreen vine named after the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Belongs to the Lastovnev family. In nature, there are about 200 varieties of plants. Many of them are grown in apartments. The liana was brought to us from India, Australia, and Southern China. In nature, vines twine around tree trunks and encircle rocky slopes.

Curly, hanging varieties are known. Some vines have tendrils on their stems. They use them to hold onto supports. The leaves are monochromatic, speckled, spotted. The shapes are heart-shaped, rounded and twisted. They are located opposite on the stems. The surface of the leaves is smooth, glossy, as if polished with wax. The flowers also seem waxy. For this reason, Hoya was called wax ivy.

As a houseplant, hoya is valued for its flowering. Lianas in apartments usually do not bloom. The flowers are small, collected in umbrella inflorescences. Various colors - yellowish, pink, white. Small flowers resemble stars. Each inflorescence contains more than 20 flowers. With proper lighting and care, adult hoyas bloom long and luxuriantly.

Interesting! Wax ivy is an unpretentious plant. In order for it to grow well and bloom, it is enough to water it systematically. They try not to disturb the flower unnecessarily - they rarely replant it and do not move it from place to place. An adult vine, if supported, can entwine an entire wall.

Popular varieties

At least 200 species of hoya have been discovered and studied. Only a few varieties are grown in apartments.

• Hoya is beautiful. Evergreen low growing shrub. The branches are inclined or hanging, no more than half a meter long. The leaves are small, fleshy, slightly convex. The flowers are white stars with a crimson center.
• Hoya carnosa. The most common, popular vine. The shoots are long and woody. The shoots have shiny leaves with a waxy surface. The leaves are up to 8 cm in size. The flowers are pale pink, collected in lush inflorescences of 20 pieces. Some varieties are given a decorative appearance by a creamy edging of flowers or a red core. The more common name of the species is Hoya fleshy.
• Hoya is majestic. The shoots are pubescent, the leaves are oval-oblong with a rounding at the base of the blade. The flowers are dark red. Inflorescences are umbrellas of 6 flowers.
• Hoya multiflora. An unpretentious, often flowering vine. Buds appear almost constantly.

Interesting! It is believed that some flowers create a favorable environment at home, while others spoil the energy. Is it possible to keep a Hoya at home? All beliefs about her are contradictory. In terms of toxicity and harm to health, hoya is absolutely safe. Although some varieties emit a strong aroma during flowering, they can cause allergies.

Features of care

Liana is unpretentious and does not require attention. But properly organized care for hoya at home increases the decorative value of the plant and increases the frequency and duration of flowering.

• Lighting. Favorable conditions - constant bright light. Tolerates moderate amounts of direct sunlight. In summer they shade, in winter they do without shading. They are not placed on the north side - lack of light leads to a lack of flowering.
• Temperature. In summer it is maintained at 20-24°C, in winter - 16°C. Elevated temperatures in winter negatively affect flowering. Some varieties (for example, fleshy hoya) are recommended to be kept at 12-14°C in winter. The room is regularly ventilated, but cold drafts are not allowed to form.
• Watering. Adhere to a moderate watering regime. The top layer of soil must dry out. In autumn, the amount of water is limited and the soil is allowed to dry completely once. Next, water carefully, avoiding over-wetting the substrate. It is recommended to bathe the hoya twice a year - completely immerse it in a bath of water for half an hour. The water is drawn warm - at least 30-32°C.
• Humidity. The dry air of apartments does not frighten the vine. Blooms better in high humidity. In summer, the plant is sprayed, avoiding water getting on the flowers.
• Soil. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil. Under natural conditions it grows on rocky soils. It is allowed to use any ready-made soil for flowering house plants. For water permeability and loosening, the finished mixture is supplemented with coal, pebbles, coarse sand, and crushed sphagnum. A prerequisite for growth is a thick drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.
• Transfer. Young, actively growing vines are replanted annually. As they grow older, the frequency of transplantation is reduced first to 2, then to 3 years.
• Feeding. Apply only during the period of active growth according to the standard scheme - 2 times a month. Use products for flowering plants.

Features of flowering! In spring, as daylight hours and temperatures increase, the buds begin to awaken. A plant with buds cannot be rearranged or rotated - this will lead to the buds falling off. It is recommended to tie flower brushes and fix them on a support - they hang down under their own weight. To obtain a thick, lush bush, the plant is formed - young branches are pinched after 4 leaves.

Reproduction methods

Hoya propagation does not cause any particular problems. The seeds germinate quickly and the cuttings take root well.

• Growing from seeds. When purchasing seeds, look at the date of their packaging. Only fresh seeds germinate well. They are sown in a mixture of soil and crushed sphagnum. Shoots appear within a week. Young seedlings are kept warm and stable soil moisture is maintained. The first pick is after 3 months.
• Propagation by cuttings. Cut short cuttings with two nodes and several leaves. Root in water or substrate. The upper part of the container with water is tightly wrapped in foil and holes are made in it for the cuttings. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, and the cut is treated with heteroauxin. The cuttings are placed in water, immersing the lower node in it. Favorable conditions are created for rooting - high air humidity, temperature not higher than 22°C. Roots appear in two weeks. Cuttings are planted immediately, without allowing the roots to grow too long.

Useful advice! Cuttings sent by mail often look dry. To restore moisture, soak them in sweetened water for several hours.

Diseases and pests

Hoya received its name in honor of the English gardener Thomas Hoy (eng. Thomas Hoy, 1750-1822), who worked for the Duke of Northumberland for a long time, mostly in greenhouses with tropical plants.

This liana has long been valued by gardeners, particularly in its homeland of Australia, where many of its varieties were bred. In its homeland, it is a powerful climbing plant with succulent, glossy evergreen leaves and bunches of large cupped flowers that smell strongly at night. Many are cultivated as ornamental plants, but some species are particularly spectacular, such as Hoya MacGillivraya ( Hoya macgillivrayi).

Hoya Macgillivrayi. © chipmunk_1

Hoya ( Hoya) - a genus of evergreen tropical plants of the Lastovnevy family, has from 250 to 300 species. Their natural habitat is South and Southeast Asia, the west coast of Australia, Polynesia.

Representatives of the genus are evergreen plants and shrubs with climbing or creeping shoots. The leaves are ovate, oval, entire, moderately fleshy, leathery. Inflorescences are axillary. Flowers are collected in umbrellas; corolla rounded-five-segmented, fleshy; crown of 5 thick, flat, convex, bidentate and dissected columns.

Hoyas are unusual ornamental plants. They are grown in warm, temperate and cool areas, as well as in rooms (plants easily tolerate dry air). Plants require various types of supports (in the form of an arc, trellis or lattice, a column of moss and sticks), to which their liana-like shoots are tied.

Peculiarities

Light: bright, plants tolerate direct sunlight. However, if kept in the sun during the hottest hours of summer, burns may occur.

Temperature: in spring and summer 22-25°C. In the autumn-winter period not lower than 16°C (the exception is Hoya fleshy ( Hoya carnosa), it is kept in winter at 12-14°C).

Watering: from March to October, abundant, soft, settled water, as the top layer of the substrate dries. In the fall, watering is reduced; it is carried out two to three days after the top layer of the substrate has dried (the earthen ball is not allowed to dry completely).

Humidity: does not play a significant role. In summer you can spray.

Top dressing: during the spring-summer (growing season) plants respond well to fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers for indoor plants (once every 2-3 weeks).

Trimming: after the plant has flowered, you need to cut off all the longest shoots, leaving short branches on which flowering occurs.

Rest period: from late October to March. Plants are kept in a cool, bright place and watered carefully.

Transfer: young plants are replanted annually, as they develop more intensively in larger containers; adult plants are replanted once every 3 years.

Reproduction: cuttings in spring and autumn (in principle, propagation is possible throughout the growing season), stem layering.

Care

Hoyas need bright lighting; plants tolerate direct sunlight. However, if kept in the sun during the hottest hours of summer, plants may become burned. The optimal place for growing is windows with western or eastern orientation. When growing on southern windows, in the summer at midday, it is advisable to create diffused lighting using translucent fabric or paper (tulle, gauze, tracing paper). Purchased specimens and specimens that were standing in the shade (or after winter) cannot be immediately exposed to the sun's rays; they should be accustomed to them gradually. On a north window, due to lack of light, the plant does not bloom.

In the autumn-winter period, the plant is also kept in good light; shading is not required. In the spring, as the light level increases, they are gradually accustomed to more light to avoid burns.

The optimal temperature for plant growth and development in summer is 22-25°C. The temperature in the autumn-winter period should not be lower than 16°C (the exception is Hoya carnosa, which is kept at 12-14°C in winter). The plant can overwinter at 20-22°C, however, in this case, less abundant flowering can be expected. Hoya does not like stagnant air - the room with it must be regularly ventilated; in winter, this is done carefully to avoid drafts.

From March to October, hoyas are watered abundantly with soft, settled water as the top layer of the substrate dries. In the fall, watering is reduced; it is carried out two to three days after the top layer of the substrate has dried (the earthen ball is not allowed to dry completely). Watering can be done with slightly lukewarm water. If you water the plant extremely rarely or not at all, then some of the plant’s roots die, it weakens and later enters the growing season.

Twice a year (in spring and autumn), the entire plant is immersed in water heated to 30-40°C for 30-40 minutes, and an earthen ball for 2 hours. This promotes better growth and faster flowering.

Air humidity does not play a significant role for hoya, however, in the spring and summer it is recommended to spray it. Spray carefully, it is advisable not to get any drops on the flowers.

During the spring-summer (growing season) plants respond well to fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers for indoor plants (once every 2-3 weeks).

High light intensity (bright windows in rooms) activates the formation of flower buds. Flowering continues until autumn.

After the buds appear, the hoya should not be moved from its place so as not to cause the flowers to fall off. You can put supports under the flower brushes. After the plant has finished flowering, you need to cut off all the longest shoots, leaving short branches on which flowering occurs. Peduncles should also not be removed, since next year buds - flowers - will appear on them.

A strong support is required to hold the plants upright.

Young plants are replanted annually, as they develop more intensively in larger containers; adult plants are replanted once every 3 years. The soil is suitable: nutritious and easily permeable, slightly acidic and neutral (pH 5.5-7). Hoya grows well in almost any soil, for example garden soil mixed with sand. The most suitable substrate is composed of clay-turf, leaf and greenhouse soil (2:1:1) or clay-turf, leaf soil, peat and sand (2:1:1:1). It is better to cultivate beautiful Hoya (Hoya bella) in a mixture of leaf soil, peat, humus and sand in equal parts with the addition of charcoal. Good drainage is necessary.

Hoya is a good plant for hydroponic culture.

Hoya Ridley (Hoya ridleyi). © Vermont Hoyas

Reproduction

Plants are propagated by cuttings in spring and autumn (in principle, propagation is possible throughout the entire growing season). Cuttings are cut with one or two pairs of leaves, but longer ones can be used. The appearance of roots in petioles occurs not at the nodes, but between the nodes, so the cuttings are cut not under the node, but below the node. The substrate for cuttings consists of peat - 2 parts, sand - 1 part, and can also be rooted in water. The optimal temperature for rooting is at least 20°C. Hoya cuttings take root easily even indoors.

Rooted (on the 20-25th day) cuttings are planted in 9-centimeter pots. The composition of the soil is as follows: turf - 1 tsp, leaf - 2 tsp, humus - 0.5 tsp and sand - 1 tsp; complex fertilizer is added to the mixture.

To get flowers in the first year, they use another method of propagation - stem layering. An incision is made on the shoot of an old plant, covered with damp moss, tied with twine and covered with plastic film. After the roots have formed, the upper part of the shoot is cut off and planted in a pot.

To obtain well-developed dense specimens, at least 3 rooted cuttings are planted in one pot.

To obtain branched plants, they are pinched after the formation of the 3-4th leaf.

Precautions: The flowers of the plant smell. The smell can cause somatic reactions (eg headache). Leaves can cause contact dermatitis.

Possible difficulties

• Due to too low temperatures or excessively bright sun, the leaves turn pale, begin to dry out and curl.
• Leaves fall due to too dry and hot air.
• From excess or lack of moisture, as well as from too dry and hot air, flower buds fall off.
• Stagnation of water and cold water used for irrigation may cause leaves or shoots to fall off.
• Excess moisture in the soil can cause the roots and base of the stem to rot.
• With a lack of light and a change in location, flowers may fall off.
• If there is a lack of nitrogen in the soil, plant growth slows down, the leaves become pale green (feeding with urea at a concentration of 1 g/l is required).
• Too low temperatures and over- or under-watering can cause leaves to yellow, wilt, and fall off.

Species

Hoya majestic (Hoya imperialis)

Lives in forests on the Malay Peninsula. Climbing plants, shrubs. The shoots are pubescent. The leaves are oval-oblong; 15-20 cm long, plates rounded at the base, briefly pointed at the apex, smooth, leathery. The petiole is pubescent, large, 5-7 cm long. Flowers 6-10 in hanging umbels, 12-20 cm long, dark red, greenish-yellow outside; the crown is shortly pubescent, with star-shaped petals, on pubescent short pedicels; with a pleasant aroma.

Motoya Kawasaki

Hoya multiflora

Grows in forests in Malaysia. Climbing plants. The leaves are oblong-linear. The flowers are numerous, collected in umbels, yellow; petals are narrow; crown with arcuate spurs.

Its varieties are common in culture.

Hoya carnosa

Grows in forests, on rocks, trees in tropical and subtropical Asia and in Queensland (Australia). Lianas up to 6 m long; stems creeping, pubescent. The leaves are ovate-oblong, ovate-heart-shaped, 5-8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, with a blunt apex, less often briefly pointed, dark green, glossy, fleshy, on short petioles. Flowers in umbels, white or pale flesh-colored, with a pink crown in the center, on short pubescent pedicels, 2-4 cm long; corolla up to 1.5 cm in diameter, 5-membered; the lobes are wide, with curled edges and densely pubescent on top; with a pleasant aroma. A widely known ornamental plant, grown in rooms and greenhouses. Blooms profusely in spring and summer.

Hoya bella

Found in forests in Burma. Low growing shrubs. The shoots are creeping, thin, densely leafy. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, small, 2-2.5 cm long, thick, pointed, slightly convex. Flowers in umbels, drooping, small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, waxy, white, 5-lobed; the crown is purplish-red. Blooms profusely and continuously in summer.

Highly decorative plant. Widely used as a hanging lamp in warm rooms (it is recommended to install it closer to the light source).

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Why doesn't hoya grow and bloom at home?

Many indoor plant lovers would like to see Hoya in their collection. At the same time, they are interested in why hoya does not bloom at home.

Hoya blooms due to light, heat and air humidity.

This beautiful vine, also called wax ivy, has very unusual blooms. Hoya flowers resemble small stars, cut out of thick paper and collected into elegant umbrellas. Each umbrella can contain up to 25 white, yellow or pinkish stars with a bright red center.

Lack of flowering significantly reduces the value and attractiveness of the plant. A list of certain measures will help not only to cause wax ivy to bloom, but also to prolong it as much as possible.

Ideal place for wax ivy

Hoya fleshy is ideal for growing indoors; it does not require complex care and is extremely responsive to it. If the plant is initially planted in the right place, it will reward you with early flowering, accompanied by a very delicate and pleasant aroma of freshness.

When choosing a place for hoya, you must comply with 3 conditions that will be the key to the successful existence of the plant: light, warmth, fresh air. The more light it receives during the day, the faster it will form flower stalks. At the same time, the wax beauty does not tolerate unnecessary attention at all.

If you place the plant in the far corner, do not move it from place to place, do not rotate the pot, do not replant and rarely water it, the hoya will feel great. That is, we can say that wax ivy is an ideal plant for busy people who do not have enough time to care for their green pets on a daily basis.

Hoya loves to grow along walls.

Hoya loves walls and, given enough light and space, grows quite quickly. It can often be found in office spaces, where vine branches intertwine to create a living wall carpet.

At home, windows located on the east, southeast, west or southwest sides are suitable for wax ivy. In winter, if there is a lack of light, the plant can be moved to southern windows. Hoya does not have a dormant state, so the formation of peduncles can occur in winter.

In summer, plants on south-facing windows may overheat. This is immediately reflected in the appearance of the vine: growth slows down, the foliage becomes lighter and dries out. To restore ivy to its former beauty, it needs to be shaded.

Return to contents

Experienced gardeners have identified several main factors affecting the growth of wax ivy. Attention must be paid to the size of the pot, type of watering, soil composition and age of the plant.

As already noted, hoya does not like frequent transplants; it grows well and blooms in small containers. If other plants need space for roots to grow, then the vine should be cramped. You need to choose a pot of such a size that the root system completely fills it and weaves into a tight lump.

Hoya propagation occurs by dividing the bush.

If you transplant Hoya at the wrong time, flowering will be delayed for a long time - sometimes up to 2 years. To achieve regular flowering, the plant needs to be replanted extremely rarely (every 5-7 years). A pot with a diameter of about 15 cm will be enough for an adult plant, but young ivy can be planted in a less spacious container.

What should you do if the vine refuses to set flower stalks? First of all, remember when the pot was last moved. There are cases when a plant delayed flowering for up to 2 years after being moved from place to place.

Then you need to determine the level of fresh air access. If access is obstructed by furniture, other indoor plants or curtains, you should move the vine to a more spacious place. However, placing wax ivy outdoors is undesirable.

Watering is one of the most important factors that directly affects the formation of flower stalks. Ivy should be watered as rarely as possible, after the substrate has completely dried. In summer, watering can be combined with spraying. This unpretentious beauty loves it when her fleshy waxy leaves are cleaned of dust using a spray bottle.

Some lovers of indoor plants, in order to achieve flowering, dry the earthen ball with the Hoya root system well in winter, and in the spring they begin to water it abundantly. This technique leads to the formation of numerous ovaries.

Another method is to create a state of dormancy, in which the pot with the plant is kept at a temperature no higher than 15°C and is rarely watered. No fertilizing or replanting is carried out. But, as experience shows, hoya often blooms regularly under normal conditions.

Due attention should be paid to the soil in which the plant is planted. Thus, a loose substrate has the best properties, providing maximum access of oxygen to the root system. It is best to use universal soil consisting of equal parts of peat, sand and humus. Occasionally, fertilizing is allowed: to stimulate flowering - with mullein, to maintain growth - with fertilizers for succulents and cacti.

When forming shoots, you should remember that hoya does not like interference in its life. If the shoots of a plant have drooped, it can be extremely sensitive to their garter, which will immediately affect flowering. It is necessary to wait until the branches of the wax beauty become long enough, and then gradually and carefully tie them to the support. However, it is not recommended to remove already dried inflorescences.

And the last recommendation. Some inexperienced gardeners cut off the long leafless shoot produced by an adult hoya: this should not be done, since this particular bare branch is the future peduncle of wax ivy. If the young plant is satisfied with the conditions, it can produce a peduncle already in the first year of life, before it is completely covered with foliage.

Plants can not only enhance and decorate your room, make it cozy, but also bring happiness. It is popularly believed that every indoor plant carries a certain energy that can affect a person’s life. It can even determine whether a person feels happy or not. One of these plants is beautyHoya, hoya, wax ivy - hanging plant for vertical gardening of a room.This plant should bring you great family happiness, especially if you place Hoya in the bedroom.

Hoya, hoya (Hoya), wax ivy is an evergreen vine from the family of Asclepiadaceae. The genus Hoya, named after the English gardener Thomas Hoy, has about 200 species. Under natural conditions, Khoya is found in Southern China, Australia, and India. In nature, these vines spread on rocky slopes and in forests on tree trunks.

Among them there are hanging and curly ones; some species have antennae with which they cling to support. The leaves are oval and heart-shaped, in most species they are dark green, but there are also two or three colors, with spots and specks. Hoya compacta has curled leaves.

At home, one species is most often found - Hoya carnosa. This is a hanging plant with shoots up to 6-7 meters long. Hoya's dark green, leathery leaves are arranged oppositely. The surface of the leaf blade appears glossy, as if rubbed with wax, which is why the plant is called wax ivy.

Hoya is one of the few climbing indoor plants that bloom at home. Its flowers are graceful, white, pink, yellowish stars, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Hoya has a fleshy white corolla with a red center and has about 24 flowers in an inflorescence. Hoya has amazingly beautiful flowers - marshmallow-caramel from which sweet nectar oozes. The aroma is amazing!

Adult plants, with good lighting and proper care, bloom for a very long time and profusely.

An east or west window is suitable for hoya in an apartment; it grows well in winter on a south window. In the summer heat, leaves on sunny windows may lighten and dry out, and plant growth may slow down due to overheating.

Hoya compacta Hoya macgregorii Hoya limonica

Wax ivy is often used for vertical gardening in offices and apartments. Also used as a creeping ground cover plant in well-lit areas of the winter garden.

Hoya is an unpretentious plant: if you don’t think about it often, don’t move it from place to place, water it and replant it rarely, then it will delight you with long and abundant flowering. This is why wax ivy can often be found in office premises; sometimes this vine entwines the entire wall with its shoots.

Hoya imperialis

Hoya bella

Much less common in homes are species such as Hoya imperialis, Hoya bella and Hoya longifolia, although they are not particularly capricious and caring for them does not require any special knowledge.

Hoya beautiful (Hoya bella) is a small evergreen, branched shrub with small leaves with hanging shoots up to 30-50 cm long. This is an epiphytic plant; it settles on the branches of tropical trees. Requires very moderate lighting, high humidity and uniform temperature throughout the year.

Hoya majestic (Hoya imperialis) has pubescent creeping shoots, its oval leathery leaves are up to 15-20 cm long. The flowers are collected in hanging umbels on pubescent short stalks, dark red, yellow on the outside, with a pleasant aroma.

Hoya longifolia

General rules for caring for wax ivy.

Hoya is not a capricious plant, does not require high humidity and frequent watering, grows well in poor soil, and does not need frequent replanting.

Temperature. During the period of active growth, the optimal temperature is 17-25 C. In winter, 15 degrees is quite enough. Hoya can spend the whole winter even at 10 C. Hoya beautiful is more heat-loving and can lose leaves during a cold winter.

Lighting and location. Wax ivy prefers bright light, but does not like direct sunlight in the summer. It grows well in a southern room, twining around the walls like an hanging plant.

The location cannot be changed - due to rearrangement, the hoya can lose all its buds and even shed its leaves. This is a permanent plant, so it is not suitable for summer gardening on balconies.

Humidity. Humidity is not significant. Only Hoya beautiful grows better in a humid room. In summer, it is advisable to spray hoya.

Watering. Watering is moderate, after the soil dries, and scanty in winter. The plant tolerates lack of moisture well. For good flowering in winter, water little.

Fertilizer. Fertilizer is applied 2 times a month throughout the growing season, starting in March. In winter they do not feed.

Bloom. Hoya blooms only in good light. For successful flowering, it is important to properly maintain this plant in winter. Wax ivy should grow in winter in a bright and cool (10-15 C) room; water it very little.

To stimulate flowering, the pot is immersed in warm water for 2 hours, and the entire plant is sprayed with water heated to 30-40 C.

After flowering, the flower stalks are not cut off - the next year new inflorescences appear on them.

Soil. Hoya is not picky about soil; in nature it grows on rocky screes or on trees. It grows well in almost any soil; you can prepare a mixture of leaf, turf soil, humus, peat and sand in equal quantities or from clay-turf, leaf and greenhouse soil (2:1:1).

Good drainage is installed at the bottom of the pot so that the earthen ball does not become waterlogged and the roots do not rot.

Transfer. All hoyas are replanted quite rarely, once every 2-3 years, sometimes less often. To stimulate abundant flowering, close containers are used. To achieve good shoot growth, it is better to choose a larger pot.

Be sure to have a hole in the bottom and good drainage.

Reproduction. Hoya propagates by seeds, layering, but most often by cuttings.

Each cutting must have at least two pairs of leaves. Cut the cuttings between the nodes. Hoya cuttings take root in water or in a mixture of peat and sand. The roots appear after 3-4 weeks at a temperature of at least 20 C.

Stem layering allows you to get a flowering plant in the year of planting. To do this, make a small cut on the shoot of an old plant, cover it with damp moss and cover it with plastic film. When the roots appear, this part of the shoot with roots is cut off and planted in a pot. You can spread part of the stem on the soil in a new pot and secure it to the surface, covering it with damp moss. After rooting, separate from the mother plant.

For propagation, it is recommended to take parts of only mature, already flowering plants.

Crown formation.

For branching, plants are pinched after the formation of the 4th leaf. Shoots that are too long are cut off, which promotes intense flowering. The stems need support. Threads are often used to secure the plant to a window or wall.

You can use a ring of wire, the ends of which are simply placed in the pot. The pot should be heavy enough to prevent the plant from tipping over.

Diseases and pests. All common types of hoya are resistant to pests and diseases, but with poor care (very high temperature, too dry air) they can be affected by scale insects and red spider mites. It is necessary to treat the plant with Actellik or another insecticide.

Hoyas are also affected by root nematode. The soil for replanting must be steamed.

Possible problems.

Leaves fall off - excessive moisture or simply moved the plant to another window. “Leaf fall” also occurs when the soil is very cool in winter (for example, standing on a cold window or watering with cold water in the summer heat).

Spots on the leaves indicate a lack of light or, conversely, sunburn.

Hoya does not bloom - insufficient lighting or too warm wintering. You can try a warm shower for stimulation.

The leaves are too light, curl or dry out - the sun is too bright, it is better to shade the plant.

Flower buds and flowers fall off - plant movement or very dry and hot air.

Slow growth, leaves turn pale green - lack of nutrients in the soil. The plant needs to be replanted.