Hoya carnosa 'Regalis' ('Compacta' Variegata)

Selection history of Hoya carnosa 'Regalis' ('Compacta' Variegata)

‘Regalis’ arose as a sport of Hoya carnosa ‘Marginalis’ and was introduced by B. L. Cobia, Inc. in Florida. United States Plant Patent 3,306 described it in 1973; its patent protection has expired. Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta Regalis’ is a later synonym.

Care for Hoya carnosa 'Regalis' ('Compacta' Variegata)

• Trailing or climbing stems: Let ‘Regalis’ hang naturally or train the stems around a hoop.
• Light and climate: Provide bright indirect light with protection from hot sun. Keep temperatures around 16–24 °C, avoid prolonged temperatures below 10 °C and aim for 50–60% humidity with gentle airflow.
• Watering and drainage: Use a chunky mix in a pot with drainage holes. Water when the pot feels light and the mix is nearly dry throughout, soaking the full root ball and allowing all excess to escape. Drying slows as light or active growth decreases.
• Feeding: Use balanced orchid fertiliser at moderate strength about every two weeks while new growth is active.
• Repotting: Give crowded roots one pot size more. Replace degraded mix in the existing container when the root system still fits.
• Propagation: Root a healthy one- or two-node stem cutting in a lightly moist, airy medium under warm, bright indirect conditions, then pot it on once a sound root system has formed.

Common problems with Hoya carnosa 'Regalis'

• Folded leaves become softer or start to shrivel: The leaves are naturally curled and should feel firm. Check whether the mix around the roots is dry. If the root ball is dry, water thoroughly and drain. If the leaves still wilt after watering, inspect the roots. Avoid repeated watering while the roots are still wet.
• Wilting despite wet potting 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.
• New speckling (stippling) or webbing between the leaves: 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.
• Cottony insects hidden in leaf folds: Inspect the leaf bases and sheltered stem joints. 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.

Hoya carnosa ‘Regalis’ (‘Compacta’ Variegata) 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.

Hoya carnosa: name and meaning

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. The Latin epithet carnosa means fleshy and refers to the thick leaves.

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

Carl Linnaeus the Younger first described it as Asclepias carnosa in 1782 in Supplementum Plantarum, page 170. Robert Brown later placed it in Hoya as Hoya carnosa in 1810 in Asclepiadeae, page 16.