Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form)

Parentage of Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form)

Hoya ‘Rosita’ is a cultivated hybrid between Hoya wayetii and Hoya tsangii.

Care basics for Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form)

Use a pot with drainage holes and place ‘Rosita’ in bright indirect light. Protect the foliage from hot direct sun and cold draughts. Let the stems trail or give them a small support. Aim for 60–80% humidity; a humidifier can help in a dry room when gentle air circulation is maintained.

Water this red-maroon form after its pot has become lighter and the airy mix around the roots is only lightly moist. Soak thoroughly, then empty the saucer. With less growth, allow the mix to become fairly dry before watering again while retaining some moisture in the root ball.

Temperature: A stable 16–24 °C suits routine growth, with prolonged cold below 10 °C avoided.

Feeding: While new growth is developing, apply balanced orchid fertiliser lightly about every two weeks. Once the plant stops growing, pause further feeding. When roots fill the pot, move into one only a few centimetres wider.

Use a clean blade to take a healthy two-node stem cutting. Remove the lower leaves and put that node in water, with the upper leaves above the surface. Give bright indirect light and keep the developing roots submerged. Once rooted, plant it in a small container of airy, freely draining mix.

When Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form) is not growing well

• Wilting or dieback while the mix remains 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.
• Cottony deposits in sheltered leaf joints: Confirm mealybugs beneath the wax and isolate the plant. Remove visible insects with a damp swab or tweezers. Inspect sheltered leaf joints, stems, the pot and any support weekly, removing any mealybugs you find until none remain. If mealybugs persist, use a product approved for home use against mealybugs on indoor ornamental plants in your country. Follow the label for how much to use, where to apply it, when to repeat treatment and all safety precautions.

Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form) 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.

Hoya: name and meaning

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy.

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