Hoya memoria

Natural origin of Hoya memoria

Hoya memoria is associated with cultivated material from Manila in the Philippines, although its exact wild locality remains unknown.

Care for Hoya memoria

• Support: Give the fine stems a trellis for climbing or about 200 cm of clear drop when the plant is grown hanging.
• Placement: Position the fine runner near bright filtered light; deep shade lengthens the gaps between leaves and reduces branching. Move the trailing stems closer to the window when gaps between leaves lengthen and the narrow leaves emerge smaller.
• Temperature: Warm, stable conditions around 16–24 °C suit it; 10 °C is the lower limit for prolonged exposure. Use a site protected from sharp daily temperature swings. Warmth should not come from a heater blowing directly across the leaves.
• Humidity: Keep humidity in the 60–80% range while allowing light air movement around the foliage.
• Watering and potting mix: Water thoroughly after much of the shallow potting mix has dried and the pot feels light, before the fine roots become crisp. Choose an airy, freely draining potting mix and a shallow, snug pot because a deep container can stay wet below a dry-looking surface.
• Feeding: Add a low-strength complete feed after watering, and only while the vine is extending.
• Growth rhythm: As stem growth slows in cooler or dimmer conditions, extend the drying interval between waterings and reduce feeding.
• Repotting: Slower drainage, broken-down mix, a marked change in watering frequency or poor stability of the plant and its support are reasons to check the roots. Move up in pot size only for a crowded root ball; otherwise renew the mix or solve the stability issue in the current pot.
• Propagation: A healthy node-bearing piece of Hoya memoria vine can be rooted for propagation; keep it warm until new roots form.

Common issues with Hoya memoria

• Leaves soften although the mix is damp: The old mix has compacted around the fine roots and is excluding the air they need. Discard the stale substrate, trim soft roots and repot in a smaller container with good airflow. Cut a sound green node for propagation immediately when decay reaches the stem.
• Fresh silver-marked leaves stay small along the runner: Inconsistent root uptake has stopped extension without killing the tip. Give the tip an unobstructed path towards a bright window. Water once the upper layer is dry, then start dilute feeding again when a new leaf begins to expand. Prune the growing point only after it has died back to black, hollow tissue.
• Soft growth develops black specks along the folds and veins: The unopened growing point is harbouring thrips or mites. Isolate, rinse the new growth and treat both leaf surfaces with insecticidal soap as labelled. Inspect the next leaves for live pests and make another application only when the product label allows it.
• A fine dark stem snaps at the pot edge: Repeated contact with the pot rim has weakened the same section of stem. Reroute the stem across the centre of the support and pad any hard edge that touches it. If the stem snaps completely, cut back to sound green tissue and propagate the uninjured upper section.

Hoya memoria 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.

The meaning and history of Hoya memoria

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. The epithet memoria is Latin for memory and refers to the Manila Memorial Park, where the plant was collected.

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

Robert Dale Kloppenburg first described Hoya memoria in 2004 in Fraterna, volume 17, issue 4, page 2.