Hoya Publica is a popular houseplant, valued for its attractive foliage and fragrant blooms. This vining plant brings a touch of the tropics indoors, offering unique visual appeal with its distinct leaves. Its adaptability and straightforward care make it popular with both new and experienced plant enthusiasts.
Identifying Hoya Publica
Hoya Publica is distinguished by its physical attributes. Its glossy, dark green leaves are elongated and ovate, growing up to 4 inches long. Many leaves feature silver flecks or “splash” patterns, varying in density and intensifying with brighter light.
The plant exhibits a vining growth habit, with stems that can reach over 10 feet, making it suitable for hanging baskets or climbing supports. Stems can be purple or gray.
Hoya Publica Care Guide
Light
Hoya Publica thrives in bright, indirect light, mimicking its natural habitat under a tree canopy. An east-facing window or a south/west-facing window with a sheer curtain provides ideal light without harsh direct sun. It tolerates some direct morning or late afternoon sun, but prolonged exposure to intense midday sun can scorch leaves, causing them to redden or dry. Adequate light also influences the intensity of the silver splash patterns on the foliage.
Watering
Hoya Publica is a semi-succulent plant, capable of storing water in its thick, waxy leaves. It prefers its soil to dry out significantly between waterings to prevent root rot, a common issue from overwatering. Check soil moisture by inserting a finger about two inches deep; water when dry. Watering frequency varies with environmental factors like temperature and humidity, requiring more water during warmer growing seasons and less in cooler, dormant periods.
Soil
An ideal potting mix for Hoya Publica is well-draining and airy, reflecting its epiphytic nature, as it grows on trees in its natural environment. A suitable blend includes orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir or peat moss. This blend ensures proper aeration around the roots and prevents waterlogging. A neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.5-7.5) is preferred.
Temperature and Humidity
Hoya Publica prefers warm environments, with an ideal range of 60-85°F (16-29°C). It tolerates cooler temperatures down to 50°F (10°C), though growth may slow and cold can cause leaf yellowing. The plant also appreciates moderate to high humidity, ideally between 40% and 70%, achieved with a humidifier or by grouping plants. Avoid drafts, air conditioning vents, or heaters to maintain stable humidity.
Fertilizing
Hoya Publica is not a heavy feeder but benefits from regular fertilization during its active growing season, from spring through early fall. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to half the recommended strength, is suitable. Some growers use a fertilizer with higher phosphorus to encourage blooming. Ensure the soil is moist before applying fertilizer to prevent root burn. Reduce or stop fertilization during the plant’s semi-dormant period in autumn and winter.
Encouraging Blooms
To encourage blooms in Hoya Publica, ensure the plant receives consistent bright, indirect light, proper watering (allowing soil to dry), and appropriate fertilization once it reaches maturity. Avoid removing the peduncles, the short flower spurs, even after blooms fade, as Hoya Publica reblooms from these same spurs year after year. Star-shaped flowers emerge in clusters, ranging from pink to deep maroon, often emitting a sweet fragrance, especially at night. Allowing the plant to become slightly root-bound can also contribute to bloom production.
Propagating Hoya Publica
Propagate Hoya Publica using stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem 4-6 inches long with at least two to three nodes (where leaves attach). Remove leaves from the bottom one or two nodes to expose them, as roots emerge from these points. Allow the cutting to callus for a few hours before planting to prevent rot.
Cuttings root in various mediums: water, perlite, sphagnum moss, or a well-draining soil mix. When rooting in water, change it weekly and place the cutting in bright, indirect light. For soil or moss, keep the medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. Warmth and moderate humidity (e.g., with a clear plastic bag covering the pot) can accelerate rooting, which occurs within a few weeks to a few months. Once roots are 1-2 inches long, the cutting is ready for potting.
Common Hoya Publica Issues
Hoya Publica can face issues from environmental factors or pests. Yellowing leaves can signal either overwatering (leading to root rot) or, occasionally, underwatering (with crispy edges). Little to no new growth may indicate insufficient light or nutrients.
Sticky residue indicates honeydew, a sugary excretion from sap-sucking pests like mealybugs, aphids, or scale. Mealybugs appear as fuzzy white clusters, while spider mites create fine webbing and cause stippling on leaves. Treat pests by isolating the plant and applying insecticidal soap or neem oil, or manually removing them with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab. Root rot presents as mushy stems and yellowing leaves.