Hoya fitchii

Botanical identity and natural origin of Hoya fitchii

Hoya fitchii comes from the Philippines. It grows in wet tropical habitat.

Everyday care for Hoya fitchii

Give the stems a trellis and retain living flower stalks after blooming: New flowers can develop from them. Choose bright indirect light with 50–60% humidity, gentle airflow and protection from hot sun. Keep the plant between about 16 and 24 °C during normal growth, with protection from sustained temperatures below 10 °C.

Plant in chunky mix in a pot with drainage holes. During growth, water when the pot is lighter and the deeper mix is lightly moist, then soak and drain thoroughly. With slower growth, allow the mix to become fairly dry before watering again, without letting it dry completely.

A moderate-strength balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks suits periods of new growth.

Move up one pot size once the roots have filled the current container.

For propagation, root a healthy one- or two-node stem cutting in a lightly moist, airy medium. Keep it warm in indirect light until a healthy root system has formed.

How to solve common problems with Hoya fitchii

• Leaves lose firmness with a dry root ball: 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.
• Soft or yellowing foliage while the 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.
• Cottony insects at the leaf bases and stems: White veins are normal on these leaves. Look for separate cottony deposits at the leaf bases or on 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 fitchii 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 fitchii: where the name comes from

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Fitchii commemorates the American plant photographer and collector Charles Marden Fitch.

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

Robert Dale Kloppenburg first described Hoya fitchii in 2009 in Fraterna, volume 22, issue 4, page 16.