Hoya griffithii 'Silver Ghost' Form 2 6483

🌿 Hoya griffithii 'Silver Ghost' is a spectacular vining tropical plant from the Apocynaceae family, native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia where it naturally climbs trees as an epiphyte. This particular form showcases the most dramatic silvery-grey foliage that almost glows in certain lighting, making it stand out from other Hoyas in any collection. It's best suited for intermediate growers who have some experience with epiphytic plants and understand their unique watering needs. Here's something fascinating: the leaves can shift in colour intensity depending on light exposure, becoming more silvery in brighter conditions while maintaining their ghostly appearance in lower light.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This Hoya grows as a trailing or climbing vine that can easily be trained up a trellis or moss pole, though it looks equally stunning cascading from a hanging basket. The leaves are elongated and lance-shaped, ranging from 8 to 12 centimetres in length, with a smooth, almost waxy surface that reflects light beautifully. The silvery-grey colouration covers most of the leaf surface, with subtle green undertones visible along the veins. The texture is semi-succulent and firm to the touch, which helps the plant store water during dry periods.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers emerge in rounded clusters called umbels, each containing 10 to 20 individual star-shaped blooms. They're typically creamy white to pale yellow with maroon or burgundy centres that create a striking contrast. The fragrance is sweet and honeyed, becoming more pronounced in the evening hours, and the waxy petals give the flowers an almost artificial, porcelain-like quality. This Hoya blooms from spring through summer when conditions are right, and flowers can last several weeks on the plant. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, allow the plant to become slightly rootbound, and maintain consistent care without moving it frequently once buds start forming.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light is ideal, though it tolerates some morning sun. Aim for 6 to 8 hours of filtered light daily. Too much direct sun can scorch the silvery leaves.
💧 Water: Water thoroughly when the top half of soil feels dry, roughly every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 14 to 21 days in winter. Let excess water drain completely. Bottom watering works well to avoid wetting the leaves.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 50 to 70 percent humidity but adapts to average home conditions around 40 percent.
🪴 Soil: Needs a well-draining, chunky mix. Combine orchid bark, perlite, and peat or coco coir in equal parts.
🏺 Potting: Use a pot with drainage holes, slightly snug rather than oversized. Terracotta or plastic both work. Repot every 2 to 3 years or when roots fill the container.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to slow. Expect 15 to 30 centimetres of new growth in the first year. Mature vines can reach 1.5 to 2.5 metres in length over several years.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Skip fertilizing in fall and winter.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Hoya griffithii contains compounds that can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats or dogs, including vomiting and drooling.
WHERE TO PUT IT
This Hoya thrives in bright rooms with plenty of natural light, making it perfect for east or west-facing windows, sunrooms, or bright bathrooms where humidity is naturally higher. It works beautifully in living rooms on plant stands, in hanging planters near windows, or trained up a small trellis on a shelf. The silvery foliage adds a cooling, modern touch to minimalist spaces. Avoid placing it in low-light corners, near heating vents, or in rooms with poor air circulation, as these conditions can lead to pest problems and slow growth.
RARITY ASSESSMENT
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