Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
Feb. 27, 2002
HOYA AUSTRALIS: Outstandingly beautiful leaves; flowers at least twice a year. Easy culture.
picture: Hoya australis from my collection
Surprise: it’s a cactus. Hoyas are cacti that also happen to be vines with leaves. Like most cactus, hoyas are easy-care; they like small pots, infrequent watering, and good light. Hoyas, though, lose their leaf color with too much direct sun. Hoyas are prone to mealy bugs, easily controlled with regular washing and a little soap.
Culture notes:
Light: Likes bright light but not full mid-day or late-day sun; leaves will fade and burn with too much sun.
Water: Hoyas are cacti. Water well then let dry out before the next watering. Fertilize infrequently.
Bugs: Watch out for mealy bugs. Spray with insecticidal soap or an Ivory soap mix; then rinse.
Potting: Hoyas do very well overcrowded in a small pot. Consider re-potting every 3 to 5 years.
Pruning: Hoyas are vines and will sprawl. They can be keep pruned in a compact shape or trained into a wreath. Inspect new vines carefully for flower stalks before pruning —they’ll be short little stubs ending in a button shape. Root cuttings in water.
Flowers: Hoyas flower from stubby flower stalks that send out flowers year after year. Do not remove the stalk. Baby hoyas take several years to bloom but cuttings from mature plants bloom readily.
picture: hoya trained as a bonsai
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney
© Sue Sweeney 2002, 2005