Hoya crassipetiolata ‘Splash Round Leaf’

Care for the rounded, silver-marked leaves

Keep ‘Splash Round Leaf’ in bright indirect light at about 18–24°C, with 40–60% relative humidity and gentle airflow. Protect it from hot direct sun and guide extending stems onto a trellis.

Use chunky mix in a pot with drainage holes. Water when the pot feels lighter and the deeper mix is lightly moist, then soak and drain thoroughly. When growth slows, allow the mix to become fairly dry, watering before the whole root ball dries out.

Use a light balanced orchid feed about every two weeks while new growth develops, following the label. Pause when growth stops and flush with plain water occasionally. When roots fill the container, repot just one size larger. Read the fresh mix’s label for added fertiliser and instructions on when to feed again.

A one- or two-node stem cutting can root in lightly moist sphagnum. Wear gloves because the sap can irritate skin, and use a clean blade. Remove the lower leaves and place that node in loosely packed moss in a pot with drainage holes. Keep the remaining leaves above the moss. Give warmth, indirect light and humid air; ventilate any cover and keep it off the leaves. Pot into airy mix once rooted.

Changes in the rounded, silver-marked leaves

• Leaves soften or shrivel with dry mix: 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.
• Yellowing or wilting while the mix remains 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.
• New dry, pale patches facing the light: The silver markings are normal; look for new dry, crisp patches. 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 the 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.

Hoya crassipetiolata ‘Splash Round 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.

Hoya crassipetiolata: where the name comes from

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.