Hoya Limoniaca Plant Care (Light, Watering, Soil, Propagation & More)

Last Updated on April 14, 2022 by Admin

The Hoya Limoniaca is a beautiful vining plant that not only gets long and has lots of lovely green leaves, it also produces stunning clusters of flowers.

One thing that distinguishes it from other hoya varieties is that its flowers are short lasting typically for about 5 days.

As such, you do want to enjoy them when they appear.

The plant comes from tropical and sub-tropical regions which is why it thrives in warm weather.

How do you care for the Hoya Limoniaca? The Hoya Limoniaca needs bright, indirect light if you want it to flower. This is essential. But avoid too much direct sunlight as it will burn the leaves.

Warm, humid conditions are ideal. And keep the plant slightly root bound to increase its flowering potential as well.

Table of Contents

Hoya Limoniaca Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Hoya Limoniaca will tolerate different lighting conditions which makes it easy to care for indoors. It does not mind low light. But will do better in medium to bright light.

However, what’s important is to keep it in indirect, filtered or dappled light.

Because the plant produces beautiful flowers, I highly suggest placing it in a well-lit area with plenty of natural light.

This will encourage it to bloom.

This is why I prefer bright, indirect light for this plant.

As such, a spot near an east or west facing window is best.

You can also keep it in towards the southern exposure. However, if you do, make sure to leave it at least 2-3 feet from the window away from the sun’s direct rays.

I don’t recommend a norther exposure because this reduces the likelihood for flowering as there’s less light over there.

That said, if you want the plant to grow and are less interested about flowering, then a norther spot near the window will work as well.

The key is to avoid low light as well as very strong intense light.

Low light is usually insufficient for blooming. On the other hand, too much light, especially direct sunlight during mid-day not only turns the Hoya Limoniaca’s leaves yellow but can also scorch its foliage.

Therefore, avoid both.

Instead, keep the plant in medium to bright indirect light indoors.

You can likewise grow it outdoors successfully.

Here, partial shade it ideal.

Temperature

Consistently warm temperature is what the Hoya Limoniaca likes. Its optimal temperature is between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is because it comes from the tropical regions of Asia and Australia.

As such, these areas have warm to hot weather all year round. Additionally, they don’t experience winter weather.

The good news is that the plant easily fits into most homes since we enjoy 65 to 75 degree Fahrenheit temperatures ourselves.

Still, you want to watch out for anything below 55 degrees Fahrenheit especially if you live somewhere with four seasons.

The Hoya Limoniaca will struggle in cold weather.

This means you never want to leave it outdoors once the cold climate comes in around mid to late fall.

Instead, bring the plant back indoors.

Indoors, you also need to take note of a few things.

These are areas in your home that can suddenly turn cold. This includes cold spots, arears where nighttime temperature can drop significantly and open windows that let cold breezes come in.

Of course, air conditioners are a no-no as well.

Humidity

The Hoya Limoniaca thrives in high humidity. Again, this has to do with its native habitat.

In addition to being hot, these locations are likewise very humid since they are near the equator.

An average day there will see humidity between 60% and 75%. It does drop to about 50% or 55% during the dry summer. But in a rainy day, humidity jumps to 85% or higher.

Therefore, the Hoya Limoniaca likes a lot of moisture in the air.

And this can be a problem for many homes since the average household humidity is usually between 20% and 50%.

Watch out for dry summers and cold winters. Both tend to cause humidity to drop as well.

It is also worth mentioning that certain appliances like air conditioners, heaters and radiators will cause significant humidity drops as well when they’re on (and about 30 minutes after in that room).

So, these are some hidden things to watch out for.

A good way to avoid these surprises is to get a hygrometer.

This will let you instantly know what the humidity is around your plant by just glancing at the screen.

If it is below 50%, it means you need to do something.

One option is to use a humidifier. But if you prefer, you can regularly mist the plant as well.

A more hands-off solution is either to use a humidity tray or pebble tray. It takes but 15 minutes to make either and you can DIY these from the things you already have at home.

How Often to Water Hoya Limoniaca

The Hoya Limoniaca does not need very regular watering. That’s because of two things.

One, it has succulent-like leaves.

This means it leaves are thick and fleshy like succulents. And they are that way because they store water there to help the plant get through dry periods.

Second, the plant is epiphytic.

This means that in the forest, it uses its roots to climb and cling onto larger trees. Thus, it does like live in the soil.

As such, when it rains and the roots get wet, they receive a lot of moisture. However, they dry fairly quickly since they’re exposure to lots of air.

Together, this means that the plant is susceptible to overwatering.

Therefore, stay on the drier side to stay safe.

As such, you don’t want to water the plant when the soil is still moist or wet.

And to check this, always feel the surface of the soil before you water the plant. The top layer has to be completely dry before you water.

If it isn’t dry, don’t water yet.

This will prevent you from adding more water when the plant still has more than its needs.

More importantly, using the soil as your gauge, it will automatically make you water more regularly during the summer since it will dry faster then.

And it will let you water less often in the winter since it takes much longer for soil to dry in the cold weather.

This eliminates the need to remember anything or use a fixed watering schedule.

Hoya Limoniaca Potting Soil

From the previous section, you can already guess that the Hoya Limoniaca needs light, airy and well-draining soil.

And you would be correct.

Additionally, it will appreciate soil that contains nutrients which will help it grow faster.

It also prefers soil pH between 6.1 to 7.3 which will allow it to efficiently absorb those nutrients in the soil.

The soil mix you use for the Hoya Limoniaca is very important because if you use an incorrect one, it could negate all your efforts to water properly.

Why?

Heavy soils will retain way too much water causing waterlogging. As such, even if you water correctly, the soil will just hold all the liquid causing the roots to drown in all that water.

On the other hand, very sandy soils will drain too much moisture too quickly.

As a result, the roots haven’t had a chance to drink and the water is already draining down out of the pot.

So, a well-draining soil mix is essential.

This ensures the roots get enough to drink. But it quickly drains excess water so the roots don’t end up sitting in water for long periods of time.

Here are a few simple but effective potting mix recipes you can use for your Hoya Limoniaca.

1 part potting soil
1 part orchid bark

Or you can likewise go with:

1 part potting soil
1 part perlite (or pumice)

Fertilizer

The Hoya Limoniaca does not need fertilizer to grow and stay healthy. However, it is a good idea to feed the plant.

That’s because proper feeding will not only allow it to grow faster but also increase the likelihood of the plant producing its beautiful flowers.

Therefore, if you want it to bloom, fertilizer is a must.

The important thing is that the Hoya Limoniaca does not need a lot of fertilizer. And it does not need to fed all the time.

Instead, as long as the plant gets the nutrients it needs, it will be happy.

You can use a balanced, liquid fertilizer once a month during the spring and the summer. Don’t feed it during the fall and winter.

If you want to encourage flowering, you can switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer or orchid food when the plant is beginning to bloom.

This will promote flowering and will prolong the blossoms as well.

Flowers and Blooms

One of the biggest selling points of the Hoya Limoniaca is that it has beautiful leaves. Plus, it produces stunning flowers.

It is always you see houseplants able to do both.

In most cases, they are either known for their flowers or their foliage.

What’s even better is that the flowers produced by Hoya Limoniaca can vary from plant to plant.

Some will give you light yellow flowers while others will produce white blossoms with pink centers. I’ve also seen light pink flowers with reddish centers.

This makes them very intriguing.

And while the flowers are small, they grow in umbels. So you get clusters of 20 to 40 tiny flowers forming a sphere-like ball.

Of course, let’s not forget the fragrance it has as well.

That said, the plant does not always bloom. And its flowers are not a given.

Instead, it needs ideal living conditions for this to happen.

So, here are 3 things you can do to increase the likelihood of your Hoya Limoniaca flowering.

Give it bright indirect sunlight
Keep it slightly root bound
Feed it with orchid fertilizer or a high phosphorus blend

Pruning

The Hoya Limoniaca will grow long vining stems. These can reach 4 to 6 feet if you let it grow.

In most cases, the length means that growers will usually keep the plant in a hanging basket or give it something to climb up on.

These are the two common ways to display the plant.

And they’re both lovely.

This also means that you do need to prune the plant every now and then. How often will depend on what look are you going for.

In most cases, pruning will be due to limiting the length of the plant.

It will also get somewhat messy as it gets longer. So, you prune it to keep it neat and tidy if you wish. Although, I know some growers who like the more natural, messy look.

Don’t forget to remove any yellow leaves as well as those with damages or disease.

How to Propagate Hoya Limoniaca

The Hoya Limoniaca can easily be propagated from stem cuttings. And this is something I highly recommend doing to make sure you always have this beautiful plant.

Note that hoyas have long lifespans.

But a lot will depend on the care they get and living conditions.

As such, I’ve seen growers whose hoyas lived for only 2 years while others with hoyas of 25 to 30 years.

Although, come 25 years or so, the hoyas usually start going downhill. Nevertheless, that’s a lot time to enjoy the beautiful plants.

In any case, stem cuttings is the most efficient way to propagate this plant.

Here’s how to do it.

Choose a healthy stem where you’ll get your cuttings. You can get one or many cuttings depending on how many new plants you want to grow.
Make sure each cutting has at least 1-2 nodes and a few leaves on it.
Once you’ve selected the stems, cut them using a sterile pair of scissors or shears. Cut at a 45 degree angle just under a node.
Fill a pot with well-draining soil then plant the cuttings there with the nodes buried in the soil.
Next, water the soil and place the pot in bright indirect light.
You can cover the pot with a plastic bag if humidity in your home is low.

It usually takes about 4 or so weeks for the cuttings to root.

You can also propagate in water if you wish.

In this case, you’ll plant the cuttings in water with the nodes submerged. Then move the cuttings into soil mix once the roots have grown to 2 inches or longer.

It usually takes about 1 month or so after rooting before you start seeing shoots develop.

Then another few months before leaves appear.

How to Repot or Transplant Hoya Limoniaca

The Hoya Limoniaca likes to be kept slightly root bound. As such, don’t be in a hurry to repot it.

Additionally, a root bound plant seems to grow better not to mention is increases the chances of flowering as well.

In my experience, the plant only needs repotting every 2 to 4 years.

So, there’s no need to repot every 6 months or annually.

Instead, only do so when the roots are coming out from the drainage holes of the pot.

Repotting too often can also lead to overpotting which increases the risk of overwatering.

That’s never a good thing.

The best time to repot is between spring to early summer.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

The Hoya Limoniaca is not toxic. This makes it safe to keep around the house even if you have very young kids, dogs and cats running and playing around.

Note that while it is not poisonous, the plant is not meant to be eaten.

So, try to avoid letting your pets consume it.

Hoya Limoniaca Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

Mealybugs, aphids and spider mites are common pests that enjoy feeding on the Hoya Limoniaca. That’s’ because of its semi-succulent leaves.

These thick, fleshy leaves make the plant a target for the bugs.

So, you want to be wary about them.

The hard part is that you need to inspect the leaves regularly. This can be a chore especially with a longer plant with lots of small leaves.

However, it is necessary since these pests will reproduce very quickly.

Diseases

Overwatering is something you always want to watch out for due to the nature of the Hoya Limoniaca.

Its ability to store water and epiphytic roots makes it more prone to overwatering which can lead to root rot.

As such, always be mindful of how often you water. And make sure to check the soil each time before you add water.