Hoya Polyneura Houseplant Care Guide

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Hoya Polyneura is one of my all time favorite houseplants because of its mermaid-like foliage. This plant is incredibly easy to grow and bonus, it grows fast.

Here are the main things you need to know to take care of Hoya Polyneura.

Water. Water Hoya Polyneura when the soil is basically completely dried out. This is typically once a week.
Light. Place in bright indirect sunlight (south, west, or east facing windows) or under plant grow lights for 12+ hours per day.
Fertilizer. Feed your Hoya Polyneura with a high quality fertilizer like Dyna-Gro Grow. I also use a plant food called Liqui-Dirt (which is technically not a fertilizer) and find that the mixture of the two keep my plants growing and happy.
Humidity. Hoya Polyneura enjoy high humidity in the 50%+ range. I keep mine right at about 50% and it’s loving it.

Here’s what to know to keep Hoya Polyneura thriving in your home.

Light

Hoya Polyneura thrive in bright indirect sunlight.

This kind of sunlight is near a south, east, or west facing window.

South facing windows get the brightest, most intense light of the day and this is where I try to put most of my houseplants.

North facing windows have the weakest, least amount of sunlight but it’s still an option to grow houseplants. You may notice slower growth if you place your plant near a north facing window versus a south facing window.

Depending on where you put your plant, you may want to place a sheer curtain on your window. For example, I have most of my plants near a south facing window getting intense sunlight all day long. I had to put a sheer curtain on my window or else the intense light could burn my plants.

I have my Hoya Polyneura sitting under T5 Barrina plant grow lights which are on 13 hours per day from 8AM-9pm. This is a big reason why my plant grows so quickly.

Water

Hoya Polyneura like to be watered when they’re almost completely dried out. For me, this is about once a week.

Check your plants moisture level by using an index finger or moisture meter. If using an index finger, all you have to do is stick your finger in about two inches deep.

If the soil is dry, it’s time for a thorough watering. If using a moisture meter, don’t water until the moisture meter reads almost all the way to the dry side.

I have my Hoya Polyneura in extremely chunky soil so it’s hard for me to check the plants moisture level, but I’ve had the plant long enough now to know that once a week is all my Hoya needs.

Once you have your plant long enough, it’s easy to gauge when the plant needs water and you may not even need to use your finger or a moisture meter.

Soil

Hoya Polyneura and any Hoya in general likes chunky soil mix.

These plants love aeration and oxygen moving around the soil and don’t like to be in dense, compact soil. You never want dense compact soil in the first place because this can lead to root rot.

A simple Hoya soil recipe is 40% coco coir, 30% orchid bark, 20% chunky perlite, and 10% worm castings.

You can also buy houseplant mix that is already made and ready to go.

A brand I recommend and use is Ivy and May’s Redwoods Houseplant And Aroid Potting mix. This mix comes from triple ground redwood from sustainably managed forests and includes triply ground redwood bark, Douglas fir bark, perlite, worm castings, and essential oil.

Temperature

Hoya Polyneura do well in any home that is between temperatures of 60 degrees F to 90 degrees (15 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius).

Fertilizer

Plants need fertilizer to get the nutrients it doesn’t get in your home, but would otherwise get in the wild. Fertilizer is crucial for plant growth and the longevity of your houseplants.

I use and recommend Dyna-Gro Grow, an affordable high quality fertilizer that lasts a long time. All I do is mix 1/4 teaspoon with a gallon of water and use this to water all of my houseplants. My plants are booming with growth and I credit a lot of that to this fertilizer.

I’m a little extra and also like to use Liqui-Dirt plant food.

This is technically not a fertilizer but just a plant food. Liqui-Dirt claims that their product can replace your fertilizer, so it’s up to you if you use this as your only fertilizer, even though it’s technically not a fertilizer. You can use Liqui-Dirt for your hydroponics, leca, aquaponics, or indoor and outdoor soil. Liqi-Dirt is pet-safe and has no odors or chemicals.

Humidity

Hoya Polyneura is one of those houseplants that rewards you if you give it enough humidity. If you give your plant humidity in the 70%+ range, you may notice rapid growth on your plant and even some beautiful blooms.

Here are my best tips for increasing the humidity around your plant.

Place your plant in a greenhouse getting at least 50%+ humidity
Place your plant on top of a pebble tray with water
Place your plant next to a humidifier running consistently every day
Group your plants together and they will work together to create a microclimate of humidity
Optional: You can mist your plant but know that this doesn’t do a whole lot, but it can be an enjoyable experience for some

Propagation

Propagating Hoya Polyneura is easy.

All you do is cut part of the stem with at least two leaves on the stem. Place this stem cutting in water and wait a few weeks for the plant to get roots.

No need to bother putting anything like fertilizer or any kind of special plant food in the water. Just basic water is fine for propagating any plant.

It’s optional to use rooting hormone. I personally don’t use rooting hormone and have success propagating all kinds of plants in my house.

Once your stem cutting has at least three inches of roots, move the stem cutting to your preferred substrate. Hoya Polyneura does great in all kinds of growing mediums, including chunky soil mix, leca, and lechuza pon.

I would cut the stem right where my fingers are and place this in water or wrap with damp moss and wait for roots to grow.

Hoya Polyneura Common Questions

Is Hoya Polyneura rare?

Hoya Polyneura is a rare houseplant in terms of you won’t find this plant at Lowes or Home Depot. However, you can typically find this plant in a local plant group for cheap.

How much is a Hoya Polyneura?

You’ll typically buy a Hoya Polyneura for cheap or really expensive. I see people spending $10 on a cutting and then I see others buying a large 5 inch pot of Hoya Polyneura for $75+. Then there are the variegated Hoya Polyneura for $500+.

I bought my two leaf Hoya Polyneura for $10 and it’s already grown at least ten new leaves since getting it just a few months ago. I’ve cut it multiple times and shared with plant friends.

How do you care for Hoya Polyneura?

Caring for Hoya Polyneura couldn’t be easier.

Water your plant once a week when the soil is dry, place in bright indirect sunlight or under plant grow lights, and feed a high quality fertilizer every watering.

Is Hoya Polyneura hard to care for?

Hoya Polyneura is one of the easiest plants to care for and has been one of my favorite houseplants I’ve ever owned. It’s no-fuss and doesn’t need much to grow like crazy.

Is Hoya Polyneura a fast grower?

Hoya Polyneura is an incredibly fast grower and it’s actually one of my fastest growing plants.

I think that has a lot to do with the growing conditions I grow my Hoya Polyneura in. The consistent 13+ hours of plant grow lights, humidity in the 50%+ range, and fertilizer every watering all contribute to the rapid growth of my plants.

How big do Hoya Polyneura get?

Hoya Polyneura get massive. I’ve seen large 5 inch pots full of a bushy Hoya Polyneura with 100+ leaves.

Does Hoya Polyneura climb?

Hoya Polyneura are known for climbing but also known for hanging out of a pot. I think this plant looks great either way and there’s nothing quite like the fishtail foliage.

You most likely won’t have any problems with your Hoya Polyneura, but if you do, it could be because of a few key things.

Make sure you’re only watering your plant when the soil is almost completely dry.

The next important care tip is giving this plant at least 50%+ humidity.

If you keep your plant in regular household humidity (20%) you may find that your plant slowly dies off because it’s not getting the humidity it needs. If you forget to water your plant too many times, it may shock your plant and you may notice leaves die off.

How do you propagate Hoya Polyneura?

Propagating Hoya is straightforward.

All you do is take a stem cutting with at least two leaves on this stem. Place the stem in clean water but make sure not to submerge the entire cutting in water, just the stem. In a few weeks, the stem cutting will root and you’ll soon be able to transfer the stem cutting to your preferred substrate.

How do I get my Hoya Polyneura to bloom?

The key to getting your Hoya Polyneura to bloom is high humidity and warmth.

Make sure the plant is getting at least 50%+ humidity or perhaps even in the 70%+ range if you really want to get your Hoya Polyneura to bloom.

Is Hoya Polyneura 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 Polyneura can fall to pest pressures just like any other houseplant. This is why it’s important to stay on top of pest preventative so you don’t have to try to eradicate problem when it’s too far gone.

I use and recommend both Azamax and Bonide Systemic Granules.

Azamax is liquid-based and you mix a tablespoon into 1 gallon of water. Spray this liquid mixture onto all of your plants, both sides, stems, soil, everything.

Any time I do this, I make sure to turn off grow lights or place a curtain in the window because I don’t want the plants to burn while this water mixture is on them. Azamax prevents spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, fungus gnat larvae, fungus gnat adults, and powdery mildew.

Bonide Systemic Granules are incredible for protection against fungus gnats.

If you have a fungus gnat problem, this typically means you’re overwatering your plants. Wet, overwatered soil is the prefect breeding ground for fungus gnats.

If you’ve dialed back on overwatering and you still have a fungus gnat issue, I recommend using Bonide Systemic Granules. All you do is sprinkle these granules on top and this will eradicate your problem quickly.

Common issues

Yellowing leaves: If your Hoya Polyneura gets yellowing leaves, this is a sign that you’re giving your plant too much water. Cut back on the water and make sure to use your index finger or moisture meter to check the soils moisture level. Wait until the soil is almost completely dried out before watering again.

Pests: Some people have trouble with Hoya Polyneura and pests. If this becomes a problem for you, make sure to use a pest preventative on a regular basis. I use both Bonide Systematic Granules and Azamax and never have any pest issues.

Key Points To Remember

Hoya Polyneura is one of the coolest houseplants due to it’s fish-tail foliage and also happens to be one of my fastest growing houseplants.

This plant doesn’t require too much care and it’s one of the best plants to share with your plant friends.

As long as you give your Hoya Polyneura bright indirect sunlight, 50%+ humidity, and regular fertilizer, your plant will reward you with lots of new growth.