Hoya verticillata 'Thai Nguyen' Variegated

🌿 Hoya verticillata 'Thai Nguyen' Variegated is a stunning member of the Apocynaceae family, originating from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia where it grows as an epiphyte on trees in humid forests. This climbing hoya features striking variegated foliage that makes it a prized addition to any collection. With proper support and care, this intermediate-level plant rewards growers with cascading vines and the possibility of fragrant blooms. Here's a fun fact: the variegation pattern on each leaf is completely unique, meaning no two plants will ever look exactly the same.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This vigorous climbing hoya produces thick, succulent-like leaves along vining stems that can trail or climb depending on how you train them. The oval to lance-shaped leaves display dramatic cream, white, and yellow variegation splashed across deep green bases, with some leaves showing almost entirely cream sections. The waxy texture gives each leaf a glossy finish that catches light beautifully, while the stems remain sturdy enough to support the weight of mature foliage as they grow.
FLOWER DETAILS
When mature and given adequate light, Hoya verticillata 'Thai Nguyen' produces clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that emerge in rounded umbels. The blooms display creamy white to pale pink petals with darker pink or burgundy centers, creating a striking contrast. These flowers emit a sweet, honey-like fragrance that intensifies in the evening hours, making them wonderfully aromatic additions to your space. While flowering can be infrequent in younger plants, mature specimens typically bloom once or twice yearly during warmer months. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, allow the plant to become slightly rootbound, and maintain consistent care without frequent repotting.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6-8 hours daily. Variegated portions need more light to maintain colouration. Avoid direct afternoon sun which can scorch leaves.
💧 Water: Allow soil to dry halfway down between waterings in spring and summer. Reduce frequency in fall and winter. Water thoroughly at the base, ensuring excess drains completely.
🌡️ Humidity: Thrives in 50-70% humidity but adapts to average home levels around 40-50%.
🪴 Soil: Well-draining chunky mix with perlite, orchid bark, and coco coir. Avoid heavy, moisture-retaining soils.
🏺 Potting: Terracotta or plastic pots with drainage holes, sized just slightly larger than root ball. Prefers being slightly rootbound. Repot every 2-3 years only when roots emerge from drainage holes.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate grower, producing 15-30 cm of new growth over 6 months under ideal conditions. After one year, expect 30-60 cm of vine length. Mature vines can reach 1.5-3 metres when trained on a trellis.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly from spring through summer with diluted balanced fertilizer or specialized hoya formula. Skip fertilizing in fall and winter months.
🐾 Pet friendly: Yes, hoyas are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them safe choices for homes with pets.
WHERE TO PUT IT
Place this hoya near east or west-facing windows where it receives bright, filtered morning or evening light, or a few feet back from south-facing windows with sheer curtains. It works beautifully in living rooms, home offices, or bedrooms on shelves where vines can trail down, or trained up a small trellis or moss pole for vertical interest. Bathrooms with windows provide excellent humidity. Avoid placing it in dark corners, near heating vents, or in rooms with no natural light, as insufficient light will cause the variegation to fade and the plant to decline.