Hoya incrassata ‘Eclipse’

A variegated cultivar introduced in 2006

Asiatica Nursery introduced the marginally variegated cultivar ‘Eclipse’ in 2006. The underlying species, Hoya incrassata, is a robust climbing epiphyte native to the Philippines.

Care for Hoya incrassata ‘Eclipse’

• Light and colour: Variegated margins stay cleaner in bright indirect light with a gap from hot glass and overhead lamps. Give the green areas abundant indirect light and shield the cream border from concentrated heat.
• Robust runners: Guide the strong vine early and keep old peduncles. The pale margins need protection from heat while new leaves expand.
• Water and roots: Test the centre as well as the surface before watering the substantial root system. Because the frame and foliage distort pot weight, also test the mix with a skewer or finger. Use a structural, airy substrate that supports a large root system. A compact pot suited to the remaining root mass prevents a persistently wet centre.
• Support: Secure the frame before the broad foliage becomes heavy. Position ties below the petiole and keep soft blades away from the trellis.
• Temperature and airflow: Keep the variegated vine away from cold draughts, radiators and direct fan airflow. Variegated areas mark easily under dry heat or a cold saturated root zone.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves are expanding. Extra fertiliser cannot enlarge pale sectors and may damage the slower roots of a variegated plant, reducing the frequency whenever the pot dries more slowly.

Common issues with Hoya incrassata ‘Eclipse’

• The base of the variegated vine softens before the leaves lose turgorLikely cause: Compacted old mix is depriving the roots of air.What to do: Cut away mushy roots, rinse the remaining firm roots and pot them into a clean, coarse mix.Urgent warning: If blackening moves into the stem, take a firm green node cutting before the decay advances.
• Dry pale patches appear on the window-facing side of the cream-variegated leavesLikely cause: Intense midday light marked the leaf while the tissue was still soft.What to do: Move the plant into a bright position behind light filtration. The current blemish will remain on the leaf. Keep the firm leaf while giving new growth gentler light.
• The heavy climbing runner stops even though the stem is still green on the variegated foliageLikely cause: The tip has paused while the root system recovers its ability to supply water.What to do: Support the firm green tip in bright filtered light and avoid sharp swings between wet and dry. Pause fertiliser, then start again once the tip is enlarging a new leaf. Keep the green tip until it blackens, softens or dries completely.
• Pale tissue tears or browns while the leaf is expandingLikely cause: Pale tissue has less chlorophyll and overheats or dehydrates sooner than green tissue.What to do: Move it into bright filtered light, avoid severe swings between saturation and complete dryness, and leave firm green tissue attached. Trim only fully dry edges with clean scissors. Retain a firm dry leaf and remove it only if the patch softens, becomes wet or expands quickly.

Hoya incrassata ‘Eclipse’ and pet safety

Hoya incrassata ‘Eclipse’ is treated as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing leaves or stems can still cause temporary drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea. Keep the plant out of reach of pets that chew foliage, and contact a veterinarian if symptoms are severe or persistent.

A thickened Hoya introduced as ‘Eclipse’

Incrassata means thickened. The pale-margined cultivar ‘Eclipse’ was introduced in cultivation by Asiatica Nursery.