Hoya callistophylla 'Vena' (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo)

Origin of Hoya callistophylla 'Vena' (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo)

Hoya callistophylla 'Vena', also known in cultivation as sp. Sekadau Borneo, comes from Sekadau on Borneo.

It is cultivated as a form of Hoya callistophylla; its individual selection history is still uncertain.

Growing Hoya callistophylla 'Vena' (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo)

Light and support. Give the stems support to climb as they lengthen. Provide bright indirect light and shelter from harsh direct sun.

Temperature and humidity. Use 16–24 °C as the normal growing range and protect it from extended periods below 10 °C. Hold ambient humidity close to 50–60%. Provide mild air exchange around new growth, during routine care.

Potting mix and watering. Use a loose, chunky mix in a container with drainage holes. When the pot is lighter and the deeper mix feels mostly dry, wet the whole root ball and let it drain. The mix dries more slowly in lower light or when growth slows.

Feeding. Apply balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks while new growth develops, at moderate strength. Hold fertiliser during periods with no active growth.

Repotting. Move up one pot size when roots outgrow the container. Replace broken-down mix in a pot that fits the roots.

Propagation. Use a clean cutting tool to take a healthy stem cutting with at least one node. Remove the lowest leaves and root the node in lightly moist propagation mix, keeping the remaining foliage above it. Keep the cutting warm in indirect light. Once rooted, move it into a pot.

Common issues with Hoya callistophylla 'Vena'

• White cottony clusters at leaf bases: Confirm mealybugs beneath the wax and isolate the plant. Remove visible insects with a damp swab or tweezers. Inspect sheltered leaf joints, stems, the pot and any support weekly, removing any mealybugs you find until none remain. If mealybugs persist, use a product approved for home use against mealybugs on indoor ornamental plants in your country. Follow the label for how much to use, where to apply it, when to repeat treatment and all safety precautions.
• New pale speckling (stippling) with fine webbing: Inspect damaged leaf undersides with magnification; tapping a leaf over white paper can help locate mites. Confirm spider mites before treatment. Isolate the plant, gently rinse both leaf surfaces and let water drain. Recheck every few days and repeat rinsing while live mites remain.
• Yellowing or wilting in persistently wet mix: Persistent wetness can damage roots. Drain trapped water and inspect roots if decline continues. If you find a small amount of root rot, use a clean, disinfected tool to cut the soft roots back to firm, healthy tissue. Throw away the rotten roots and old mix. Repot in fresh, airy mix, using a clean pot just large enough for the roots that remain. The pot must have drainage holes. If decay is widespread, save only healthy stem cuttings. Discard the plant if no healthy stems remain, and disinfect your tools afterwards.

Hoya callistophylla ‘Vena’ (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo) is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Where does the name Hoya callistophylla come from?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Callistophylla combines Greek kallistos, meaning most beautiful, with phyllon, leaf, and refers to the species’ prominent leaf veins.

Robert Brown established the genus Hoya in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 459.

Ted Green first described Hoya callistophylla in 2000 in Fraterna, volume 13, issue 4, page 2.