Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor Narrow Leaf’

A home-growing guide for Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor Narrow Leaf’

Give the slender vines a hoop or trellis, or let them trail. Keep them in bright indirect light at about 18–27°C, with 40–60% relative humidity and gentle air movement. Shelter the leaves from hot direct sun and keep temperatures above about 13°C.

Allow the chunky mix to become nearly dry throughout before watering. Check that the pot feels light and that little moisture remains deeper in the mix. Soak the entire root ball and let excess water drain. The mix dries more slowly as growth slows or light decreases.

Feed lightly with balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks while new growth develops, following the label. Pause when it stops and flush with plain water every few months. Crowded roots need only the next pot size. If the mix alone has broken down, replace it in a container that fits the roots. Before feeding, check whether the new compost contains fertiliser and follow its guidance.

Root a one- or two-node cutting in lightly moist propagation mix. Use a clean blade and wear gloves, as the sap can irritate skin. Remove lower leaves and keep others clear of the mix. Provide warmth, indirect light and humidity. Keep any cover loose and off the foliage. Once rooted, move the cutting into a pot.

What to do when Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor Narrow Leaf’ looks unhealthy

• New bleached or crisp patches facing the light: Look for a new dry patch within the normal cream-and-green pattern. 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.
• White cottony insects at leaf 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.
• Wilting while the potting mix stays wet: 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 carnosa ‘Tricolor Narrow Leaf’ 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.

What does Hoya carnosa mean, and who first published it?

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.