Hoya Carnosa | Krimson Princess

Origin: India and East Asia

Height: Trailing stems can grow to 10 ft (3 m)

Light: Bright indirect light year-round. Some direct sun is fine, but shade plants from harsh summer sun, which can scorch foliage. Hoyas will live in low light, but will not bloom. Artificial grow lights work beautifully. Put your Wax plant about 8 inches (20 cm) beneath the light and keep the lights on for about 14 hours a day. It's also important to give them darkness at night. Plants need a rest, too. Once your plant has formed flower buds, don't move it around. Changes in light levels can cause flower buds to shrivel up or fall off before they open.

Water: Water thoroughly spring through fall, allowing potting mix to dry out a bit between waterings. Flowering Hoya plants are thirsty, but don't like to sit in soggy soil. Be sure to use a pot with drainage holes and empty the drainage tray. Use room-temperature water for your tropical plants. Cold water can shock them. In winter, water sparingly giving the plant just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely.

Humidity: Prefers 50% relative humidity. Use a cool-mist room humidifier for best results. Or you can set the pot on a humidity tray. Misting the foliage with a fine spray of room-temperature water helps, but avoid getting the flowers wet.

Temperature: Keep it warm year-round (65-75°F/18-24°C), with a minimum temperature of 60°F/16°C.

Soil: 2 parts sphagnum peat moss-based potting mix with 1 part perlite added for better drainage.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly spring through fall with high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation: Take 3 in (7 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring. Cuttings should include at least 1 pair of leaves. They will root easily in moist potting mix.