How to Care for Your Hoya Plant Step by Step

Hoya plants , also known as porcelain flowers or wax plants, are low to medium maintenance flowering, tropical houseplants that are perfect for people who are always on the go and forget to water their plants from time to time. This is because they like their potting mix to dry out a bit between waterings.

The name Hoya plant was given in honor of a Botanist named Thomas Hoy who worked for the Duke of Northumberland at Syon House in the UK for 40 years. Fellow Botanist and Scotsman Robert Brown gave the name of the genus to Thomas as they were friends and it was a way to honor Thomas’s skills, efforts, and discoveries as a Botanist.

Their clusters of star shaped flowers are known for their scents which can resemble cinnamon, chocolate, caramel, honey, jasmine, citrus, and even vanilla. This makes them perfect for a natural way to add scents throughout your home.

Hoyas will take a few years for their first blooms as they have to reach maturity, and if you want to get your Hoya plant bloom ready, here’s how to care for your Hoya plant so it can grow, thrive, and display its star-shaped and aromatic flowers. 

By knowing where Hoya plants grow naturally, you can create the right environment for them to grow and thrive. Hoya originate in tropical and subtropical forests across Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands including Thailand and Indonesia. They’re epiphytes which means they climb and grow on trees, but they’re not parasitic in that they don’t take their hosts nutrients or feed on them.

Their roots anchor onto the tree while also digging into the soils on the ground. Their root systems can also absorb moisture from their air and rain while soaking it up from the earth helping them to thrive in forests. Much like other epiphytes, they climb trees to get extra sunlight under the forest canopy while also not being in direct sunlight so they can avoid leaf burn.

Leaf burn is similar to when our skin gets sun burn. While our skin turns red and dries out, Hoya plant leaves turn brown and get crunchy.

Now that you know where Hoya plants come from, here are some of the details and Hoya plant care instructions so you can keep yours growing, blooming, and thriving.

Please note each species will have different heights, flowers, scents, and statistics. The table below is for Hoya as a collective plant genus.

Caring for your Hoya plant is easy as long as you can replicate parts of its natural environment including humidity, watering, a slightly more acidic and well aerated potting mix, and sun. And good news, your home already likely has the humidity levels needed.

Hoya need watered every 5 - 9 days when the top inch or two of potting mix begins to dry out. If you live in a dryer region like the Southwest you’ll want every five days, and more humid regions like the coast, closer to 9 days. If you’re uncertain, buy a water meter to get an accurate reading of when to water your Hoya plant.

Hoya plants need between 4 and 6 hours of indirect sunlight per day, so place them in a room with natural light somewhere with a bit of shade, or near a window but not where the sunbeams reach it directly.

Pro-tip: Watch the blooms for less blooming and less vibrance and larger than expected foliage, this is a sign your Hoya plant is not getting enough sunlight. It grows larger leaves as a way to reach more sunlight, and the energy used to grow the leaves takes away from the flowering.

Hoya need 50% to 60% humidity levels, so if you measure your home’s humidity with a hygrometer and it is lower, place your Hoya on a pebble tray or group it with other plants.

Although some species can tolerate a bit of neglect, and they have waxy leaves that help to protect it, Hoya can face health issues. Here’s some common ones and how to fix them.

Likely the most common health issue for Hoya is root rot which is when you overwater the plant or the potting mix retains too much moisture and the root systems start to rot. You can detect root rot first by seeing a yellowing and wilting of the leaves.

When the leaves are showing symptoms carefully remove your Hoya from its pot and:

1. Smell the roots and pot for a musky or earthy smell as this is a telltale sign of root rot.

2. Rinse the roots off with clean water and look for brown, yellow, and mushy roots.

3. Cut off all rotting roots with clean and disinfected shears.

4. Use a fungicide on the pot if you’re replanting the Hoya back in its original one to clear bacteria.

Replant your Hoya in the pot with a well draining and aerating potting mix like our Coco Bag .

Because they do not grow in bright sunlight, and instead have shade from the forest canopy, Hoya are extra sensitive to direct and bright sunlight. When they get too much their leaves become brown and crunchy.

To fix this:

1. Move your Hoya plant a bit further away from the light source.

2. Trim the brown and crunchy parts of the leaves off the plant with clean shears.

3. Watch to see if any more leaves turn brown over the next two weeks.

   1. If not, then it was leaf burn.

If yes, then it is something else and you can talk to a plant specialist like one of our staff members ( click here to contact us ) to help diagnose and treat the issue.

Hoya plants need well draining and aerating potting mixes , so look for options that are chunky like our Coco bag that has coconut coir in it, and perlite, charcoal, or vermiculite. 

Some people like Hoya for the scents of their blooms, others for the colors of variegation. With more than 500 species to choose from, it can get overwhelming fast. Don’t stress! Here are some staff favorites to help you find the perfect Hoya plant for your home, and click here to see which Hoya we have in stock.

Hoya Carnosa 
One of the most popular hoyas, Hoya carnosa has thick, waxy green leaves that store water, making it extremely drought-tolerant. It thrives in bright, indirect light and can produce fragrant, star-shaped flowers in the right conditions. A great climbing or trailing option for shelves, trellises, or hanging baskets.

Hoya 'Callistophylla'
This rare Hoya is known for its striking dark green leaves with bold, high-contrast veining. The foliage is thick and dramatic even without blooms, making it a favorite among collectors. It grows slowly and prefers bright light with consistent humidity to really shine.

Hoya 'Obovata' 
With its round, thick leaves and speckled silver markings, Hoya obovata adds softness and texture to any plant shelf. It grows as a trailing or climbing vine and is known for being fast-growing once established. Like most hoyas, it thrives on neglect and can tolerate drying out between waterings.

Hoya pubicalyx 
This fast-growing vine features narrow, pointed leaves with silver flecks that vary by cultivar. It’s one of the easiest hoyas to grow and is known for producing clusters of dark pink or purple flowers with a sweet scent. Perfect for beginners who want something hardy and rewarding.

Hoya 'Deykei'
A more uncommon species, Hoya deykei has large, paddle-shaped leaves with a smooth texture and pale veining. Its growth is slower than other hoyas, but the mature foliage creates a bold, tropical look. Best suited for bright, humid environments and patient growers.

Hoya 'Mathilde'
A compact hybrid between Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens, Mathilde has small, round leaves with a light silver dusting. It’s known for its tidy growth and clusters of white, fuzzy flowers with pink centers. Great for windowsills or hanging planters in bright, indirect light.

Hoya australis 
Hoya australis is a fast-growing, vining variety with smooth, oval-shaped leaves that grow in opposite pairs. It’s easy to train along a trellis or support and is known to bloom reliably under the right conditions. A classic choice for those looking to add greenery with minimal effort.