There are about 600 to 900 known species of hoya carnosa. These include cultivars and hybrids. Among the hoyas, carnosa is the most common species. Carnosa (cultivars or hybrids) are stunning vine houseplants. They are fast growers.
Our care details cover growing our top 5 carnosa cultivars:
- Krimson queen
- Krimson princess
- Hoya obovata
- Hoya australis
- Hoya carnosa tricolor
Hoyas are native to Southern India. In the wild, they can be found growing in warm and humid regions of Southeastern Asia and Australia. Carnosas are Apocynaceae family members.
Hoya Carnosa Vines and Flowers
Vines of these hoyas are described as dangling, trailing, climbing or hanging. Flowers are borne from the stems.

The different varieties of hoya carnosa will produce parachute-like clusters of flowers. The blooms are star-shaped. They are white-pink flowers with five-point centers.

Though small, carnosa flowers are composed and detailed so finely. They are shiny and admirable whenever they are borne.
How do you Care for Hoya Carnosa?

Here are simple care guide tips for growing carnosa.
1) Humidity-temperature Index
Finding the preferable humidity for the variety that you have is another great piece of care detail. These wax plants love an environment with 50% low average humid air.
For healthy and happy growth, your indoor hoya carnosa should be exposed to (65 – 75°F. Never allow the temperature to drop as low as 58°F. Shield your houseplant against cold drafts from openings and doorways.
2) How Much Water does a Carnosa Need?
The fact that carnosa varieties have succulent-like plant features does not mean they need less water.
The best watering practice for these houseplants is basing their need on the season. From spring, summer to spring let your carnosa drink once a week but lightly. Water only when 1 inch of pot topsoil has dried out.
Follow up on this light watering with misting. If you have to mist just use mineral-free water at room temperature. Use a saucer pan so that you discard even the excessive drips.
During the winter, increase the watering interval. Critical to the slow growth during this time is that there is little evaporation. That is why the plant requires little water.
3) Repotting (How-when-to Tips)
I discourage planters from repotting carnosa varieties. The majority, if not pretty much all the varieties, love being root-bound. Most gardeners who love these potted unique plants can repot in the third year.
Planning to replant your carnosa? The most convenient time to repot is early springtime. However, don’t wait until the end of summer.
Prepare a matter-rich houseplant mix. Or just blend out of the following:
- 2 parts organic potting soil
- compost
- worm castings
- orchid grow mix – comprising fine fir bark & perlite
Even in their third year, repot only based on the following indications:
- watering your carnosa variety very often than not
- pot medium drying out quickly
- roots have peeped out of the drainage holes
- plant width seems to have outgrown the size of its pot
Then carry out the following step-by-step:
- Gently remove the whole plant from its current vessel - Loosen the root ball - If it is root-bound, make a few vertical cuts in the root ball - Select 1 – 2 inches (in diameter) larger pots with drainage holes - Go for new terracotta pots (or your preferred ones) - Use the above propagating soil/mix formula

4) Fertilizing and Feeding your Carnosa
How often do you fertilize these hoyas? Use a liquid with 2:1:2 or 3:1:2 once or twice every month to boot growth.
Your Hoya carnosa houseplant needs to be nourished well. Well-balanced feeding caters for nutrition. Feed it 2 or 3 times in early spring through summer. Additionally, you can apply worm castings every spring .
Nourishing your houseplant is indispensable if all you want is flowers. Many species can bloom seven more times.
Withhold fertilizers and foods during the fall & winter months because the plants need to rest.
5) Pruning Carnosa
Do you want to control its size, ease training, have material for propagation or just thin it out? Have a clear objective when it comes to pruning. Pruning a carnosa should be as purposeful as your gardening intent.
Handfuls of this hoya variety can grow large and be unhandy. This makes it difficult to manage them. Therefore, need to prune them back. Additionally, when should you and when not prune? What does it involve anyway?
Essentially, it involves cutting back brown stems and trimming vigorous ones. Keep in mind that, the removal of dead leaves and dead stems is not inherent to pruning.
But take care! Don’t prune off the leafless stem with those tubular projections of tissue (spurs). This is the same point where the flowers grow again and again.
6) Light Needs (Candle Lumens) for your Hoya
Many hoya varieties do best in bright light. A few can tolerate direct sunlight a little bit.
For some types of hoya carnosa to bloom or just flower, a little direct light could make the difference.
Indoors, a south or west-facing window is ideal for less solid green foliage. Variegated Hoyas like the hoya macrophylla, H. carnosa ‘Krimson Princess’, ‘Krimson Queen’ need more light, but solid green varieties tolerate much more moderate light.
Any variety with solid green foliage is suitable for an east-facing window. If you live in the tropics, situate this one a few inches from the windowsill.
Outdoors, nearly all hoyas will love bright spots with dappled shade. If you love those hanging vines, such outdoor rooms are the best.
7) Winter Care (Dormancy)
Unlike many popular houseplants, these hoyas do not switch to the dormant phase in wintertime. Growth only slows down.
However, they have one major weakness in the winter. If you overwater they will disappoint. As such, you need to pay attention to watering.
Other crucial wither care details are as follows:
- stop fertilizing until spring
- Maintain or elevate humidity levels if you detect a drop
- Keep your houseplant away from the heat vents and other sources of heat
Carnosa Variety List (with Pictures)
According to your set of gardening ideals, 900 hoya varieties are enough to choose from.
If you love hanging baskets or just vining and climbing, or bushy and erect foliage – have your say.
Before buying, decide what available space you have. Think of your location. For instance, light quality, intensity, and duration may be affected by light.
I won’t list down every kind of hoya carnosa. So, here I have categorized based on subtle individual features.
a) More Succulent Varieties
This variety loves spots that receive diffused or dappled light. As such, they won’t love it if they are subjected to direct and strong light/heating environments.
More succulent ones include:
- Hoya kerrii
- Hoya crassicaulis
- Hoya diversifolia
- Hoya tricolor
b) Market-hot Varieties
Not all carnosa varieties or types can be found trading in the market. Some are hybrids and each has its uniqueness which in turn affects market value.
- Krimson Princess
- Krimson Queen
- Argentea Princess
- Chelsea
- Exotica
- Grey Ghost
- Compacta (Indian Rope)
- Tri-Color
c) Cheap vs. Expensive Varieties
A few known factors contribute to the cost variation of Hoya carnosa. While some are affordable some are quite expensive.
Rarity is the most common reason for the varying prices. Auction, demand, specificity in care requirements and value attached to them are other possible reasons.
Some of the most expensive hoya carnosa species, cultivars and hybrids include:
- Hoya compacta
- Chelsea
Propagation or Rooting Issues
Another issue that attributes to the varying price of a carnosa, is propagation easiness. For example, hoya compacta (as a variety) establishes slowly. As such, when you take a cutting, it can take months before new roots grow.
Going hand in hand with propagation, once you do get this plant into the soil, it can take a long time to fully establish itself.
Variegated Carnosa
More of the variegated forms of Hoya carnosa is a bit more expensive than those not. For instance, the price of a hoya carnosa compacta is generally higher regardless of location. Krimson princess and queen vary slightly in price.
More Specific Growing Conditions
This plant needs humidity. The average home won’t have enough for this plant, so you will need to take extra care in creating the environment it needs. And that some cultivars need specific growing needs that may affect popularity.
d) Hanging or Climbing Varieties?
Do you prefer your hoya to climb or hang from a basket? Well, that depends on your aesthetic view and the place gardening has taken inside you. Climbing hoyas have tendrils. Some are hungry climbers. They won’t hesitate to climb over the walls.

For those climbing varieties, there are staking framework options if you want them to climb.

- Moss pole
- Ladder trellises
- Wire trellises with rubber or silicone)
More importantly, train your houseplant to climb in the fashion you desire. If your cultivars have long tendrils, use clips to give them some support. Then carefully wrap the vines around the trellises.
Some have larger leaves. It is great to let them hang and cascade down freely. Consequently, if you don’t want them to climb, find some ample space with quality indirect light.
e) Trailing Carnosa (Pictures)
Trailing variety when not trained, grow out of their pots and drag along the ground. Interestingly, these trailers can grow as long as 10 ft (3m).



- Hoya carnosa. Gardeners’ World. https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/hoya-carnosa/. Accessed online 1 July 2023
- Guide To Houseplants. Wax Plant. https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/wax-plant.html. Accessed online 1 July 2023
- Hoya Carnosa. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Hoya-carnosa. Accessed online 1 July 2023
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