Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’

Name and natural range of Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’

‘Asami’ is a marginally variegated form of Hoya lacunosa, and the trade name covers several closely similar clones. The species is a trailing or scrambling epiphyte native from southern Myanmar through western and central Malesia.

Care for Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’

• Support: A hanging pot suits the fine, densely branching stems and gives them room to trail freely.
• Placement: Place it near a bright filtered window. Cream margins can develop heat marks quickly against hot glass.
• Temperature and light: Keep opening leaves in a warm, stable position with bright filtered light. Avoid abrupt temperature swings while a new leaf is hardening, and keep the growing tip away from cold window gaps.
• Temperature: Growth is suited to 16–24 °C. Move the plant away from any position that stays under 10 °C.
• Humidity: Humid air with gentle airflow around the leaves suits this Hoya.
• Watering and potting mix: Use an airy, bark-based mix that drains freely. Rewater when the surface has dried and the pot feels lighter, then water thoroughly and drain the saucer. Keep the plant in a close-fitting container while pale leaves are forming.
• Feeding: Use a mild complete feed while the plant is actively developing. Reduce feeding when the runner stops extending and resume as steady growth returns.
• Repotting: Check the roots once they fill the pot, and refresh the mix if it has compacted or begun draining slowly. If the mix has deteriorated but the roots still fit, refresh it in the same pot; move up only when the root system needs more room.
• Propagation: Cut a healthy section of stem carrying at least one node and keep the cutting warm as roots develop.

Common issues with Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’

• The small pointed leaves wrinkle and do not firm up after a light watering: Frequent light watering left the fine roots dry in the centre of the pot. Inspect the middle of the pot for dry channels. A pot that sheds water immediately needs a fresh evenly wetting substrate. Cut to a firm node only after the damaged section turns black, hollow or soft.
• Cream or yellow areas develop marks before the green tissue: Direct sun, a hard dry interval or damaged roots affected the variegated section first. Reduce the hottest sun and adjust the watering interval. The damaged patch is permanent, but a firm leaf can continue supporting the plant. Protect the next leaf so it can open cleanly. Leave the marked leaf in place while the dry patch stays unchanged. Remove the small variegated leaves if the mark becomes wet, soft or rapidly enlarges.
• New small pointed leaves emerge twisted with black specks or silvery scars: Thrips scarred the folded tissue before the leaf unfolded. Isolate the plant, rinse the foliage and remove tips that are beyond recovery. After a patch test, apply insecticidal soap as directed on the label and place a blue trap beside the plant.
• Cream margins develop brown tips: The cream margin overheated while the green centre remained firm. Move the plant away from peak heat and increase direct light only after new growth hardens.

Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’ 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.

Why is it called Hoya lacunosa?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Lacunosa means pitted or furrowed and refers to the flower structure.

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

Carl Ludwig Blume first described Hoya lacunosa in 1827 in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indië, page 1063.