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Hoya Macrophylla Variegata: Care & Growing Guide

Hoya Macrophylla variegata is a rare form of hoyas. This houseplant possesses striking color shades of pink and white cream. Variegation in this one occurs along the leaf edges and mid-rib veins.

With our growing and care tips, you’ll discover maintaining this hoya indoors is easy. Plus specific care is required to keep them performing happily.

About Variegated Hoya Macrophylla

Hoya macrophylla plants are natives of India, China Malaysia, and tropical Australia. In the wild, they are found growing all over southern Asia – Southern Australia and India. The Pacific Islands are also homes to this species.

Commonly termed epiphytes, these tropical plants exploit areas with limestone. And as such, they also love growing on the surfaces of large tree barks.

Variegated varieties are tender semi-evergreen perennials. They too have textured and large leaves. Leaves may differ slightly in terms of size and shape.

Caring for variegated hoya macrophylla
Variegata variety
Macrophylla albomarginata flower
A hoya macrophylla albomarginata flower

Defining Growth Characteristics

Like the majority of hoyas, variegated macrophylla exhibit qualities of semi-succulent to succulent kinds of plants. They possess a vine-like growing pattern. The foliage can reach a potential growth height of 4 – 6 inches high. Leaves can measure up to 5 inches long. These leaves, stems, and flowers are waxy just like all the hoya plant family members.

In terms of growth rate, hoyas are slow growers. Growing them indoors requires patience. It takes 3 – 4 years to see the first flowers.

Interestingly, any one hoya macrophylla variegata may not be the replica of the mother plant. Each individual possesses quite a unique growth feature. For instance, they may differ in size, and shape.

Are they Rare Plants?

This variety of hoyas is hard to find. However, you can still own one. If you’re on a budget, you can order yours online or buy one from a rare plant nursery. Variegated hoyas are to-go-for houseplants for anyone who is into the intrigues of nature and growing rare plants.

Care for Variegated Hoya Macrophylla

Caring for this hoya form is not demanding at all. However, you’d want to keep it happy for it to bloom or flower. Here is our care guide including any specific needs when growing it.

Optimal Humidity + Temperature

Depending on the variegated variety, this plant can grow perfectly well in varying humidity levels. The optimal humidity for indoor gardens or rooms is between 64 – 80 percent. Even though, the plant will tolerate any average household humidity, (say 30 – 40 percent). However, they cannot take anything near-freezing cold.

Variegated Hoya macrophylla plants do not need any extra humidity to thrive. If you live in tropical temperate regions, do not worry about incurring additional expenses during the winter. However, if you live in places that experience cooler temperatures from time to time, consider using a humidifier

TopTip: Do dot mist the sprouts, flower buds and flowers.

This variegated hoya variety will grow best if you can manage to moderate your household warmth. Keep between 65 and 85 Fahrenheit. To cater to the plant’s optimal temperature, consider these growing tricks:

  • Work closely with humidity-thermometer portable devices
  • If you live below the USDA zones 10, bring your potted plant outdoor during the summer
  • In cooler regions where it is likely to freeze, don’t allow your hoya to overwinter
  • Instead, bring them back indoors

Lighting (Foot Candles) + Location for Hoyas

Like most hoya plants, this variegated variety will prefer bright indirect light. For them to thrive, filtered or diffused light can offer the best lumen candles if you live in the tropics.

Additionally, exposure to mid-level direct light for about 2 hours in the winter is ideal. In this case, it is assumed your home cannot constantly get (10,000 – 20,000 lux or 1,000 – 2,000 foot-candles). Otherwise, the waxy foliage can’t just tolerate the harsh sun rays during the afternoon.

Hoya macrophylla light care
Variegated Hoya macrophylla in plant vessel

Where should you locate your hoya? Whether indoors or outdoors, situate your plant where it will be happy. Doing so, and coming along with them are the benefits. It guarantees growth safety, easy management of growing conditions, and other plant-related issues (highlighted in this post).

Concerning prevailing conditions in your place, here is our guide point list:

(i) If you live in the tropics

  • Keep your hoya off the south-facing windows including the ones in living rooms
  • If you have to, then fix window curtains or blinders on those South facing windows
  • Even if the houseplants receive diffused light, make sure they are a few feet away from the South facing windowsill
  • In warm sunny regions, the East facing windows is the most ideal location
  • Again for the warm regions, situate your plant few feet off the West facing windows

(ii) Outside the tropics means you flex growing ideas a bit to meet your macrophylla variety’s specific conditions

  • At the onset of warm months, move your potted hoya outside
  • Situate them in sheltered outdoor garden rooms
  • Let them enjoy the outdoor conditioning the whole warm months
  • Depending on where you live warm months could last up to 6 or so months
  • Monitor your plants and make necessary adjustments when the need arises

Variegated hoya Variegata can enjoy some time in direct light. However, extended hours of direct shine shower can cause growth problems if not damage them.

Best Potting Medium for your Hoya

Formulation of the growing medium is a top determinant for any plant growing happily. As mentioned earlier, hoya macrophylla that grow in the wild thrive in areas with alkaline surfaces and spots.

Since it is almost impossible to create such an environment in homes, using specially crafted potting mixes is the way to go with. Ensure your potting mix isn’t acidic, at least. Basically, to give your houseplant the best you need:

  • Well-drained compost
  • Succulent n organic cactus potting mix
  • A mix of orchid and a standard potting mix

Line your pot with a handful of the loose soilless base. Then top up with equal parts of:

Compost
Organic cactus mix
Perlite
Organic orchid mix

Here are top specific potting mix qualities for your variegated hoya macrophylla:

  • Optimal moisture check for easy and self-water regulation
  • Trace or booster elements for sprouting and flowering

 TopTip: Avoid peat-based potting mix

Fertilizer + Feeding

In the natural habitat, hoyas feed on decayed leaf drop matter. This indicates that they only need what they need to keep going without growing issues. However, a long spell of neglect can translate to failure.

Bare organic fertilizers with super controlled release ability are best suited for this hoya variety. The addition of a handful of worm compost applications is another crucial feeding.

Repotting your Hoya

With this hoya variety, repotting and transplanting ought to be done based on symptomatic tendencies.

You may opt to repot after 4 years but this rule is not self-sufficient.

Watering your Hoya

Whether variegated or not, hoya varieties don’t require too much water. During the winter, they can go for months without being watered again. Neither do they need wet soils during the summer days.

Pruning + Propagation

You can prune and propagate in the same time frame. However, every time you prune does not always mean you can grow new plants. Conversely, the availability of stem trimming may not necessitate propagation. The reason is, that propagation is done usually in summer and spring.

Stem Cutting Propagation + Steps

The stem cutting method is the most common and easiest. It produces far much better results.

What you need:

Sharp pairs of scissors/pruning shears, well-draining potting mix, plastic bags, rooting hormone, water at room temperature

To propagate yours here are simple steps to follow:

  • Select the required number of stem cutting from a healthy mother plant
  • Locate your cutting tools above and below the second node
  • Cut just above the top internode and a few inches of the lower internode
  • Optionally, dip them in the rooting hormone for some time first to speed up root growth
  • Then gently insert the stem cutting either directly into your mix or dip them in water

I prefer using water. Why? You can determine when to transfer the stems to the potting mix as you can see and monitor rooting.

  • Place your potted stems in a bright and warm location
  • Ensure you check potting mix moisture content
  • Keep the pots damp but do not wet or let them dry up
  • Toward the end of week 2 try to pull a number of them slightly upwards
  • If they resist the tugging, you can replant each to 4-inch pots

Can you Prune or Trim your Hoya?

Variegated hoya varieties grown indoors rarely require regular trimming or removal of ‘excess’ sprouts. We discourage any kind of pruning. The reason is, that they may fail to bloom or refuse to bounce back. Even if you seem to have met the specific optimal growth requirements, don’t prune for its sake.

Now, hoya macrophylla varieties (including this one) grow more in size outdoors. If not well looked after, up to 12 inches high means that sometimes they get leggy. Trim those regularly and keep growth widths in proper sizes.

Remember to remove yellowing, older plant parts. In case you damaged any foliage or stems during pruning, rid of them as well. However;

  • Avoid pruning young variegated hoya macrophylla unless there are clear signs of disease/pest attack
  • Don’t trim those (mother) plants that are budding or have flowers

Common Issues with Growing Variegated Hoya Macrophylla (With Q&As)

The common problems encountered when growing these varieties of hoya are overwatering and pests.

Pests and Diseases

High humidity and temperature indoors may favor mold or fungi or both. Signs of a diseased hoya plant include the following:

  • Dark spots on foliage and newly formed shoots
  • Whitish patches on leaves

The good thing is you can help your plants evade instances of diseases from cropping up in your garden. Often, apply both curative and preventive measures.

Pest attacks may result from failure to monitor closely or just neglect of your houseplants.

The most common pests are mealybugs and aphids. Thanks to effective means of preventing, controlling, and killing them.

Overwatering

Allowing hoyas to sit in water for a lengthy period can have negative consequences. Though they might not die that easily, you may not know what is about to happen. The leaves may start to fall off.

Why does my Hoya Macrophylla Fail to Bloom?

Poor lighting and incorrect warmth can be the reason behind your variegated hoya macrophylla’s failure to flower. They need bright light energy to promote budding and flowering.

More obviously, your houseplant won’t flower in the winter. As such do not expect to see wintertime blooms. In fact, your hoya is dormant during this season.

Another cause is disturbing them when they are budding. For example, flower buds may often drop off while moving the plant vessels up and down, now and then.

Variegated Hoya Macrophylla Flowers

When mature, star-shaped tiny flowers are borne from the main vines. In blooms, they possess a waxy appearance. They are uncharacteristic bright in white-pink color shades. Hoya Macrophylla Variegata blooms give out fragrances in the dark. At least they remain without any smell all day.

Do you need to Stake your Hoya Macrophylla?

Do hoya macrophylla love climbing? If you’d like to have yours grow straight up, trellises provide the best support platform. When training them, take care not to break those delicate vines near the shoots. Trellises are easy to make. For your hoyas go for homemade:

The use of moss poles is another suitable way of helping them climb. Moss poles closely mimic the natural epiphytic support in the wild. However, do not make moss soggy or too wet.

If you prefer growing hoyas in hanging pots, better let them trail instead.

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