Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’

Origin of Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’

‘Krinkle Tricolor’ is a cultivated form of Hoya carnosa. Its cultivar history is still uncertain.

The species occurs naturally from southern China to Laos and southern Japan to Taiwan.

Home care for Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’

• Let the vines trail or give them a hoop or trellis. Position ‘Krinkle Tricolor’ in bright indirect light, sheltered from hot sun. Keep it around 16–24 °C and protect it from prolonged temperatures below about 10 °C. 50–60% humidity and airflow suit the folded foliage.
• Use chunky, freely draining potting mix. Water when it is nearly dry throughout and the pot feels light; check moisture deeper in the mix, then soak and drain the roots. The mix takes longer to reach the same cue during slower growth or in lower light.
• Use a light balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks while the plant is actively growing. Repot one size larger when roots outgrow the container. Replace broken-down mix in the current pot when the roots still fit.
• Propagate from a sound node-bearing stem cutting, keeping the rooting medium lightly moist. Remove the lower leaves and root the cutting in lightly moist, airy propagation mix, with the remaining leaves above it. Give it warmth, bright indirect light and humid air. Once rooted, transfer it to a small pot with drainage holes.

Common problems with Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’ and what to do

• Cottony insects at nodes or in leaf folds: 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 bleached, crisp patches on exposed foliage: 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.
• Wilting while the mix stays wet: The puckered leaves normally feel firm. Look for new softness or collapsing growth. Persistent wetness can damage roots. Drain trapped water and inspect the roots and stem base immediately. If the stem base is firm and only a few roots are rotten, 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 the stem base is decaying or root rot is widespread, take healthy stem cuttings above any decay with a clean, disinfected tool. Keep only cuttings whose cut ends are firm and free of discolouration. Discard any rotten tissue and the old mix. Discard the plant if no healthy stems remain, and disinfect your tools afterwards.

Hoya carnosa inner-variegated Krinkle form (‘Krinkle Tricolor’) 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.