The Hoya kerrii, affectionately known as the “green heart plant,” “sweetheart plant,” or “Valentine plant,” captures attention with its distinctive heart-shaped leaves. This charming succulent vine is a popular houseplant, especially around holidays, due to its unique appearance.
Understanding Your Green Heart Plant
Many Hoya kerrii are sold as single, heart-shaped leaves. While these rooted cuttings can survive for years, they typically won’t grow into a full, vining plant or produce new leaves because they lack a node. A node is the crucial point on a stem where new growth originates. A mature Hoya kerrii is a slow-growing, vining succulent that can extend several feet, producing pairs of heart-shaped leaves along woody stems. For a plant to develop into a full vine, it requires a stem cutting that includes at least one node.
Green Heart Plant Care Essentials
Light Requirements
Hoya kerrii thrives in bright, indirect light conditions, mimicking its natural habitat where it grows under a tree canopy. While it can tolerate some direct morning sun, prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can scorch its leaves. Insufficient light may lead to slow growth or cause variegated varieties to lose coloration. Place the plant near a window with filtered light or use a sheer curtain for optimal lighting.
Watering Practices
Given its succulent nature, Hoya kerrii stores water in its thick leaves and is susceptible to overwatering, which causes root rot. Allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings, typically when the top one to two inches feel dry. Watering frequency varies seasonally; more is needed during warmer months, less in winter. Plump leaves suggest adequate hydration, while thinner, wrinkled leaves signal it’s time to water.
Soil Mix
As an epiphyte, Hoya kerrii requires an airy, well-draining soil mix to prevent waterlogging. Standard indoor potting soil is often too dense. An ideal mix includes components like potting soil, perlite, orchid bark, and sand, or a specialized cactus and succulent blend. These ensure excellent drainage and aeration, crucial for healthy root development.
Temperature and Humidity
Hoya kerrii prefers warm and consistent temperatures, ideally ranging between 60 to 80°F (18-27°C). It is sensitive to cold and should not be exposed to temperatures below 50°F (10°C), as this can inhibit growth or cause leaf damage. While they tolerate typical household humidity, they benefit from increased humidity. This can be provided by placing a humidifier nearby, grouping plants, or choosing naturally humid rooms like a bathroom.
Fertilization
Hoya kerrii are not heavy feeders due to their slow growth rate. During the active growing season in spring and summer, a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength can be applied monthly. Fertilization should be reduced or stopped entirely during the fall and winter months when the plant’s growth naturally slows. Over-fertilizing can lead to nutrient imbalances or yellowing leaves.
Propagating Green Heart Plant
Propagating Hoya kerrii is most successful using stem cuttings, as new growth originates from a node. Select a healthy stem section with at least two leaves and a visible node. Cut just below a node using clean, sharp shears, then remove any lower leaves that would be submerged.
Place the cutting in water, ensuring the node is submerged while leaves remain above the surface, changing water weekly. Alternatively, plant the cutting directly into a well-draining potting mix, burying at least one node. Rooting can take several weeks.
Single heart-shaped leaves, often sold, typically won’t develop into a full vining plant because they lack a stem node. While a single leaf cutting may root and survive, it usually won’t produce additional leaves or grow beyond its initial form.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Yellowing leaves on a Hoya kerrii most frequently signal overwatering, indicating the plant prefers drier conditions. Ensure the soil dries completely between waterings and use a pot with adequate drainage. Yellowing can also occur from too much direct sunlight or nutrient deficiencies.
Wrinkled or shriveled leaves often point to underwatering, meaning the plant’s water reserves are depleted. If leaves appear thin and soft, the plant needs thorough watering. Conversely, soft or mushy leaves can be a symptom of root rot from excessive moisture. A lack of significant growth, especially in single-leaf cuttings, is common and indicates the absence of a stem node, which is necessary for a full plant to develop.