Hoya UT073

The Hoya UT073 is a tropical foliage plant from the Apocynaceae family, native to Southeast Asian rainforests where it grows as an epiphyte on tree bark. This species falls under the Hoya genus, known for waxy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers. It's suitable for intermediate plant keepers who enjoy watching slow, rewarding growth. Here's something interesting: like many hoyas, this one can live for decades and becomes more floriferous with age, meaning older plants produce blooms more reliably than young cuttings.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This hoya grows as a vining plant that naturally trails or climbs when given support. The leaves are thick and succulent-like, oval to lance-shaped, with a waxy coating that gives them a glossy appearance. Leaf colour ranges from deep green to olive-green depending on light exposure. The texture is smooth and firm to the touch, with leaves spaced along thin, wiry stems that can extend several feet over time.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers emerge in rounded clusters called umbels, typically appearing at the same nodes year after year. Each bloom is star-shaped with five waxy petals, usually white or cream with a pink or red centre. Many hoyas in this category have a light, sweet fragrance that intensifies at night to attract pollinators. The blooms have a porcelain-like quality that looks almost artificial. Flowering happens once or twice a year, usually in warmer months. To encourage blooms, provide bright indirect light, avoid moving the plant during bud formation, and let it become slightly root-bound in its pot.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6-8 hours daily. Can tolerate some morning sun but avoid harsh afternoon rays
💧 Water: Allow soil to dry out almost completely between waterings. Water every 10-14 days in spring and summer, every 3-4 weeks in winter. Bottom watering works well to avoid stem rot
🌡️ Humidity: Adaptable to average home humidity of 40-60%, but thrives in 60-70%
🪴 Soil: Well-draining chunky mix with perlite, orchid bark, and peat or coco coir
🏺 Potting: Small to medium plastic or terracotta pot with drainage holes. Prefers being slightly root-bound. Repot every 2-3 years only when roots emerge from drainage holes
🌱 Growth rate: Slow to moderate. Expect 6-12 inches of new growth per year under ideal conditions. Can reach several feet in length at maturity
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Monthly during spring and summer with diluted balanced liquid fertilizer. Skip feeding in fall and winter
🐾 Pet friendly: Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though ingestion may cause mild stomach upset
WHERE TO PUT IT
This hoya works well in bright living rooms, home offices, or bedrooms near east or west-facing windows. It's excellent for hanging baskets or placed on shelves where vines can cascade down. You can also train it to climb a small trellis or moss pole. Avoid placing it in low-light areas like interior bathrooms without windows, or in spots with direct hot sun from south-facing windows during summer, as this can scorch the leaves.