Common Name: Tiny Leaf Porcelain Flower, Fung Wax Flower
Botanical Name: Hoya curtisii
Once you meet the Hoya curtisii, you won't be able to get this vining beauty out of your thoughts. Delicate spade-shaped leaves come to a point and dangle from thick stems. The green leaves are dappled with silver specs for a unique look. This Tiny leaf Wax Plant is low-maintenance and does well with a lot of bright indirect light! Learn more about how to care for Hoya curtisii!
Light
Hoya curtisii wants heaps of bright, indirect sunlight and will be right at home if they receive at least 6+ hours each day. Wax plants can tolerate medium light, but they'll become weak and leggy and produce fewer leaves in lower light. The more natural dappled light they absorb, the greater the odds they will shower you with flowers during the summer, grow faster, stronger and become fuller! Artificial light can be a game changer if you have limited light in your home, but the light should shine for at least 8 hours a day! Learn about indoor lighting for houseplants!
Water
Let your Tiny Leaf Porcelain Flower dry out between watering. Soak the soil thoroughly until the water drains out of the drainage holes. You'll need to water more when they're receiving more light, so adjust accordingly. Smaller plants in smaller pots may need to be watered more frequently due to its diminutive size but be sure to avoid over-watering. When the colder months arrive, cut back on watering; in wintertime, only water when their soil is completely dry.
Soil
Almost all types of hoyas need soil with excellent drainage. Hoyas should never be planted in dense soil mixtures with moisture-retaining crystals. You can use a universal potting soil for hoyas, but reduce the watering frequency when using this type of soil as it will retain water longer causing potential damage to the roots! Nutrient-rich, loose soils are perfect mixtures for wax vines! If your soil is not draining well, or you are transplanting your Wax Vine, mix ½ cactus soil with ½ potting soil to increase drainage of the soil.
Temperature
Hoya cutisii loves warm and humid environments - 65-85℉ - and should be kept away from drafty windows and doorways during the colder months. They can withstand temperatures as low as 50°F, but they will cease to grow and develop leaf damage if exposed for long periods.
Humidity
Although Wax Flowers can handle most household humidity levels, they will grow more rapidly when the humidity is higher than 60%. Do what you can to increase the humidity for these tropical, hanging, indoor plants. Try adding pebble trays filled with water under your indoor plants, group plants together, or use a cool mist humidifier. Remember, high humidity can cause fungus and mold, so be sure to provide air circulation to help reduce potential problems. Learn how to increase the humidity in the air around your indoor plants!
Fertilizer
Provide your Hoya curtisii a fertilizer with a higher percentage of nitrogen to encourage foliar growth once a month during the growing season (spring through early fall). When they're about to bloom (early summer), switch to a fertilizer with higher phosphorus content. Fertilize with a complete liquid fertilizer (diluted to ¼ the recommended strength) or fish emulsion twice a month during the summer. You can also apply a top dressing of worm castings or compost in the spring, as this acts as a slow-release fertilizer. Only fertilize during the growing season (spring through summer).
Growth Rate
This small-leaved, trailing Hoya curtisii grows slowly, but once established, it develops into a lush, full-formed indoor vine when given the proper care and environment! The vines can grow 2+’ or longer!
Pet Friend or Foe
Hoya curtisii is non-toxic to pets. Friend!
Pro Tips
- Tiny Leaf Porcelain Flower tolerates being root bound so don't be so quick to re-pot as it takes a long time for the roots to grow. You may never have to re-pot your hoyas!
- You can train your Hoya curtisii to grow up a pole or some other support as their aerial roots will cling to the surface as the vines grow.
- When you find the right spot for your hoya, and it is living its best life, try not to relocate it.
- New growth on a Hoya curtisii can look like a dried up and dead vine, please do not cut off this new growth! Give it a few weeks, and you will be glad you did not remove it!
- If the soil becomes compacted from infrequent watering, soak the soil in water for ten minutes to open the capillaries. This will loosen up the soil.
- If your plant isn't thriving, try to flush the soil of possible salt and mineral build-up. Place the potted plant under running water for a few minutes as this will help leach out the excess minerals and salts!
- To encourage your Hoya curtisii to flower, provide it with over 8 hours of indirect sunlight daily, give it fertilizer high in phosphorus and increase the humidity.