Hoya Kerrii, also known as the Hoya Heart Plant, is from Southeast Asia. It is a tropical/subtropical plant that likes to vine up trees in the forest. You can find this plant being sold in stores on Valentine’s Day worldwide. It is easy to care for, slow-growing, beautiful, and a symbol of enduring love and devotion.

Plant Snapshot Facts

Planting / Soil

Soil – Hoya grows best in well-draining sandy loam. Look for cactus or succulent soil mixes, as these are the perfect mixof loose, aerated soil that Hoya needs to avoid root rot.

Planting – Once your Hoya has gotten used to your home environment (which takes 3 to 6 weeks), you can replant it. When replanting, make sure to go up only one size from the container you got it in. Hoya plants love being root-bound, so going up sizes too fast can kill it. Before replanting, always make sure it is a little root-bound. If you have a long root coming out of the bottom of the pot, you can also replant it.

Spacing – Plant Hoya plants alone. They like to be root-bound and dry, which is not ideal conditions for other plants.

Care

Sun – Bright, indirect sunlight is best, as sunlight can scorch their leaves. Morning sun or filtered sun works well.

Water – Water deeply when the top two inches of soil are dry, or every 2–3 weeks. Place Hoya in the sink and water until all of the soil is soaked. Let the excess drain off before putting it back in the pot to make sure the water doesn’t pool and cause root rot.

Fertilizer – There are mixed opinions when it comes to fertilizing Hoya plants. Some suggest fertilizing monthly in the spring and summer with a balanced 3-1-2 diluted fertilizer. Others suggest once a year in the spring, and some say only when changing the plant’s pot. Honestly, it comes down to how often you water your plant and whether you soak it every time or give it just a light drizzle every couple of weeks. If you soak it once a month, it’s best to fertilize when you water it, as all of that water will wash out nutrients in the soil. For those who drizzle, fertilize maybe once or twice a year — once in spring and once in summer.

Pruning – Try to prune off dead leaves in the spring when the plant is most active. If a leaf gets unsightly and needs to be cut off in other seasons, like winter, that’s okay too. Cut it off to save the plant; it won’t hurt it because it’s indoors. If your plant gets leggy, you can also prune a cutting and plant it to grow a new Hoya. Make sure to only take cuttings in the spring, even if your plant is indoors.

Harvest and Propagation

Cuttings – When harvesting a Hoya because it is leggy or you want to propagate it, make sure to follow these steps. In the spring, cut 4–6 in (10–15 cm), making sure to include leaves and at least one node. Cuttings can be rooted in water or moist potting soil. Don’t use cactus soil for root cuttings, as it is too dry. Use a well-draining potting mix. It takes 4–8 weeks for roots to form.

Seeds – Yes, Hoya Kerrii produces seeds through flowering. It is extremely rare, and they are hard to grow from seeds. If someone is selling Hoya seeds, be very careful, as they could be fake.

Transplanting / Repotting – Once your Hoya is established, it will only need to be transplanted or repotted every 2–3 years. Watch for signs that it is root-bound and replant in the spring. Make sure the pot is only one size up, and repot in the spring.