How To Propagate Hoya

A hoya plant is often referred to as a wax plant due to its waxy appearance when it comes to its leaves.

Even so, it has a delicate egg-shaped bloom that looks beautiful as it hangs on to the edges of the tiny green stems.

The flowers themselves smell sweet and look like stars – also a little like a firework display that is in mid-explosion. 

The hoya plant is one that can live a long life if cared for properly.

While you can buy the plant to take home with you, you can also propagate a hoya plant from a healthy plant – with permission, obviously!

You can also just propagate your own hoya plant because you would like another one, or because you want to give one away as a gift.

Whatever the reason is for you wanting to propagate your hoya plant, then look no further. Here you will find out several techniques on how to propagate a hoya plant.

What Is The Best Way To Propagate A Hoya Plant?

When it comes to propagating hoya, there are two methods you will want to try. That is putting the cutting into water or into soil.

As a novice, you may want to go with the latter as it is a much easier route to take. This is because you can see clearly whether the cutting is forming a new plant or not.

If you haven’t propagated before, then you might find that you are waiting weeks for something to show up from the soil and it doesn’t.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at how to propagate in water and in soil. But first, we shall take a look at how to take a proper hoya cutting to encourage growth. 

How To Take A Cutting OF A Hoya Plant?

The best time to take a cutting from a hoya plant is during either spring or summer when it is at its most healthiest and happiest.

Not only that, this is the plant’s growing season too, so you will have a lot more success during this time.

During winter they are less likely to grow any new roots. Instead they will be ‘sleeping’ and not using up too much energy, if any at all. 

When taking a cutting from the hoya plant, always make sure that it is very healthy. If there are any signs of disease or anything similar, then avoid propagating from this plant.

It will affect the propagating process, but it also means that if the new plant does grow, it may take the disease on with it. 

Make a cutting of at least ten to fifteen centimeters long. It also must have at the very least two leaves. At the most you will want six leaves. 

You will also want it to have a long-ish stem too to help anchor the plant, especially if it is in water. 

How To Propagate Hoya In Water?

Propagating a hoya plant in water is a simple method. However, just because it is simple doesn’t mean that it will work the first time you try it.

Despite this, it is actually a really successful method when it comes to propagating plants. To do, all you will need is the correct cutting of a hoya plant and a glass with water in it.

Place the cutting stem side down into the water and leave it be. Make sure none of the leaves are submerged into the water directly. 

Only change the water if it becomes a murky color. Other than that, you can leave the glass of water to do its job. 

Over time it should start to develop roots. These can reach up to ten centimeters in length. Once it does, you can then transfer the plant to a pot with soil in it.

Make sure the pot is well draining, and that the potting mix is also a type that can be drained well. 

How To Propagate Hoya In Soil?

Just like the above method, you will need a cutting of the hoya plant with at least two leaves, and six at the very most – though the latter is not necessary for it to propagate well.

Place a good potting mix as the soil in the pot, and water it all the way through. Place some rooting hormone onto the bottom of the stem and place it into the soil.

Make sure none of the leaves touch the soil.

The rooting hormone is not a requirement, however it can boost the chances of the hoya propagating. 

Keep the pot watered and damp, but avoid overwatering it. This is because the soil will become soggy and may cause the roots to rot. 

How To Encourage A Propagated Hoya To Grow?

If you are propagating a hoya, then you will need to place it in the ideal environment which is often indoors and out of direct sunlight. 

If you place the hoya in sunlight, then you are likely to end up with a very unhappy rooting system that may die before it brings new life into the world.

To avoid this, let it sit in the early morning sun for a little bit, otherwise just place it in a bright room. 

Not giving it any light will pose the same risk for the young hoya plant, so avoid having it sit in shade too. 

Final Thoughts

The great thing about a hoya plant is that you can have species that prefer to be outside, and then there are ones that like to live indoors, for example the Hoya carnosa.

This hoya plant loves warm conditions and is likely to thrive in a bright and airy room.

However, even if the hoya you own is an indoor plant, there is often no harm in taking it outside every now and again.

In fact, you might see that it does better than ever.

Once you have a healthy hoya plant during the summer there is no better time than to propagate it. So, why not give it a go?