Hoya Krohniana Super Silver / Hoya Krohniana Eskimo Plant Care

Last Updated on January 20, 2023 by Admin

The Hoya Krohniana Super Silver is a subspecies of the Hoya Krohniana. And it is a rare variety that is sought after by collectors because of its unique looking leaves.

As its name suggests, it have silver sheened foliage, which is why many people also refer to it as the Hoya Krohniana Super Eskimo.

So, before I go forward, I just want to clarify that both the Hoya Krohniana Silver and Hoya Krohniana Eskimo are the same plant, But different stores and sellers will label them using one of the following variations:

Hoya Silver
Hoya Krohniana Silver
Hoya Krohniana Super Silver
Hoya Eskimo
Hoya Krohniana Eskimo
Hoya Krohniana Super Eskimo

All of these refer to the same vining, silver sheened, green-leafed hoya plant. it gets confusing because of the Silver and the Eskimo. Then to compound things there are the Super Silver and Super Eskimo as well which makes you wonder whether they are the same or different plants.

I just wanted to clarify this because I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the plant’s name.

With that out of the way, it is also worth noting that there is another version of Hoya Krohniana around called the Hoya Krohniana Black Leaves. This is easily distinguished and differentiated from the Hoya Krohniana Silver because it had much darker leaves that have a deep olive color that looks black.

In any case, the Hoya Krohniana Silver features thick, waxy leaves which are small and have heart shapes. Each of them measure about 2-4 cm in length and 1-2 cm wide.

As with other hoyas, you’ll also want to see it bloom as its flowers a fragrant and come in a lovely combination of white/cream color with yellow middles. They will grow in bunches and have a hairy/furry texture.

The plant originates from the Philippines.

Hoya Krohniana Super Eskimo Plant Care

Hoya Krohniana Silver Light Requirements

The Hoya Krohniana Eskimo does best in moderate to bright, indirect light. This is because the plant is used to getting diffused light as it climbs up trees in the forest.

Thus, the overhead canopy provided by the trees and their leaves keep the plant protected from the sun’s harshest rays.

Therefore, indoors, the Hoya Krohniana Eskimo thrives in similar conditions. This makes an east and west facing windows the ideal spots although you want to keep it about 3 feet away from the window to avoid the sun’s rays.

This is less of a problem with an eastern exposure since that side receives morning sun which is very delicate. On the other hand, a western direction gets the afternoon sun so you want to be more wary of that.

Good lighting is very important especially if you want your Hoya Eskimo to flower. This is a requirement as it will not bloom in low light.

That being said, it is important to keep the plant away from direct sun as this is too much for the plant’s leaves since it is not accustomed to the intensity and heat.

As a result, it can lose is waxy texture and become dull. The leaves can also get burned over time. Although the plant will be okay (but you’re left with ugly foliage).

In case you can’t find a good well-lit area because your home does not get a lot of natural light, artificial lighting is another option.

The plant does well under grow lights provided that it gets 10-12 hours of exposure daily. Keep it mind that you want to keep it 8 inches away from the bulbs since these will emit heat that can burn the plant’s leaves as well.

Hoya Krohniana Silver Temperature

The Hoya Krohniana Silver enjoys moderate to warm temperatures best. Ideally, it prefers 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit where it will grow optimally.

Since it is native to tropical conditions, the plant can tolerate warmer weather. But it is not as hardy to cold weather.

This means you want to be careful with temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit since it will not do well if kept in that environment for prolonged periods of time.

Outdoors, this means that the plant enjoys USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 the best. And you can keep it outsides all year long in these areas since the winters are mild, have sunshine and no snow.

However, if you live in colder regions, the plant is better off as a houseplant with vacation times outside during the summer.

Indoors, temperature is less of a problem since most homes maintain the temperatures the plant enjoys. But avoid air conditioners, vends and cold draft as these can cause sudden drops in temperatures which the plant will not appreciate.

Humidity

The ideal humidity for the Hoya Krohniana Eskimo is between 60% and 80%. Again, this stems from its being a native of the Philippines.

In that country, the weather ranges from warm to hot and is always humid.

Average humidity ranges from 55% to 75% on a day to day basis while reaching 85% during the rainy season.

Similarly, it is hot there,

The coldest times of the year are between December to February where the temperature can go down to 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, it easily gets to 100 degrees.

And because of the high humidity, the weather (heat index) feels even hotter in real-time.

As such, this is what the Hoya Krohniana Eskimo is used to.

Fortunately, its thick, waxy leaves store moisture which allows the plant to tolerate lower humidity. This means it is okay with average room humidity, although try to keep it at 40% and higher.

This way you avoid dry, crispy leaf tips which is a sign that humidity has gotten too low for the plant.

If you do notice these symptoms, you can mist the plant or invest in a humidifier to help it out. This way, it can continue to grow and produce beautiful leaves.

How Often to Water Hoya Krohniana Super Eskimo

How often you water your Hoya Krohniana Eskimo will vary depending on where you live and the prevailing climate based on the time of year.

On average the plant will need watering once a week during the warmer months and once very 2-3 weeks during winter.

That said, because its thick, semi-succulent leaves store water it does not have a problem being watered once every few weeks or once a month.

However, be careful not to let the soil go bone dry for long periods of time. While it can tolerate dome dryness, it will eventually get dehydrated which will cause some damage to the plant depending on how dehydrated it gets.

But, the most important thing is not to overwater the plant. it is more sensitive to too much water which can lead to root rot.

This means you want to formulate some way to tell when the plant needs watering.

I know some growers who will feel the leaves to tell whether the Hoya Super Eskimo needs water or not. If the leaves are supple and firm, then they still have water. If they are soft of flatter, it needs water.
A few of my fiends life the container. A light container means the soil is dry or almost dry. Meanwhile, a heavier container means the soil is still moist.

Both methods require some experience before you can tell.

Yet a better way may just be to stick your index finger down 2 inches into the soil. This is about the depth of your second knuckle in your index finger.

If the soil at that level is moist, wait a few more days then test the soil again. Only water if the soil at that depth is completely dry.

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Hoya Krohniana Eskimo Potting Soil

The best soil for Hoya Eskimo is well-draining potting mix that is light and has good aeration.

That’s because the plant is an epiphyte. This means that in the wild, its roots don’t stay under the soil. instead, the plant climbs up trees where its roots get a lot of air circulation.

This means that when they get wet from the rain, they are able to dry quite quickly because of the airflow.

As such, the best soil is one that mimics this environment.

And the only way you can achieve this is to have well-draining soil. This way, the roots get just enough moisture to stay hydrated while the rest of the water is quickly drained away to prevent the roots from standing in water for too long.

The good news is that there are many ways to achieve this kind of potting mix. The key is to use the right ingredients.

The simplest one is to combine:

2 parts peat moss
1 part perlite

You can also use:

1 part orchid mix
1 part perlite
1 part potting mix or cactus mix

Fertilizer for Hoya Krohniana Super Silver

The Hoya Krohniana Silver is not fussy about fertilizer, but it needs plant food in order to get the nutrients it needs to grow quickly and stay healthy.

You can use a liquid houseplant fertilizer once every 2 weeks during the spring and summer. This will give the plant what it needs during its growing season.

When it starts to bloom and while flowering, use a bloom booster which contains more phosphors. This encourages flowering and helps prolong its blooms.

The important thing is to avoid overfeeding the plant. It is not a heavy feeder and does not need more than what’s written in the produce label.

Alternatively, you can likewise go with organic fertilizer instead of chemical products as well.

Pruning Hoya Krohniana Silver

The Hoya Krohniana Super Silver is a moderate to fast grower when compared to other hoyas. It features vining stems that will get longer over time.

So while its leaves are not big, and you’ll likely start with a small plant (when you get it from the store), the Hoya Krohniana Silver will eventually grow to a few feet in length.

This means that it will need pruning, although mostly minor as you’ll likely be allowing it to climb or keep it in a hanging basket.

In both cases, you can let its stems get longer only do minor trimming to keep it looking neat and maintain its shape.

If you keep it in a pot or hanging basket, be aware that it can get messy as the new stems will overlap with one another. The longer the vines get, the more untidy it can look.

Thus, you may need to prune it often depending on the look you’re going for.

How to Propagate Hoya Krohniana Super Eskimo

Stem propagation is the most effective way to grow more Hoya Krohniana Eskimo at home. The process is easy and produces high success rates. Plus, the plant grows a lot of stems which lets you grow more than one new plant if you wish.

You can use the stems you pruned for this as well.

To do so, use a sterile cutting too and snip off a stem below a set of leaves. You want to make sure each stem cutting contains at least 1-2 nodes. Without the nodes, the cutting will not propagate.
You can root the cutting water or in moist lightweight potting soil. The former is more popular because you can monitor the roots as they develop.
To propagate in water, place the cutting in a jar filled with water. Submerged the nodes in water. This is necessary for them to root.
To propagate in soil, plant the cutting into moist well-draining soil (50% peat and 50% perlite).
Keep the cutting in a warm, humid location. And give it moderate to bright, indirect light.
It takes about 4 weeks for the roots to develop.

How to Repot or Transplant Hoya Krohniana Eskimo

In most cases, repot your Hoya Krohniana Eskimo once ever 2-3 yeas. It enjoys being pot bound so you don’t need to rush. That’s because, keeping it snug helps encourage it to flower.

So, this is a good thing.

However, once the roots and plant gets too cramped in the pot, it is time to repot and move to a larger container. When you do, choose one that is 2 inches larger at most. Avoid going too big as this will increase the soil volume.

Thus, when you water, the excess soil will hold much more water which increases the risk of overwatering.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

The Hoya Krohniana Silver is safe for cats, dogs and humans. It does not contain any toxic substances that make it a poison risk even when ingested.

But, this does not mean that the leaves and stems are edible. It also means you don’t want to let pets and young children eat them because they can cause digestive issues (although no toxicity).

Hoya Krohniana Super Silver Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

Mealybugs are the most common pests your Hoya Krohniana Silver will experience. However, it can get other sap suckers as well like spider mites and aphids.

These can happen any time although the healthier the plant is, the more resistant it will be.

The simplest way to get rid of these bugs is to spray them off with a stream of water. But you want to be thorough since any adults that are left will lay eggs. And if you leave eggs, they will hatch and grow into adults that will lay eggs.

So either way, the process will start over again.

Diseases

The Hoya Krohniana Eskimo rarely gets any disease. But the chances can increase especially if there’s a lot of moisture.

To start with, the plant likes humidity so this already makes the surrounding air a bit moist. Therefore, you want to avoid leaving the leaves very wet without sunlight or good air circulation.

Similarly, avoid overwatering the soil.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Hoya Eskimo and Super Silver the same?

The Hoya Eskimo is also called the Krohniana Silver, Hoya Krohniana Super Silver and Krohniana Eskimo. All these names refer to the same plant which is a variety of the Hoya Krohniana.

How do you take care of a Hoya Eskimo?

To care for the Hoya Eskimo, make sure it receives plenty of sunlight. It prefers medium to bright, indirect light. Good lighting is necessary to maintain its leaf variegation. Additionally, the plant needs a lot of light if you want it to flower. Just as importantly, don’t overwater the Hoya Eskimo. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The Hoya Eskimo also does better in high humidity.

What is the difference between Hoya Lacunosa and krohniana?

The Hoya Lacunosa and Hoya Krohniana are two different plants. The leaves of the Hoya Lacunosa are oval-shaped and have a darker shade of green. The speckles on its leaves are also more spares. In contrast, the Hoya Krohniana has heart-shaped leaves that are a lighter shade of green. The surface of the leaves are also covered with silver speckles. Both plants have similar looking flowers though.

Is Hoya Krohniana black rare?

The Hoya Krohniana Black Leaf is a rare vining tropical plant. It measures tiny spade-shape leaves that are very dark green in color. From certain angles, the dark green leaves look almost black. This unique feature makes it in demand for hoya collectors although it is very rare and hard to find.

Should I mist my Hoya?

I don’t recommend misting your hoya. Although misting does help increase humidity which hoya plants like, there’s a risk of over spraying and wetting the leaves. This increases the chances of leaf infections. Thus, to increase humidity, I prefer using a saucer with water and placing it under the potted plant. Or you can use a humidifier as well.

Can Hoya grow in full sun?

Hoya grow best in bright, indirect light. They can tolerate a few hours of full sun daily. But excess exposure especially to the mid-afternoon can scorch its leaves. That said, some hoya owners will intentionally leave their hoya is full sun to make the leaves turn pink or red. But you need to monitor this as too much will heat and sunlight will eventually burn the leaves.