Hoya Krohniana, also known as Heart-Leaf Lacunosa, is a stunning house plant with waxy heart-shaped leaves. It is a beautiful addition to any corner of your house and even performs well in hanging baskets. This plant comes in different varieties, including the Eskimo, the Silver, and the Black Leaves types, all with slightly different looks. To learn more about this rare and valuable plant, you’ve landed in the right place! This essential guide contains all the information you need to know for growing Hoya Krohniana and maintaining it healthy and lush.
| Botanical Name | Hoya Krohniana, Heart-Leaf Lacunosa |
| Common Name | Hoya Krohniana |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Flower Color | Less than half an inch wide, flowers are hairy and pale yellow |
| Size When Mature | About 10 inches long |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 10-12 |
| Soil PH Range | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Soil Type | Loose and well-draining |
| Water Needs | Medium (only water when dry) |
| Native Area | Philippines |
What you Need to Know About Hoya Krohniana
Hoya Krohniana is a plant native to the Philippines with succulent-like leaves in a heart shape. It tolerates low humidity and dry periods, and it is a close cousin of another similar plant, Hoya Lacunosa, but the latter has oval-shaped leaves.
Hoya Krohniana’s foliage is dark green and spotted with pale green or grayish specks. This ornamental perennial also produces flowers about half an inch wide with hairy petals and in shades of pale yellow. Their light fragrance is sweet but not overwhelming, perfect for spicing up a bright corner of your house.
But don’t be disappointed if you don’t see blooms straight away: Hoya Krohniana takes about two years before being able to produce flowers. These plants are relatively slow to grow and might not be the best choice for beginners. With that said, having thriving Hoyas in your home is far from impossible!
If you have pets at home, mind you: while the plant is not highly toxic, their leaves can cause stomach discomfort and vomiting in cats and dogs. Ensure you keep an eye on them and avoid letting them munch on this plant.
How to Care for a Hoya Krohniana
While Hoya Krohniana isn’t the easiest plant to grow, it isn’t as challenging as you may think. To make things easier for you, we put together this essential guide. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Hoya Krohniana.
Light
This plant needs plenty of sunlight to thrive. Place it near an east or south-facing window for best results. Indirect light will provide your hoya plant with everything it needs without causing your leaves to burn. If planting your Hoya Krohniana outside, place it somewhere it won’t receive more than 2 hours of direct sunlight.
In general, you should provide your Hoya plants with about five to six hours of indirect light. Consider getting some growing lights if you can’t ensure that naturally. Indeed, with inadequate lighting, your plant will stop producing flowers.
Water and Soil Needs
This plant’s thick leaves can tolerate dryness. However, avoid leaving it dry for too long. Roots shouldn’t be swimming in water. However, for your plant to thrive, you should regularly water it. Add water when the soil feels dry, and do so until you notice the liquid coming out from the drainage holes of your pot. If leaves look drooping, consider watering your plant less often. Increase watering frequency during the summer months.
Hoya Krohnina thrives in loose and well-draining soil. Such characteristics help you minimize the risk of overwatering and allow for good air circulation to the roots. Before planting your hoya, ensure the pH level is between 6.0 and 7.0. You can use a combination of peat moss and perlite for the best results. An orchid mix also works wonders with this plant.
Temperature Requirements
Hoya Krohniana is native to the Philippines. For this reason, it prefers tropical, hot weather and is not suited to cold winters. If you decide to plant it outdoors, only do so if you live in USDA hardiness zones between 10 and 12. Indeed, your Hoyas won’t survive if the temperatures go below 50°F.
If you don’t live in such warm climates, consider growing these plants indoors. Hoya Krohniana does best when temperatures are between 60 and 80°F. Don’t forget to keep your plants away from windows during the winter to prevent exposing them to temperatures they won’t handle.
Also, because of its native environment, Hoya Krohniana likes humidity. To avoid dry and crispy leaves, keep humidity levels around 50%. Consider getting a humidifier for your interiors or add a pebble tray to increase water retention around your plant. Alternatively, you can commit to frequent misting. Don’t skip this step if you live in a warm region and plant your hoyas outdoors.
Fertilizer
Hoya Krohniana doesn’t need much fertilizer. However, if you would like to speed up its growing process, you can use a diluted all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the spring. Stop feeding your plant during the winter. Switch to an orchid bloom product to boost flower production in the summer.
Common Diseases
This plant is susceptible to attacks from mealybugs and aphids. Keep an eye on its leaves and take appropriate action when you see something off with your plants. The earlier you take measures to limit the spread of the diseases, the better. You can spray your plants with insecticides or soap to prevent any attacks.
Hoya Krohniana Propagation
You can propagate Hoya Krohniana from cuttings. Take a new herbaceous stem (or a few of them to increase your chances of success). Select one with at least three leaf nodes. Don’t forget to remove the leaves from the lower node and place it in a well-draining potting mix. Consider dipping your cuttings in rooting hormone for quicker results. Keep the soil moist but not soggy: these plants need plenty of water to develop roots. After two to four weeks, your plants might be ready to move to a different location.
If you prefer doing it through water rooting, take a glass jar and fill it with water. Add one drop of booster concentrate to enhance the growth. Also, don’t forget to change the liquid regularly for best results: you’ll see rooting sprouting within two weeks.
How to Prune Hoya Krohniana
Hoya Krohniana needs regular pruning to grow into a healthy plant with an attractive shape. The plant is a natural climber which you can train up any structure. You’ll need to be patient before seeing the lush grow you expect, but pruning will help you keep the plant neat. Plus, it will ensure adequate airflow and minimize the risk of diseases and fungal infections.
Do not prune the peduncles after blooms fall: these plants grow flowers from the same buds. Instead, eliminate unhealthy and old branches to give space to new growth.
Hoya Krohniana Care: Conclusion
Hoya Krohniana are beautiful vines which are easy to care for as long as their basic requirements are met.
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