Hoya ‘Michele’ (MB1255)

Caring for Hoya ‘Michele’ (MB1255) at home

Place ‘Michele’ in bright indirect light, with a trellis or wire loop for the vines. Protect it from hot direct sun and cold draughts. Keep growing temperatures around 16–24°C; bring any outdoor pot inside before nights fall below 16°C. A humidifier can raise humidity in dry air, with gentle ventilation around the foliage.

Water an airy, freely draining Hoya mix when the pot is lighter and the mix around the roots remains only lightly moist. Wet it thoroughly and drain off the excess. As growth and water use slow, let it become fairly dry between waterings, without leaving it completely dry.

Feed lightly with a balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks during growth, using the label’s dose and intervals. Pause feeding when growth stops. Flush with plain water every few months. Move to a pot only a few centimetres wider when roots fill the old one; check the fresh mix’s label for added fertiliser and feeding instructions before feeding again.

Take a one- or two-node stem cutting with a clean blade and wear gloves because the sap can irritate skin. Root the lower node in lightly moist propagation mix, keeping the remaining leaves above the mix, then move the rooted cutting into a small pot of airy mix.

Common signs that Hoya ‘Michele’ (MB1255) is unhealthy

• Water-soaked blisters that become corky: The quilted texture from the sunken veins is normal. Look for new, water-soaked swellings. These can be oedema, where water uptake exceeds water loss from the leaves. Check whether the mix is staying wet and drain trapped water. Let the mix dry a little before watering again. Allow air to move gently around the plant and replace compacted, poorly draining mix if needed. Existing corky marks will remain, so keep leaves that are otherwise healthy.
• Leaf drop or darkening while roots stay 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.
• Sudden blackening or leaf drop after cold exposure: Chilling can damage leaves and stems, especially beside cold glass or in a draught. Move the plant to a stable, warmer position. Check the mix before watering; a chilled plant may use water more slowly. Remove only tissue that is clearly dead or decaying.
• Fixed shell-like bumps on leaves or stems: Check that the bumps are scale insects, then isolate the plant and gently remove accessible adults. Inspect the plant weekly, including new growth, and remove any accessible adult scale insects you find. If you still find young, mobile scale insects (crawlers), choose an insecticidal soap labelled for scale on indoor ornamental plants. Test a small area first where the label allows. Follow the label for how much to use, which areas to treat, when to repeat treatment and all safety precautions.

Hoya ‘Michele’ (MB1255) 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.

What does Hoya mean, and who first published it?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy.

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