Hoya Carmelae 6472

🌿 Hoya carmelae is a charming vining species from the Philippines, belonging to the Apocynaceae family. This lesser-known hoya grows naturally in humid tropical forests where it climbs trees using aerial roots. It's considered an intermediate-level plant, requiring some attention to humidity and watering schedules but rewarding growers with unique characteristics. Here's something you might not know: this hoya was named after Carmel, a location significant to the plant's original discoverers, though its exact etymology remains a delightful mystery among collectors.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This hoya displays a climbing or trailing growth pattern that works beautifully in hanging baskets or trained up a small trellis. The leaves are thick and succulent-like, typically oval to lance-shaped with smooth edges. Foliage colour ranges from deep green to slightly greyish-green depending on light exposure. The texture is firm and waxy, which helps the plant retain moisture in its native environment and gives each leaf a subtle sheen.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers emerge in small clusters called umbels, displaying star-shaped blooms in shades of pink, coral, or peachy-orange with darker pink centres. Each flower has a delicate waxy appearance and produces a light, sweet fragrance that's most noticeable in the evening. The blooms are undeniably eye-catching with their perfect geometric form and soft colour palette. Flowering typically occurs once or twice yearly when the plant is mature and conditions are right. To encourage blooming, maintain consistent care throughout the year, avoid moving the plant once flower buds appear, and provide adequate bright indirect light with slightly cooler night temperatures during fall months.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light works best, with some morning sun tolerated. Needs around 6-8 hours of quality light daily to thrive and eventually bloom.
💧 Water: Allow the top half of soil to dry between waterings. Water thoroughly when needed, roughly once weekly in summer and every 10-14 days in winter. Bottom watering or soaking method helps ensure even moisture distribution.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 60-80% humidity range for optimal growth, though it can adapt to average home conditions around 50% with some leaf pebbling.
🪴 Soil: Needs a chunky, well-draining mix with orchid bark, perlite, and peat or coco coir to prevent root rot.
🏺 Potting: Choose a small to medium pot with drainage holes, preferably terracotta or plastic. Prefers being slightly rootbound, so repot only every 2-3 years when roots completely fill the container.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate growth speed, adding several inches of vine length in 6 months under good conditions. Over a year, expect 12-18 inches of new growth. Can eventually reach 3-6 feet in length as a mature plant.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with diluted balanced liquid fertilizer. Reduce to every 6-8 weeks in fall and winter. Use a formulation suited for flowering houseplants.
🐾 Pet friendly: Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though ingestion may cause mild stomach upset. The milky sap can occasionally cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
WHERE TO PUT IT
This hoya thrives in bright rooms like a south or east-facing window with sheer curtains, making it ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices where you can admire the trailing vines. It does wonderfully in hanging planters near windows or on high shelves where the vines can cascade down. Bathrooms with good natural light also work well due to higher humidity levels. Avoid placing it in dark corners, north-facing windows with limited light, or directly beside heating vents and air conditioners that create temperature fluctuations and dry air.