Hoya Soil Mix and Plant Care Guide

Hoya is a tropical plant commonly known as a wax plant or honey plant. 

Loved for their fragrant flowers and stunning foliage, hoyas come in various species, like:

• Hoya carnosa (most common wax plant variety)
• Hoya obovata
• Hoya kerrii (sweetheart hoya)
• Hoya Acuta Variegata (variegated hoya)
• Hoya linearis
• Hoya pubicalyx 

The species requires minimal care and thrives in indirect light, making it a hot favorite among indoor gardeners.

But what’s the right soil for hoya? 

When should I water it? 

How do I propagate my hoya plant?

You have the questions. We have the answers. 

1. Choose the Best Soil for Hoya

In nature, most hoyas grow on trees like epiphytes (think: orchid). 

Indoors, this tropical plant can survive in soil with:

• Good aeration: A hoya plant’s root system requires proper access to oxygen. Aeration also prevents soil compaction (a common problem in DIY mixes with sphagnum moss).
  
• Optimal drainage: Hoya plants need slightly moist soil that’s also well-draining to avoid root rot. Ingredients like compost, biochar, horticultural charcoal, pine bark, or orchid bark can help here.
• Ample nutrients: Like any other houseplant soil, your hoya mix should contain essential nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, to support plant growth. 

So can I use a cactus mix?

You could use succulent soil, orchid mix, or African violet potting soil as a hoya soil mix. 

But we recommend using soil specifically crafted for hoyas — like Rosy’s hoya soil.   

2. Hoya Plant Care Tips

Do you ask yourself: “How can I help my hoya flourish?”

Then apart from choosing the best soil, follow these essential plant care tips:

• Provide bright indirect sunlight: Like philodendrons and monsteras, hoya plants need ample indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn your wax leaf plant.
  
• Adjust your watering schedule: Water your hoya mix only when the top layer dries, but reduce the watering frequency in winter. You can also use a humidifier to maintain optimal humidity, but ensure this doesn’t lead to overwatering — which causes root rot.
• Add fertilizer: During its growing season (spring and summer), fertilize your waxy leaf plant once a month. Use worm castings, compost, or fertilizers rich in phosphorus to encourage blooms.
• Use an appropriate pot: Terracotta containers are better for hoyas since they are very porous. Regardless, the container should be up to 2 inches larger than the root ball and have a drainage hole.
• Provide support: Use hanging baskets or a trellis for vining foliage or epiphytic (orchid) hoya varieties.
• Repot your hoya plant once every few years: Use fresh soil but don’t change the container size (since hoyas like to be root bound). Also, avoid disturbing the roots when repotting.
• Use a cutting to propagate hoya: Place a stem cutting with a leaf or two to root in water or soil during its growing season. If you use water, move the cutting to a potting medium when the roots grow 2 inches or more.