Hoya krohniana 'Super Silver'

A heavily silvered Hoya krohniana

‘Super Silver’ is a cultivated form with extensive pale coverage. The underlying Hoya krohniana is a small-leaved trailing epiphyte native to the Philippines.

Care for Hoya krohniana ‘Super Silver’

• Placement: Give it strong indirect light through most of the day. Keep soft small thick heart-shaped leaves away from concentrated heat, as the extensively silvered surface marks quickly.
• Watering and root mix: Wait for a dry surface, then wet the entire root zone in one thorough pass. Check the mix beneath dense trailing stems because the surface view can misrepresent moisture. Surround the small roots with modest particles in an airy substrate. Dense peat around the stem stays wet longer than the trailing foliage suggests.
• Trailing growth: Let the fine stems trail from a smooth rim or loop loosely around a broad hoop, keeping them away from sharp contact points.
• Airflow: Use a position where the roots avoid repeated warm-to-cool swings. A cold draught can stop fine new growth abruptly.
• Feeding: Use small, regular doses and avoid strong occasional applications. Small containers accumulate salts quickly, so rinse the mix with plain water periodically.
• Near-solid silver: Most of each leaf is pale, with green retained as veins or islands. Protect the light surface from hot direct sun.

Common issues with Hoya krohniana ‘Super Silver’

• One side of the plant wilts while the opposite side remains wetLikely cause: The substrate has separated into compact wet zones and coarse dry zones.What to do: Renew the root zone with an even blend of bark and mineral particles. Water in slow passes around the compact pot until runoff is even, then empty the saucer. Discard roots that are dark, hollow or sour and retain only sound tissue.
• One exposed section of the small dark-stemmed leaves turns paperyLikely cause: The pale or silver tissue overheated even though the rest of the leaf remained firm.What to do: Filter the hottest light and water after the upper mix dries. Acclimate the next leaf gradually.
• Tiny silver leaves emerge twisted with dark specksLikely cause: The tender enclosed tissue is being scarred by thrips.What to do: Isolate the pot, clean both leaf surfaces and trim only heavily damaged growing points. Test the soap on one leaf, follow the label for any further treatment, and place a blue sticky trap for flying adults.
• Several tiny leaves drop after the pot dries hardLikely cause: The fine roots and thin runners dehydrated before the dense foliage began to wrinkle.What to do: Rewet the pot slowly in two passes, drain it fully and water a little sooner next time. Keep firm green stems and remove only dry or hollow sections.

Hoya krohniana ‘Super Silver’ and pet safety

Hoya krohniana ‘Super Silver’ 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.

Why this selection is called ‘Super Silver’

‘Super Silver’ refers to the extensive pale coverage across the leaves.