Hoya bella is a native plant of China, Indonesia, India, and Australia. If you are looking for an unusual blooming houseplant this may be the plant. There are over 40 Hoya varieties, often referred to as a wax plant.
Hoya bella is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 11 or higher. The red-purple centered flowers capped with tiny white five=pointed stars last a long time and emit a sweet fragrance. The blue-green leaves are thick and waxy feeling. This vining plant can grow up to inches. If you have children or pets, do not place this plant where they can reach it. All parts of the Hoya bella are poisonous. When handling this plant, you may want to wear gloves to protect your hands, because some people experience a skin irritation or allergic reaction.
Prepare the Container
Find a container that is two sizes bigger than its original pot. If you bought it in a 4-inch diameter pot, change it to a 6-inch diameter pot. The pot must have drainage holes at the bottom to allow the excess water to drain away.
Cover the drainage holes with small rocks, packing peanuts or you can use a coffee filter. This helps keep the soil in the pot each time you water.
Fill the bottom of your pot with well-draining potting soil. Hoya bella isn’t too fussy about the soil it is growing in as long as it drains well. If you want your plant to grow upward, insert a trellis or climbing stakes in the back of the pot. If you are growing your Hoya bella in a hanging basket, you won’t need a trellis, because they look beautiful cascading over the sides of the pot.
Remove the Hoya bella from its container. Be careful when doing this so you don’t break the soil around the rootball. Center the rootball in the pot or hanging basket. Check to make sure that the top of the rootball is a 1/2 inch below the pot’s rim. If it is too low or too high, adjust the soil level beneath the plant. When you have it the right depth, fill in around the rootball with the potting soil. Tap or bang the pot on top of the worktable to settle the soil. If you are using a clay pot, don’t bang it too hard or the pot may break. Gently firm the soil down with your fingers to help remove air pockets.
Watering
Thoroughly water your Hoya plant with tepid water. If you use water that is too cold or hot, it will bring stress to your plant. You can also water the plant by filling a bucket with water and then insert the pot inside. The water level has to be slightly below the rim of the pot, or your potting soil will float away. Let the pot soak until the soil is visibly moist on top.
Remove the pot and place it on a drainage rack so the excess water drains away. Because the Hoya bella is a succulent, the soil needs to dry out between each watering. To test the soil for moisture, iinsert your finger into the soil to the second knuckle. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water, but if you feel moisture, omit watering. Cut back a little more on watering during the winter months when the plants enters dormancy.
If you take your plant outdoors during the summer months, place the pot in an area that will provide protection from the wind and hot afternoon sun. During the summer months, the Hoya bella grows best with daytime temperatures around 70° Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures of 60° Fahrenheit. When the temperatures begin to cool, take your plant indoors. Place your Hoya bella in a bright sunny window, such as a south or west-facing window. In the house during the colder seasons, they are happiest growing a cooler room that stays around 60° Fahrenheit.
Humidity
The Hoya bella needs humidity to grow best. Set up a humidifier in the same room as the Hoya bella. If you don’t have a humidifier, fill a drainage dish with small rocks or pea-sized gravel. Pour water in so that it is just below the top surface of the rocks. Place the pot on top of the rocks. Make sure that the pot is not sitting in the water, because the roots may rot.
Fertilizing
Feed the Hoya bella twice a year with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Give them their first feeding in April and the second one in July.
Tip
When your plant blooms and the flowers fade, do not deadhead them Leave the flowers stems on tha plant, because they help the plant to store energy for next years blooming season.
