How to Care for a Hoya Heart Plant and Get It to Bloom

With its succulent heart-shaped leaf, the hoya heart plant (Hoya kerrii) makes a wonderful gift for for beginners or people who travel frequently. Pet lovers can also feel confident about hoya heart plants, as they are not toxic to dogs or cats.

If you’ve received one of these adorable plants, you may be wondering how to care for a hoya heart plant. Fortunately, these plants are as easy to care for as they are to love.  To learn more about these little cuties, we spoke to plant expert extraordinaire Ryan McEnaney.

Types of Hoya Kerrii

There are several types of the Hoya kerrii plant. They come in several varieties, but they generally need the same care. When sold as a single heart-shaped leaf, the hoya plant often stays that way. But if it includes a stem node, it can develop into a vining plant with a string of heart-shaped leaves. Here are a few common kinds of this extra cute plant, which may come as a single-leaf or vining plant (unless otherwise specified).

Hoya Kerrii “Sweetheart” (Single-Leaf)

This type of Hoya kerrii is one of the most widely available variations. You can find it in nurseries and both in plant shops and online. It consists of a single heart-shaped leaf attached to a stem—hence the name “sweetheart.”

Hoya Kerrii Albomarginata

This variety of the Hoya kerrii plant features leaves with white or cream-colored edges.

Hoya Kerrii Splash

The Hoya kerrii splash is a version of the plant that boasts leaves with “splashes” or color. They are typically lighter or darker shades of green, which add dimension to the plant.

Hoya Kerrii Variegata

The Hoya kerrii variegata has irregular patches on its leaves. They sometimes look like streaks of lighter areas, giving this plant a more variegated appearance. (The “Reverse Variegata” is similar but has darker areas instead.)

Hoya Kerrii Fishtail

The Hoya kerrii fishtail features a distinctive leaf shape that resembles a fishtail, hence its name. This variety’s leaves are slightly longer than those with heart-shaped leaves, as seen here from Plantvine.

Hoya Kerrii Hindu Rope (Vining)

This cultivar is characterized by its rope-like foliage. It appears to be twisted and tangled with long strands of leaves.

Hoya Heart Plant Care

“Hoya kerrii are epiphytes, meaning in their native habitat, they grow on the surface of another plant. Other epiphytic houseplants you may have are orchids or air plants,” McEnaney explains. “So, when you think about care for hoya, it’ll be similar to orchids because of how they survive in nature.” Hoya heart plants thrive in bright light and require infrequent watering. The most crucial consideration is drainage: grow them in well-draining soil and let them dry out between waterings.

Water

Hoya is a succulent plant that stores water in the fleshy leaf. Avoid watering too often, as plants perform best when the soil is allowed to dry between waterings. As such, hoya hearts only need to be watered once every two weeks or so during warmer months.

“You can pull back your watering to every three to four weeks in cooler months,” advises McEnaney. “Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between watering; if you aren’t sure if the plant needs water, just stick your finger into the soil up to your second knuckle. If it’s dry, give it water, and if it’s moist, leave it as is. Because these plants grow on other plants in nature, they don’t do well sitting in a lot of water.”

Soil

Hoya hearts need a well-draining soil to promote healthy roots. Regular potting mixes can be too heavy for hoya heart plants. A mixture of potting soil with orchid bark and perlite to enhance drainage and increase pores works well.

Light

“Bright, indirect light is ideal for Hoya kerrii,” says McEnaney. “Remember that in their native habitat, they are vines growing on trees in the Southeast Asian forest, so they typically will see filtered, indirect light. You can replicate that at home by placing it near a window with at least a half day of exposure, but not where it’ll have direct sunlight that can burn the leaf. If you see burn developing, move it to a more protected space. If the leaves turn a light green or yellow, they likely need more sun or less water.”

Temperature and Humidity

Hoya plants thrive in the hot, humid conditions of the tropics and do not tolerate cold temperatures. Typical indoor conditions are just right for hoya plants, which perform best between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are growing your hoya on a windowsill, move it away from the window in winter. While typically low indoor humidity levels do not bother hoya, they thrive with a little extra humidity. Place them near your humidifier in winter or in a naturally humid room, such as the bathroom.

Fertilizer

Hoya does not require much fertilizer because they are very slow growing. For a single leaf plant, fertilize just twice a year in spring and summer using a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.

Repotting Your Hoya

“It’s helpful to re-pot your plant every couple of years to avoid soil compaction and allow the roots room to grow. You don’t need to go to a bigger size container like you do with other houseplants, but simply giving it a fresh batch of well-draining soil will help your Hoya kerrii thrive,” says McEnaney. “This loose soil will replicate its native surroundings and allow it the best chance at long-term survival and flowering.”

How to Get a Hoya Heart Plant to Bloom

You might be surprised to learn that hoya heart plants actually grow as long vines in nature, but the ones we see in stores are mostly single-leaf variations. The single leaf will remain a single leaf even after years of growth, which is quite unusual. This is because the plants are rooted as leaf cuttings with no node or growing point to develop the vine. The result is a tiny, easy-to-grow plant perfect for your desk or windowsill.

If you want the plant to vine, however, you need to start with a cutting that includes a stem node. With proper care (like regular but moderate watering and well-draining soil), the cutting will eventually develop into a vining plant. Consider providing a support structure for the vine to climb to help keep it healthy and sturdy. Also avoid moving the plant too often (they’re sensitive!).

To get a hoya heart plant to flower, make sure you put it in the right-sized pot and follow the aforementioned care tips. Be aware that the blooming process can take at least two or three years, so if you don’t notice a bloom right away, it may be normal. 

How to Propagate a Hoya Heart Plant

Want to create more hoya heart plants out of the ones you already have? Fortunately, it’s easy to do. Propagating a hoya heart plant, like many succulents, is almost effortless. Here are some simple steps to follow to grow a new plant from a mature one.

Select a Healthy Parent Plant

First, you need to choose a healthy parent plant—one that is mature with a strong and healthy leaf. Make sure that the plant you choose to propagate doesn’t have any pests. Also, make sure that the cutting includes a stem node, not just a single leaf—unless you only want to have a single-leaf plant.

Cut the Plant

Select a healthy leaf that is attached to a healthy stem. If it’s a vining plant, and you want the new plant to vine, cut the stem with a stem node. If you don’t want the new plant to vine, cut the stem just below where the leaf and stem meet, without the node.

If it’s a single-leaf plant, which can’t vine because it doesn’t have a stem or stem node, you can still propagate it by cutting the leaf. A single-leaf plant can survive and even grow roots without a node but will not grow into a vining plant if that’s what you want.

Pot the New Plant

Once you have your cutting(s), let the ends of the stems dry out before you plant them. This “callusing” prevents rotting, and it should only take a day or two. Transplant them into some soil. Make a hole in the soil with a stick (you can also use a pencil) and gently insert the stem. Pat the soil around the cutting for support.

Take Proper Care

After planting the new Hoya kerrii, keep the soil slightly moist, and follow the same steps above for caring for this plant. Monitor it over the next few weeks to look for signs of growth. Once you see roots starting to develop, you’ll know it’s well on its way.

Common Problems

While hoya heart plants are easy to grow, it is important to keep an eye out for any potential problems. The most common cause of problems is improper watering, but other environmental factors or even pests can cause trouble. Here are some of the most common problems associated with growing heart hoya plants and remedies to take.

Overwatering

If your hoya heart plant is turning yellow, the most likely cause is overwatering. Adjust your watering schedule, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. If this does not improve the problem, the roots may have started to rot, as described below.

Root Rot

Poor soil drainage and/or overwatering can prevent roots from getting enough oxygen and lead to root rot. Damaged roots cannot take up water, causing plants to lose vigor and become discolored. Roots displaying rot will appear brown or black instead of white and fleshy. If your plant has root rot, repot it in fresh soil and trim off visibly rotted roots. Allow soil to dry between waterings.

Shriveled or Wrinkled Leaves

This can be an indication of underwatering. While we want the soil to dry out between waterings, allowing plants to go too long without water can lead to water stress. Wrinkling leaves is a sign that you likely need to water more often. 

Sun Burn

Although hoya heart plants love sun, sometimes too much direct light can cause leaves to burn, displaying dry brown streaks. If you suspect your plant is experiencing sun burn, move it a little further from the window so that it receives less direct sunlight.

Insect Problems

The fleshy leaves of hoya are susceptible to the same insects as other houseplants, including aphids, mealybugs, scales, and spider mites. Inspect the plant for signs of insect damage or the insects themselves. These insects feed by sucking plant juices rather than chewing on leaves. The resulting damage includes wilting, drooping, and yellowing or browning of the leaves. To treat, try washing the hoya leaf with a mild dish soap to remove any visible insects or treat with an insecticidal soap.