Hoya crassipetiolata

Botanical identity and natural origin of Hoya crassipetiolata

Hoya crassipetiolata is native to Vietnam. It grows in wet tropical habitat.

Everyday care for Hoya crassipetiolata

Give the stems a trellis in bright indirect light, sheltered from hot sun. Aim for 60–80% relative humidity, keeping the plant above about 13 °C with gentle airflow.

Use a chunky, fast-draining medium in a pot with drainage holes. During growth, water when the pot is lighter and the deeper mix is only lightly moist; soak and drain the whole root ball. As growth slows, let the mix become fairly dry between waterings, without leaving it completely dry.

A steady 16–24 °C range suits it. Maintain the plant where sustained temperatures remain above 10 °C.

Use balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks during new growth, at a modest dose, and pause when growth stops. When roots fill the container, move up one pot size.

Root a healthy stem section with at least one node in a lightly moist, airy propagation mix. Keep Hoya crassipetiolata warm in indirect light until it is established.

How to solve common problems with Hoya crassipetiolata

• Soft, yellowing leaves 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.
• Leaves lose firmness in a dry, light 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 bleached or crisp patches facing the light: 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.
• Cottony insects at leaf-stalk junctions: 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 crassipetiolata 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.

When was Hoya crassipetiolata first published, and what does it mean?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Crassipetiolata combines Latin crassus, meaning thick, with petiolatus, meaning petioled, referring to the robust leaf stalk.

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

Leonid Vladimirovich Averyanov, Van The Pham, and Tuan Anh Le first described Hoya crassipetiolata in 2017 in Turczaninowia, volume 20, issue 3, page 112.