Hoya carnosa 'Dark red'

Origin of Hoya carnosa 'Dark red'

Hoya carnosa 'Dark red' is a cultivated form whose selection and introduction history are still uncertain.

Hoya carnosa occurs naturally from southern China to Laos and southern Japan to Taiwan.

Home care for Hoya carnosa 'Dark red'

Place ‘Dark red’ in bright indirect light with protection from hot direct sun. Keep it around 18–27°C and 40–60% relative humidity, with gentle airflow and temperatures above about 13°C. Let the stems trail or guide them onto a hoop or trellis.

Water only when the chunky potting mix is nearly dry throughout and the pot feels light. Check moisture deeper in the mix with a skewer where necessary, then soak the roots and drain fully. When growth slows or light levels fall, check that the mix is nearly dry before watering; drying will take longer.

Use all-purpose fertiliser at 25–50% of label strength during growth, no more often than the label recommends, and pause when growth stops. Retain living flower stalks after blooming. Repot into the next size when roots outgrow the pot. If only the mix drains poorly, replace it without automatically enlarging the container.

Take a one- or two-node stem cutting with a clean blade, wearing gloves because the sap can irritate skin. Root the lower, leafless node in lightly moist propagation mix, keeping the upper leaves above the mix. Keep warm in indirect light and humid air; ventilate any cover and keep it off the leaves. Once rooted, transfer the cutting to a small pot with drainage holes.

Common problems with Hoya carnosa 'Dark red' and what to do

• New bleached or crisp patches facing the light: New leaves can naturally be dark or bronze while remaining firm. Hot sun or a sudden increase in light can scorch leaves. Move the plant into bright, filtered light. If you later move it to a brighter position, introduce the stronger light gradually. Existing dry patches will not recover; retain healthy foliage.
• Yellowing or wilting with 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.
• Established leaves become soft in a dry pot: 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.
• New fine speckling (stippling) with 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.
• Cottony insects along the stems: 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 ‘Dark red’ 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.

About the name Hoya carnosa

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.