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Hoya obovata

4.5 out of 5 (15 experiences)

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

About Hoya obovata

With over 500 species and even more cultivars, there's a Hoya out there for everyone! They're native to Southeast Asia and their common name, waxplant, refers to their thick, waxy leaves which help them retain water in the heat. They're excellent climbers and will take off if you give them a trellis to grow on. Their other-worldly, star-shaped flowers are often fragrant and come in brilliant shades of red, pink, yellow, and more!

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Hoya obovata

Genus

Hoya

Family

Apocynaceae

Order

Gentianales

How to care for Hoya obovata

💦 Water

How often to water your Hoya obovata

Hoya obovata needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Hoya obovata in your home

Hoya obovata may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Hoya obovata in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Hoya obovata

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Hoya obovata: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Hoya obovata after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Hoya

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Hoya obovata thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Hoya obovata Water Frequency →

Hoya obovata Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Hoya obovata may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Hoya obovata Light Requirements →

Hoya obovata Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Hoya obovata is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Hoya obovata prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Hoya obovata Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Hoya obovata does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Hoya obovata →

Best Pots for Hoya obovata →

When and How to Successfully Repot Hoya obovata →

What Are Healthy Hoya obovata Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Hoya obovata should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Hoya obovata →

❄️ Dormancy

Hoya obovata does not have a typical pattern of dormancy. If you notice their growth slowing down substantially, double check that they are getting enough sunlight and water to thrive!

🌎 Native Region

Hoya obovata is native to Southeast Asia and Australia.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Hoya obovata can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Hoya obovata Temperature Tolerance →

Hoya obovata Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Hoya obovata →

When to Plant Hoya obovata →

How to Plant Hoya obovata →

Where to Plant Hoya obovata →

Winter Care for Hoya obovata →

Best Companion Plants for Hoya obovata →

Is Hoya obovata a Weed? →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Hoya obovata →

What Eats Hoya obovata? →

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Hoya obovata. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

Care Summary for Hoya obovata

Hoya obovata

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 7

Large, lush leaves 6

Easy to propagate 4

Fast grower 4

Browns easily 1

@@Megan

29 Plants

14,740 XP

Washington, DC

11/24/2021

Super easy and happy plant! Just chills.

Hoya obovata plant photo by @Megan named Your plant on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Roxanne

25 Plants

14,308 XP

Portland, OR

11/24/2021

She wasn’t growing much the first month or two after I took her home when she was on a bookshelf further from a window. Then I moved her to a northwest corner right next to the window with a grow light and she grew at least a dozen giant healthy leaves in just a couple months. Bright indirect light seemed to do the trick!

Large, lush leaves

Hoya obovata plant photo by @Roxanne named Andromeda on Greg, the plant care app.

@@crystALLplants

21 Plants

6,658 XP

11/17/2021

I’ve heard Hoyas are slow growers, but this guy put out so many leaves and shoots this past summer that it’s my favorite Hoya. I have it less than a foot away from a West bathroom window

Survivor