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Hoya Australis is a popular and beginner-friendly plant that is also a fast growing climber.
Hoya Australis main care tips.
- Water. Hoya Australis should dry out before getting a thorough watering. If you stick your index finger into the soil and the soil is dry, it’s time to water your plant. If your moisture meter reads closer to the dry side, it’s time to water your plant.
- Light. Place your Hoya Australis in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight. A south, east, or west facing window work well. You can also place this plant under plant grow lights.
- Fertilizer. Fertilize your plant with a natural or synthetic fertilizer. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half. You’ll know if you’re using a synthetic fertilize if the NPK ratio is something like 20-20-20.
- Humidity. Hoya’s love humidity (60%+) but they also thrive in average household humidity (30%).
Now let’s dive a little deeper so you know how to properly take care of your new plant.
Light
Hoya Australis are one of the easiest plants to grow. These plants thrive in bright indirect sunlight but can also grow under plant grow lights.
If you don’t have sufficient sunlight coming into your home, plant grow lights work great for Hoya’s. I have all of my Hoya’s sitting under T5 Barrina plant grow lights. These plant grow lights run on a timer for 13 hours a day and help create beautiful foliage. I find that plant grow lights help with sunstressed Hoya leaves.
This plant can tolerate lower light if necessary but if you want beautiful Hoya foliage, especially sunstressed leaves, you need to give bright light for at least 12 hours a day.
Water
Hoya Australis can go up to two weeks without a watering. You really only need to water this plant once the soil completely dries out. The plant can store a lot of water in its leaves so if you miss a watering, it’s not a huge deal.
I recommend sticking your finger in the plants soil to check if the plants soil is moist or dry. You can also use a moisture meter to check if the plant needs water.
One of the top reasons people kill their plants is because they overwater them. This leads to the soil getting compact and dense and even waterlogged. This means the roots aren’t getting oxygen and this leads to root rot, and then your plant dying.
Soil
Hoya Australis love well-draining soil. You don’t want your Hoya sitting in dense, heavy soil because this can lead to root rot and eventually kill your plant.
Keep things easy by purchasing a bag of Fox Farm Ocean Forest organic mix. I like to do 3 parts of this soil to 1 part perlite just to add more chunkiness to the soil. This potting mix contains a blend of high quality ingredients perfect for any houseplant.
Temperature
Hoya Australis thrive in average household temperatures of 65°F-80°F (18°C-26°C). You can even place this plant outside if you live in hardiness zones of 10-11. Do not place this plant near a drafty area like doors, windows, or vents.
Fertilizer
During active growing months which is typically spring through fall, fertilize your Hoya Australis with a natural or synthetic fertilizer.
If you are using a non-organic, synthetic fertilizer, dilute the recipe in half. This is because the NPK ratios are incredibly high and your plant can suffer from too much fertilizer. If you are using an organic fertilizer, you typically do not have to worry about diluting the recipe because the N-P-K ratio is so low.
For fertilizer, I use both Key Grow Solutions Blue Butterfly and I’ll sometimes switch to Dyna Gro. I do not dilute the recipe since this plant food has low NPK ratios. I pick one of these fertilizers and mix a spoonful into a gallon of water. Then I use this gallon to water all of my houseplants.
Humidity
Hoya Australis can live in average household humidity or a high humidity environment. This is such an easygoing plant and it will grow almost anywhere in the house.
If you want to increase humidity, place your plant near other high humidity plants to create a microclimate. You can also place your plant near a humidifier and use a hygrometer to make sure your plant is receiving at least 50% humidity.
Propagation
Propagating a Hoya Australis is different from other plants. You propagate this plant by a stem cutting that has 1-2 leaves on it. Put this cutting in water and it’ll eventually root. Your can pot your plant once the roots are at least 2 inches long.
Hoya Australis Common Questions
Is Hoya Australis rare?
Hoya Australis are found at local plant stores and even found at big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot.
Is Hoya Australis easy to care for?
Hoya Australis are easy to care for and great plants for beginners.
How do you care for Hoya Australis?
Hoya Australis has basic needs. Place your plant in bright indirect sunlight and water the plant when the soil dries out. My plant sits near an east facing window in average household humidity (30%).
Is Hoya Australis a fast grower?
Hoya Australis is a pretty fast growing as long as the plant receives adequate sunlight, water, and fertilizer.
What time of year do Hoyas flower?
Some Hoya’s bloom year round while others bloom in the spring or summer. Typically a Hoya won’t bloom until it hits about 3-5 years in age.
How do you force a Hoya to bloom?
Increase the chances of your Hoya blooming by fertilizing your plant regularly, placing the plant in bright indirect sunlight, giving adequate humidity, and watering when the soil is dry.
What does Hoya Australis smell like?
Hoya Australis’ blooms have a chocolate and vanilla scent.
Do Hoya plants like to be root bound?
Hoya’s can be a bit root bound and don’t need to be immediately repot. Some people even say they believe Hoya’s being root bound leads to increased chances of your plant blooming.
How big does Hoya Australis grow?
Hoya Australis can grow up to 7 feet tall inside the home. Outside the home, this plant can grow up to 30 feet long.
Where should I put my Hoya Australis?
Place your Hoya Australis in a spot receiving bright indirect sunlight like an east-facing (morning sun), south facing room (strong afternoon sun), or west-facing (evening sun).
Can I put my Hoya Australis plant outside?
Hoya Australis can grow outside in hardiness zones of 10-11.
How do you make Hoya Australis bushy?
Hoya Australis are quite prolific growers and oftentimes people purchase the plant when the plant is already busier. To create an even fuller look, make sure your plant is getting adequate nutrients through fertilizer and bright indirect sunlight.
How do I know if my Hoya Australis is happy?
If your plant is actively growing, not getting crispy or yellowing leaves, then your Hoya Australis is most likely happy.
Should I cut yellow leaves off Hoya Australis?
If your Hoya Australis has yellow leaves, it’s important to check the roots of your plant. You may have rotten roots and will want to prune off any rotten roots. Make sure you’re only watering your plant when the soil is dry.
Invest in a moisture meter to make sure you’re watering at the proper time.
How do you encourage Hoya Australis growth?
Encourage Hoya Australis growth by pruning back dead leaves and giving your plant fertilizer and adequate sunlight.
Should I mist my Hoya Australis?
Hoya’s love humidity but can also live in average household humidity. You don’t need to mist your Hoya Australis.
Is Hoya Australis a good beginner plant?
Hoya Australis makes for a great beginner houseplant. This plant is hardy and takes a lot in order for someone to kill it.
How much is a Hoya Australis?
Hoya Australis are relatively cheap and go for about $20 for a 4-6 inch pot.
Is Hoya Australis toxic to pets?
No, this plant is not toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.
Common pests
Hoya Australis is sometimes prone to pests like mealy bugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites.
To help prevent any pest infestations on your plant, here’s what to do.
- Inspect your plant before purchasing at the plant store. Turn on your phones flashlight and check both sides of the leaves, the stems, and the soil for bugs.
- Quarantine your new plant in a room away from your other houseplants for two weeks. This gives you time to make sure there are no pests on your plant.
- Use an organic or synthetic pesticide on your plant. I use Azamax and Bonide Systemic Granules on my plants.
- Regularly check your plants for pests. This is also a great time to clean your plants.
- Cut off dead leaves.
If you find a plant that has pests on it, quarantine the plant away from your houseplants and clean the plant with an organic or nonorganic insecticide.
I use Bonide Systemic on my plants as a preventative and find it’s an incredibly effective on fungus gnats. I have little to no trouble with pests and I owe to to this preventative.
Common issues
Brown tips: If your Hoya Australis has brown tips, this may mean your plant is getting over fertilized, overwatered, or has root rot.
Yellowing leaves: If your Hoya Australis has yellow leaves, this may be a sign of overwatering, poor lighting, or pest pressure.
Curly leaves: If your Hoya Australis has curling leaves, this can mean your plant is suffering from underwatering or overwatering.
Key Points To Remember
Hoya Australis are incredible easy going plants and great for beginner houseplant enthusiasts. Make sure to place your plant in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight or under a plant grow light.
Water your plant when the top 2 inches are dry and make sure to fertilize your plant in the active growing season.
Read more about houseplants:
- How To Get Free Or Cheap Houseplants
- 15 Creative Ways To Display Houseplants
- How To Build A Self-Sustaining Terrarium
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