Care guide
Hoya
Wax Plant
Hoya carnosa and similar thick-leaved Hoya spp.
Thick waxy leaves on slowly twining stems — plants people keep for decades, with scented porcelain-star flowers as the long-term reward. This guide covers Hoya carnosa cultivars and similar thick-leaved hoyas; finer-leaved species can need more regular moisture.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- A dropped leaf or a little droop in the first week is just travel shock — give it a calm, bright spot and time.
- Don’t repot for at least 4 weeks. It ships happy in its nursery pot — just sit that inside your decorative cover.
- Check the plant-specific watering guidance below before giving it a drink — different plants prefer very different levels of dryness.
Light
Bright, indirect light with a little gentle morning sun encourages compact growth and eventual flowering. Variegated Hoya carnosa cultivars need the brightest positions to keep their cream, yellow or pink colouring; deep shade produces greener growth and fewer blooms.
Watering
Thick-leaved hoyas store water, so let the compost dry well down before watering thoroughly. Check roughly fortnightly rather than following a fixed schedule. Finer-leaved Hoya species are less drought-tolerant and should be checked more often.
Humidity & temperature
Ordinary room humidity suits Hoya carnosa and similar thick-leaved types, although higher humidity is a bonus. Keep them above 16°C and settled once they have found a good flowering position.
Feeding
Half-strength balanced feed monthly through spring and summer.
Repotting & size
Keep thick-leaved hoyas fairly snug and repot only when roots fill the nursery pot, using a very free-draining mix with added bark. Never cut off the leafless flower spurs: blooms can return from the same spurs year after year.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
No flowers
Cause
Youth, low light, or over-generous repotting.
Fix
Patience plus bright light plus snug roots — hoyas often take a few years to first bloom, then repeat reliably.
Wrinkled leaves
Cause
Thirst — the stored water is used up.
Fix
Water thoroughly; leaves plump back up in days.
Yellowing, dropping leaves
Cause
Overwatering.
Fix
Dry it out properly between drinks — think fortnightly, not weekly.
Variegation fading
Cause
Not enough light for variegated types.
Fix
A brighter position with some gentle sun restores the colour on new growth.
Sticky droplets on leaves
Cause
Either natural nectar from flowering — or aphids.
Fix
Check for insects; if none, it’s just the plant being generous. If aphids, wash off and treat with soap spray.
Bare lower stems
Cause
Natural with age.
Fix
Loop long stems back over the pot — they leaf up where light hits them.
Meet the plant
About Hoya
Common names include: wax plant, wax flower, porcelain flower, wax vine.
- Hoya flowers look almost artificial — geometric clusters of porcelain stars, most sweetly scented in the evening.
- Hoyas are often long-lived and can stay with you for many years — a genuine heirloom houseplant.
- Hoyas flower from persistent little spurs, so never tidy them off. The common wax plant, Hoya carnosa, is generally listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
