Hoya kaikoeana (sp. ‘Dahlia’)

How to grow Hoya kaikoeana indoors

Give Hoya kaikoeana a trellis in bright filtered light, protected from hot sun. Aim for about 18–24°C and 40–60% relative humidity, with gentle airflow around the foliage.

Use an airy mix in a pot with drainage holes. Water when the pot is lighter and the deeper mix remains lightly moist during growth, then soak and drain fully. When growth slows, allow the mix to become fairly dry between waterings, without drying it completely.

Use a light balanced orchid feed about every two weeks while new growth develops, following the label; pause when growth stops. Move up one pot size once roots fill the container. Before feeding again, check the fresh mix’s label for added fertiliser and feeding guidance.

For propagation, take a one- or two-node cutting with a clean blade, wearing gloves because the sap can irritate skin. Remove lower leaves and root a node in lightly moist sphagnum, loosely packed in a pot with drainage holes. Keep the remaining leaves above the moss. Provide warmth, indirect light and humid air; ventilate any cover and keep it off the leaves. Transfer to a small pot of airy mix once rooted.

Problems to watch for with Hoya kaikoeana

• Leaves lose firmness in a dry pot: Check whether the mix around the roots is dry. If the root ball is dry, water thoroughly and drain. If the leaves still wilt after watering, inspect the roots. Avoid repeated watering while the roots are still wet.
• Soft or yellowing foliage with persistently wet mix: 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.
• White cottony insects in the 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 kaikoeana 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.

How did Hoya get its name?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy.

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