Hoya Krohniana Eskimo - Plant Care

Hoya are well known for being very resilient houseplants. They tolerate a good amount of healthy neglect and only need watering every 2-3 weeks. As long as they are positioned with enough light, they will grow beautiful trailing vines that will flower, the cutest flowers, every year. The flowers smell divine and the best thing is that it is safe if you have curious pets!

There are 5 things that we believe are important for optimum plant health. Here we look at each in detail for this stunning plant.

Light: Hoya will thrive in a bright window where they get a couple of hours of afternoon sun. Too much strong direct sun can scorch the leaves, so if you have a South facing window, which gets sun all day, place your Hoya a metre or so back from the glass. Sufficient light is important for healthy foliar growth and flower production.

Water: Allow your plant to dry out almost completely between watering. It can be tricky to remove a hanging plant from its pot, so we recommend watering in situe. Water from the top, allow enough soil to reach the roots and in a couple of hours check that there is no water left at the bottom of the decorative pot. If there is, use a cloth to mop up any excess to ensure the roots are not sat in water. A wooden skewer can be pushed into the soil and removed to check if the plant requires water; if the stick has soil stuck to it then leave it to dry out a little more.

Soil: Hoyas grow as epiphytes in nature, which means that they grow from the branches of trees. Therefore, they require a well draining soil. Our chunky houseplant soil is perfect. It contains bark, coir, and perlite to create drainage, with the addition of worm castings for nutrition and activated charcoal to help keep bad bacteria at bay.

Temperature: General household temperature here in the UK is ideal. Somewhere between 15 - 30 degrees is the sweet spot. Keep an eye on your plant over the cooler months, it won't love its environment dropping below about 10 degrees for long periods.

Nutrients: Feeding your houseplants isn't a must, but it can help with leaf and flower production as well as supporting healthy cellular growth. Using a fertiliser once a month in spring and summer is great - we love Liquid Gold Leaf.

Getting these things in balance will keep your plant thriving for years to come.

A few last notes; Hoya are safe if ingested by any pets. They take cutting back very well, if they get too long for your space. Propagate any cuttings in water and transfer to soil when the roots have roots. Be careful not to cut where any flowers have bloomed as they flower in the same place each year. Aim to pot on your plant every 2-3 years or so.