Hoya Linearis Plant Care

Hoya linearis, also known as the wax vine, creates a magical atmosphere in any gardener’s home.

While not the easiest plant to care for, you’ll be fine once you master the basics. Of all the Hoya varieties, the wax vine has the most distinctive features. So if you want to own this indoor plant, make sure to stay a while longer.

What is the Hoya Linearis?

hoya linearis plant

The Hoya linearis has long, fuzzy stems. When placed in a hanging basket, it has a curtain-like appearance. Some other common names are the porcelain vine, wax plant, porcelain flower, or wax vine.

The University Botanics Garden Ljubljana states it comes from the Himalayas in Asia. The plant is an extraordinary variety, and finding them is hard. When it comes to Hoya linearis care, many people find it challenging to keep this plant growing.

It has weak roots and needs an ideal environment to survive. But we are here to help, so check the Hoya plant care below. The tropical plant’s leaves are soft and thin with hairs. So, how long does this plant take to reach maturity? Your plant will take up to five years to mature, and the underside of the leaves is grooved.

Another fantastic thing is that it greets you with up to 13 white flowers when it blooms with star shapes. Besides, you may notice a tint of pink or yellow-white coronas. So, if you love a trailing houseplant, this is a beautiful plant to have in the home.

But before we get to the Hoya linearis care, check out the summarized table of the linearis here:

Hoya Linearis Plant Care card

Hoya Linearis Care

Now, let’s get busy taking care of your hanging plant to start showing off its greenery. The main thing is to create the best environment for your linearis hoya to thrive. You’ll have no problem caring for your tropical beauty if you can achieve this.

Hoya Plant Potting Mix

potting mix

Hoya linearis grows in a free-draining potting mix. You will find that your plant is happiest in well-aerated and fertile soil with rich, organic mix. You can prepare a rich organic mix using a cacti 1:1:1 ratio soil with perlite and orchid bark.

The fantastic thing is that adding perlite helps with drainage and works well for your plant. Or you can use two parts soilless mix with one part fine-grain bark to substitute the perlite. No matter what mixture you choose, it helps keep the ground light yet airy.

As important as the growing medium, provide your needle leaf wax vine with a pot size suitable for the roots with a drainage hole.

Hoya linearis Care Tips Watering

Now, this is where you need to be extra careful regarding Hoya linearis care. During the growing season, leave the top layer of the potting to dry out first. The tricky thing is the leaves do not hold water for long. So, when it comes to houseplant care for your plant, you can do the following:

  • Water your Hoya linearis well to leave it soaking in the water.

  • Let it stand that the excess water flows out through the drainage holes.

  • Depending on the heat, you can do this weekly during spring and summer.

  • In winter months, your Hoyas grow slower and only need light watering.

The best is not to overwater your wax plant and, preferably, not leave it standing in water. The water can attract pests, leading to root rot.

We recommend keeping to a watering schedule with this fussy plant. Do not water it at night if possible, as the temperature is cooler.

Where you can use filtered water or leave your tap water standing overnight. Another helpful thing is to water it with room temperature water. Doing this helps prevent shock to your houseplant.  

Lighting Needs to Make Your Hoya Happy

plant lighting requirement

When looking at your Hoya linearis care for lighting, it needs bright yet indirect light. Try where possible to avoid direct light as the leaves burn or wither. Now, your plant does not do well in low light.

The best place for hanging your plant is where it can receive bright, indirect light. Your plant enjoys the morning sun during the winter, but be careful in hot summers as the leaves get burned.

The soil dries fast with good lighting; the best place is a well-lit room temperature like a bright bathroom.

For half of the day, the Hoya linearis can stand in indirect light but also needs some periods of darkness to survive.

Temperature Condition

As your plant lives in the mountains, it needs temperatures between 60° to 85°F (15°-29°C) to thrive. This is because the plant grows at a high altitude and can withstand cool night temperatures. So the basic rule is to keep the nighttime temperature to a minimum but not below 50°F (10°).

Hoya Plant Temperature

As your plant lives in the mountains, it needs temperatures between 60° to 85 °F (15°-29 °C) to thrive. The plant grows at a high altitude and can withstand cool night temperatures. So, the basic rule is to keep the nighttime temperature to a minimum but not below 50 °F (10°).

Humidity

Your tropical plant loves a high humidity of 50% to 70%. You’ll notice that this Hoya needs more humidity than other house plants. The best way to know your plant needs humidity is when you see the leaves withering.

Then, you can give it a misting regularly using filtered water but prevent soaking the leaves. Or you can invest in a humidifier or place a shallow bowl of water near it. For more information on the best humidity recommendations for indoor plants, check our article The Best Temperature and Humidity For Indoor Plants.

Fertilizer

One thing the linearis Hoya does not need much of is feeding. Still, you can boost it with fertilizer during the growing season. Using a balanced fertilizer, you can provide your plant twice a month during spring and summer.

We recommend diluting the feeding to prevent damaging your plant. Yet, it is also necessary if the soil is dry, moisten it before feeding to protect the roots. Still, another handy tip is to provide your houseplant with phosphorus-based feeding before the blooming phase starts.

Doing this helps encourage bloom growth. You need not feed your plant during autumn and winter as it is the resting period. Great, but how do you enhance the appearance of the linearis?

First, it helps to prune it with sterilized shears, cutting back the dead or dried stems and leaves. Yet, please take extra care not to cut the peduncles as this is where the flowers grow.

Also, please do not remove the old stalks as they delay blooming.

Plant Propagation

Mmm, now we get to the exciting stuff, and that is making sure you always have one of these plants growing in your home. The Hoya you can propagate using two methods stem cuttings and rooting. The important thing is to keep humidity levels high by covering the cuttings. You can use a plastic bag, propagator, or humidity dome.

Stem Cutting Method

  • Choose a healthy stem with up to four nodes. These nodes are the place where the stem and leaf connect.
  • Start by removing the two lowest nodes and dip the one end of the cutting into rooting hormone.
  • Place your cutting into a soil mixture of 40% perlite in a pot.
  • Water it well and make sure the water drains out well. But do not let the potting mix dry completely.
  • Place it covered in indirect bright sunlight with warmth.
  • You’ll notice the roots appearing in about four weeks.

Ziplock Technique

Take some potting mix and place it in a zip-lock plastic bag with some perlite. Moisten the soil and place your cutting inside. Please give it a spray of water on the inside of the pack. Next, please fill up the bag with air and seal it.

It helps to do this after every fourth day. You can keep your cuttings in bright light but not direct sunlight. As a month goes by, you will notice new growth appear. Once this happens, you can transfer your cutting to a pot size suitable for the plant.

Ensure it is in well-draining soil, and water your plant when you find the soil dry.

USDA Growth Zone

usda map guide for growing hoya linearis

The good news is if you live in the USDA hardiness zones 11a to 11b; you can grow your Hoya linearis plant outdoors. Of course, it helps to choose a frost-free spot that is damp and well-draining with morning sun and midday shade. These plants are very sensitive to cold and too much sun.

Potting Your Hoya Linearis

The good news is your plant needs no frequent repotting as it is root-bound and placed in smaller pots. So you can expect to transplant them after a year or two. Great, but how do you know when to repot the plant?

You can remove it from the pot and brush away the soil around the roots. If you notice any roots circling at the bottom, you can transfer them to a new container. Choose a vessel a few inches bigger and add some orchid bark to the soil for free drainage.

The best time to do this is in spring to protect it from shock and allow the roots to establish. One thing you will love is the blooms with a lemony scent. You can expect to see flowers from summer to fall and last two weeks at the most.

Yet, if your plant is still young, it only happens after two years. Another notable thing is your Hoya linearis plant can grow huge indoors up to 6.57 feet (2m). You will notice it growing in a downward and outward direction.

Hoya Linearis Varieties

While the linearis is a rare variety, there are many other Hoya houseplants to add to your collection, as seen here:

Hoya carnosa

hoya carnosa

The porcelain flower is an outstanding hybrid with plain, crinkled, or variegated foliage. The blooms last long and look like fuzzy clusters of stars. It is a vigorous yet versatile plant that adapts well to moderate humidity. So, it makes for an ideal indoor plant.

Hoya pubicalyx

hoya pubicalyx

The plant is charming, and you can find different varieties available. Growing the plant is easy, and it blooms clusters of fuzzy flowers. The leaves spread out from vines and grow up to eight feet long. The flowers last up to 15 days at the most. As with most Hoya cultivars, provide it with filtered light.

Hoya kentiana

hoya kentiana

Gardeners keep the plant for its foliage more than the blooms. The tropical plant boasts long, lance-shaped leaves with a waxy surface. The flowers are cute and look fat, lasing with a butterscotch fragrance for about a week.

Hoya Linearis Diseases & Pests

When it comes to the Hoya linearis care for pests and diseases, you do find them, but humidity is a big problem. If the leaves look scorched, your plants get too much sun. While wilting leaves are telltale signs of too much water.

If this happens, we recommend inspecting the roots to see if they are damp or rot. Take a cutting to help with new growth. If the rhizomes dry, then it helps to increase the watering. Another concern is aphids, which can reduce your plant’s growth.

These pests cause yellowing in the leaves, or the leaves stop growing. You can use a spray of water to remove them and mealybugs. Or you can use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Yet, do not spray the flowers with the oil, as they will die.

The last pest to look for is spider mites that suck out the sap of the leaves. You can use insecticides on your plant to remove them.

Frequently Asked Questions

The white flowers of the Hoya linearis look like small candles growing on slender stems. You see the blooms from spring to late summer. The flowers are fragrant and can last for up to two weeks.

The Hoyas have an average growth and can grow upward or downward. The plant makes for a beautiful hanging plant, and new growth starts white, turning light green.

When a sudden leaf drop happens, it indicates shock that can result from cold temperatures. If your plant Hoya linearis is hanging, we recommend moving it away from cold windows during winter.

The leading cause for Hoyas not to bloom is when it is not getting enough light. Another important tip is that some Hoyas flower after becoming stressed and are a bit root-bound.

While the plant is non-toxic, it does have a milky sap that can irritate the skin. Hence, we still recommend keeping it away from curious kids and pets.

Wilting leaves show a problem with watering your plant. It can be from root rot or underwatering. The best is to examine the soil to see if it is too dry or wet. If the roots have rotted from overly moist soil, it is best to take some cuttings to grow new plants. For the soil to dry, gradually increase your watering.

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