Hoya verticillata 'Thai Nguyen Silver' 6473

🌿 The Hoya verticillata 'Thai Nguyen Silver' is a stunning cultivar of the species native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Vietnam. This tropical epiphyte belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is cherished for its gorgeous silvery foliage that catches light beautifully. It's an intermediate-level plant, meaning it needs a bit more attention than your basic pothos but rewards you with incredible growth and blooms when conditions are right. Fun fact: the 'Thai Nguyen' designation refers to a province in northern Vietnam where particularly striking specimens of this plant were first collected by enthusiasts.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This hoya is a vining plant that can climb or trail depending on how you train it. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped with a slightly waxy texture, displaying a remarkable silvery-green colour that almost looks frosted or dusted with metallic powder. Each leaf has subtle venation that becomes more pronounced as the plant matures. The foliage is semi-succulent, storing some moisture, and the vines can become quite woody over time as the plant establishes itself.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers emerge in rounded clusters called umbels, typically appearing on peduncles that you should never cut off since they bloom repeatedly from the same spot. Each small star-shaped flower is creamy white to pale pink with a darker pink or red centre, creating a lovely contrast. They produce a light, sweet fragrance that becomes more noticeable in the evening. The blooms have a waxy, almost artificial appearance that makes them look unreal up close. This variety flowers more readily than some hoyas, typically blooming once or twice a year when mature and happy. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, slight root restriction, and reduce watering slightly during cooler months to simulate a natural dry season.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light is ideal, with some morning sun acceptable. Avoid harsh afternoon sun which can bleach the silver tones. Aim for 6-8 hours of bright filtered light daily for best growth and flowering.
💧 Water: Allow the top half of soil to dry between waterings. Water thoroughly in spring and summer, perhaps weekly. Reduce frequency in fall and winter to every 10-14 days. Bottom watering works well to avoid getting water trapped in leaf axils.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 50-70% humidity but adapts to average home conditions around 40%. Higher humidity encourages faster growth and helps prevent crispy leaf edges.
🪴 Soil: Use a chunky, well-draining mix. Combine orchid bark, perlite, and potting soil in equal parts, or add coco coir and charcoal for extra drainage.
🏺 Potting: Choose a pot with drainage holes, slightly snug rather than oversized. Terracotta or plastic both work. Repot every 2-3 years or when roots are visibly crowded, as hoyas flower better when slightly rootbound.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate growth, adding 15-30 cm of vine length in six months under good conditions. Over a year, expect 30-60 cm of growth. Mature vines can reach several metres if allowed to climb.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed every 3-4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce or stop fertilizing in fall and winter when growth slows.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Hoyas contain compounds that can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats or dogs. The milky sap may also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
WHERE TO PUT IT
This hoya thrives in bright rooms like living rooms or sunrooms with east or west-facing windows. It looks gorgeous trailing from a hanging basket or climbing a small trellis on a shelf. Bedrooms with good natural light work well too, and the evening fragrance during bloom time is a nice bonus. Bathrooms with windows can provide the extra humidity this plant appreciates. Avoid placing it in dim corners, north-facing rooms with low light, or directly in front of heating or cooling vents which can stress the plant and cause leaf drop.
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