Native to the cloudy forests of Nepal and China in the Himalayas where it can be found trailing from the branches of trees; as a houseplant, Hoya linearis brings dynamic tropical vibes whether flowing from a hanging pot or cascading off a shelf. An unusual semi-succulent with fine silky hairs on its many linear leaves, you wouldn’t think it, but Emily is related to Val, our super cute Hoya hearts.
With a few of her basic needs met, Emily is quite easy to care for. She likes a regular drink but hates a soggy bottom so be sure never to leave her sitting in a pool of water. Her free-draining potting mix is the key. Too much water can lead to root rot and you’ll notice her long tendril-like foliage going soft, brown and limp. While she can tolerate drying out a little; left to dry out completely and you might notice her leaves going brown, dry and crispy. Humidity is as or more important than watering for this special plant.
Your Hoya will enjoy a diluted monthly feed throughout spring and summer but you can stop this completely when you reduce your watering over winter. Keep temperatures even and wherever your plant is positioned, make sure temperatures don’t drop below ten degrees in winter. Hang your plant out of the way of hot and cold draughts, whether from windows, aircon or heating.
With the right care your Hoya linearis might get small, waxy, cream coloured flowers that have a strong honey fragrance. To encourage flowering, position your plant in a spot that gets plenty of bright indirect sunlight, even if this is for a good few hours in the morning or late afternoon.
By far the best feature of Hoya linearis is that it hates being repotted and can live happily in the same compost for years so in this respect, neglect is best – win!
Did you know?
The fine hairs on the leaves of Hoya linearis are called trichomes. They prevent the plant from losing too much water so that it can survive in the drier conditions and high altitudes of the Himalayas – clever!
Humidity
Medium light
Regular watering
