Hoya fungii

Botanical identity and natural origin of Hoya fungii

Hoya fungii comes from southern China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, where it grows on trees and rocks.

Keeping Hoya fungii healthy at home

Give it bright filtered light, protected from hot sun, with a trellis for extending stems. Aim to hold the air around 50–60% humidity. Keep it away from cold draughts while allowing gentle airflow. Hold conditions near 16–24 °C and keep extended exposure below 10 °C to a minimum.

Root a one- or two-node cutting in lightly moist, loosely packed sphagnum in a container with drainage holes. Work with a clean tool when making cuts. Remove lower leaves and keep other foliage above the moss. Provide Hoya fungii with warmth, indirect light and humid air while it establishes. A loose cover can retain humidity; ventilate it and hold it off the leaves. Pot into airy mix once well rooted.

During new growth, apply all-purpose fertiliser at 25–50% strength. Stop fertiliser during periods with no active growth. Repot one size larger when roots crowd the pot.

Use airy, freely draining mix. Water when the pot feels lighter and the deeper mix is only lightly moist, then drain thoroughly. When growth slows, allow the mix to become fairly dry between waterings, without leaving the whole root ball dry.

What to do when Hoya fungii has problems

• Cottony insects at the large 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.
• Leaves soften or shrink in a dry 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.
• Persistent wilting or yellowing 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.

Hoya fungii 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.

Who first published Hoya fungii, and what does the name mean?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. The species epithet fungii honours the collector Fung.

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

Elmer Drew Merrill first described Hoya fungii in 1934 in Lingnan Science Journal, volume 13, page 68.