Hoya Linearis is an evergreen perennial plant that has long, tender stems bearing waxy foliage and lemon-scented flowers. The pendulous stem has hairy-needle-shaped leaves. It is a gorgeous cultivar of the genus Hoya that is epiphytic in nature. Naturally, it is found dangling from the tall trees at high altitudes.
Hoya Linearis plant is perfect for those who love trailing houseplants. This pretty plant is known for its showy cascade of dark-green foliage. It can be grown in hanging baskets and will also make a great patio decoration.
Common Names
- Wax vine
- Wax plant
- Porcelain Vine
Classification
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
- Genus: Hoya
About the Genus Hoya
Hoya is a genus of tropical plants that are mostly vines or creepers, and in some cases, shrubs. It includes about 200-300 species of flowering plants. The evergreen plants of this genus are native to Australia, Northern India, Thailand, and several other countries of Asia.
This genus was named by Robert Brown as a tribute to his companion, botanist Thomas Hoy. These are epiphytic plants that grow on tall trees; some are terrestrial plants, while others are often found in rocky areas.
Origin and Distribution
Hoya Linearis was originally found in the forests of the Himalayas in Northern India. It is native to South Asia and widely distributed in Nepal, China, India, and Burma.
Hoya Linearis Features
Foliage and Stem
This pendulous plant of the Apocynaceae family has numerous fuzzy stems. Its slender stems carry hairy-narrow leaves. The leaves are linear and waxy in nature; the waxy feature of its foliage makes this vine a succulent plant that has the ability to store water in harsh conditions.
Hoya Linearis plant is a vine whose long-hanging tendrils dangle down from a base, giving a curtain-like appearance to this plant. This plant is different from its fellow Hoya species that have large, thick, waxy leaves. This Hoya is a distinctive creeper that has narrow and soft leaves. The leaves are grooved and slightly hairy.
Hoya Linearis Flower
Hoya Linearis is an all-in-all pretty plant whose both foliage and flowers are beautiful enough to adorn indoors and home gardens. This Porcelain Vine possesses white, star-shaped flowers that grow in a cluster of more than 10, all creamy-colored with a pink-tinted center. The flowers resemble tiny candles, having a lemony scent that fades away in about two weeks.
Hoya Linearis flowers bloom only in late summers to autumn. The flowering Hoya Linearis only blossoms under the right amount of light exposure.
Evergreen
Hoya Linearis will continue to embellish your indoors throughout the year with its green and pretty foliage. It is an evergreen plant that does not shed all of its leaves and stays fresh and green in all seasons.
Height
This gorgeous plant attains a maximum height of 4 to 5 feet. Its fuzzy stems grow out of the base and give it a dangling look. This height is ideal for an indoor vine that has to be planted in hanging baskets.
Temperature Tolerance
This attractive creeper is a tropical plant that cannot tolerate extreme heat or extreme cold. It prefers to be placed in a corner where the temperature does not fluctuate much. Too much coldness can freeze out this plant.
Humidity Tolerance
Being native to tropical regions, this lovely Hoya Linearis is fond of high humidity levels. In forests, the humidity levels are pretty much high to favor its optimum lush growth. Apart from this, the indoors are relatively less humid, so their humidity levels need to be regulated. This species demands higher humidity levels than its fellow species from the genus Hoya.
Drought Tolerance
Succulents are the toughest plants that can survive through the worst conditions, even droughts. Hoya Linearis is also a succulent plant that has waxy leaves. These waxy leaves are relatively thin but are capable of retaining a considerable amount of water to withstand stress and droughts. However, do not let your plant die of thirst; keep watering it from time to time.
Pressure Tolerance
Hoya Linearis is a delicate vine whose long, slender stems cannot bear much external pressure, so try to give this creeper enough space to grow and thrive.
Disease and Pest Resistance
Hoya Linearis can catch pests and insects if not cared for properly and if not placed in a highly humid environment. A dry atmosphere attracts pests, such as aphids and mealybugs. Spray your vine with an insecticide if it has caught these pests.
This gorgeous creeper is susceptible to root rot. If your plant has fallen prey to this deadly disease, cut out the damaged roots to protect your whole plant from being infected.
Growth
Hoya Linearis plant is a slow-growing vine that takes about 3 to 5 years to reach its mature height. This growth rate can be increased and maintained if this plant is provided with optimum conditions and placed in a suitable environment.
Toxicity
This adorable and lovely plant is pet-friendly, which means it is not toxic for your cats, dogs, or other pets. You need not worry if your pet has ingested some of its leaves. But, it is better to keep your pet away from your plant so that your nibbling pet does not damage the pretty foliage of your gorgeous vine.
Durability
Hoya Linearis is a succulent and robust plant, so it is pretty much durable. It can endure a fair amount of stress and will continue to adorn the indoors for several years.
Maintenance
Maintaining a Hoya Linearis is a piece of cake once you master the basics. It is a slightly high-maintenance plant that needs to be nurtured properly.
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Dormancy
Hoya Linearis plant goes dormant in winters when the temperature falls far below the normal indoor temperature of the tropical regions. During these dormant periods, this pretty vine does not need to be watered regularly as its growth has been stopped.
Hoya Linearis Care
Hoya Linearis care is not much of a hassle. This vine needs to be watered about thrice a week. The optimum pH range for its soil is 6.1-7.5. These waxy plants need 50-70% humidity, and these are ideal for USDA zones of 10-11. Frequent misting is an important part of this adorable Hoya Linearis care.
Hoya Linearis Watering Requirements
This gorgeous peep needs to be watered when its topsoil dries out. Check the upper 3 inches of soil before watering your vine. If the upper part of the soil is dry, it means it’s time to water your Hoya. Keep checking the topsoil between consecutive waterings. Do not over-water your plant.
In general, Hoya Linearis watering requirements include watering your Hoya thrice a week during the growing periods. However, this watering frequency can be reduced during winters when it goes through its dormancy. During these cold months, you can water your vine just once a week, and it will still thrive.
Soil Requirements
Like most of the flowering plants, this Hoya Linearis grows best if it is planted in well-drained soil. The ideal soil type for growing a Hoya Linearis is a well-aerated, rich, organic soil that has composted self-mixed potting mix. It is best to keep the soil loose so that the roots of the plant are aerated well, and water can drain easily and effectively.
These epiphytic creepers grow best in slightly acidic to slightly neutral soils having a pH of 6.1-7.5.
Hoya Linearis Light Requirements
Hoya Linearis light requirements are similar to most vines; it requires bright-filtered light exposure but does not do well in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight is harmful to the waxy and delicate foliage of your plant. A north or east-facing window is the perfect corner for your pretty vine. However, moving your plant in direct sunlight for an hour or two during the morning or late afternoon will do more good than harm.
Yellowing or browning of the leave’s edges of Hoya Linearis is an indication that the plant is getting an excessive amount of direct sunlight and thus needs to be replaced elsewhere.
Temperature Requirements
The ideal temperature range for your adorable Hoya Linearis is 15°C-29°C. Your slender vine will flourish at these temperatures. However, do not leave your delicate Hoya outdoors in winters if the temperature drops below 10°C. At this temperature, this gorgeous cultivar will freeze.
Moisture and Humidity
As already mentioned, Hoya Linearis, being a tropical plant, is fond of a highly humid atmosphere. This epiphytic creeper requires a 50-70% humidity level around it. It loves being misted often. So do not forget to mist your Hoya to keep its humidity levels high and regulated.
Fertilizer
Dyna-Gro Grow fertilizer is an amazing all-purpose fertilizer that works best on this Hoya’s growth. It is urea-free fertilizer, and it contains all the essential nutrients that are required for the proper growth of the Hoya Linearis plant. This gorgeous vine needs to be fed every month during its growing seasons. However, you need not fertilize it after September, when its growth slows down.
Dilute the fertilizer or use a medium dosage to prevent your delicate vine from burning.
Grooming and Pruning
One of the magical tips to enhance the beauty of your already beautiful vine is to prune it before each growing season. Cut out any dead or unhealthy leaves to give space to new and fresh foliage. Prune your Hoya at the beginning of spring, before new leaves bud out of the stems.
Re-potting
Hoya Linearis does not mind being root-bound; you need not re-pot it very often. The best way to check if your Hoya needs re-potting is to carefully pick up the whole plant from the pot and check if its roots are growing in circles. If so, your plant surely needs to be re-potted in a slightly larger pot having better drainage holes at the bottom.
Hoya Linearis Cuttings
For propagating this pretty vine, Hoya Linearis cuttings are used. These stem cuttings are either planted in water or sphagnum moss. The plant could take some weeks to show evident growth because its waxy leaves are relatively slow-growers.
Propagating Hoya Linearis is easy as a damn.
- Take a stem cutting that still has 3-4 nodes.
- Remove the leaves from the lower nodes.
- Plant this cutting in the pot and place it in a well-lit corner.
That’s pretty much it!
Final Thoughts
Hoya Linearis is a gorgeous delicate vine whose pendulous stems and green waxy leaves are ideal for hanging baskets. These evergreen vines can be tucked in your living room corner for an all-green vibe. These epiphytes do best in all corners of indoors, from patios to living rooms, and from porches to your kitchen tables.
