The Hoya Pubicalyx is a beautiful plant that smells sweet and is easy to care for, even for beginners. The gorgeous indoor/outdoor plant offers pink flowers once the plant matures.
Keep reading to learn about the Hoya pubicalyx and the benefits they offer new and experienced plant owners.
Table of Contents
Hoya Pubicalyx Overview
The Hoya pubicalyx plant is a succulent vine. It naturally climbs and has glossy leaves and stems. It comes from the Apocynaceae family and the hoya genus. It is a great indoor plant, despite being native to the Philippines and a tropical environment. With the right temperature and humidity, the plant can thrive almost anywhere.
The plant is also known as the Pink Silver, Pink Silver Vine, and Wax plant thanks to its waxy leaves and stems. A few other less common names for it include Krimson Queen, Krimson Princess, and Hindu Rope.
There are hundreds of varieties within the Hoya genus. Most varieties are considered splash plants because the leaves look like they have splashes on them. For example, the Hoya pubicalyx Red Button plant has dark purple flowers with a red middle resembling a button. The Hoya Pubicalyx Royal Hawaiian Purple has silver leaves and pink flowers with black star-shaped flowers in the middle.
| Botanical Name | Hoya Pubicalyx |
| Family | Apocynaceae family |
| Genus | Hoya |
| Origin | Philippines |
| Sunlight | Indirect light for 6 to 7 hours |
| Watering | Frequently during the growing season and infrequently during the dormant season |
| Humidity | 60% – 70% |
| Soil | Moist |
| Temperature | Between 65 and 85 degrees |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings |
| Re-Potting | Not necessary |
| Pests and Diseases | Mealybugs, aphids, white flies, and root rot nematode |
| Toxicity | Contains a toxic liquid in the stem; keep out of reach of children and pets. |
Hoya Pubicalyx Features
The Hoya pubicalyx plant grows to approximately 10 feet indoors and as high as 12 feet in its natural habitat. The leaves on this vining plant are evergreen and glossy, skinny, and get a protective pink silver from the pigment it creates to protect it, called Anthocyanin.
The hoya pink comes out when the plant is in direct sunlight, so the more sunlight it gets, the more color the leaves have.
In optimal conditions, a healthy plant produces red or dusty pink flowers. The flowers have a star-shaped, pink center and are highly fragrant, especially at night.
Fortunately, the Hoya pubicalyx plant isn’t toxic. But, it’s not meant for ingestion, so keeping it out of reach from kids and pets is best.
Hoya Pubicalyx Care Guide
Fortunately, caring for Hoya pubicalyx is easy, making it an excellent plant for anyone, even if you don’t think you have a ‘green thumb.’
Here’s what you should know about taking care of the Hoya pink silver plant.
Ideal Growing Place
The Hoya pubicalyx is a tropical plant that loves humidity and sunlight. It thrives both indoors and outdoors, but it does not like frost. Bring your tropical plant indoors to protect it if temperatures dip below 50 degrees for a day or two.
Water
The Hoya pink plant should have consistently moist soil in its growing season. Never let it get soggy, though, or that could allow bacteria growth. Ideally, you should water the plant three times a week during the spring and summer.
In the winter months, your watering schedule should change. This is a time of rest, so the plant only needs watering once a week. Before you water it, check the potting soil. The top few inches should be dry before watering. Avoid overwatering the plant. Too much water could cause disease and prevent blooming.
It’s best to use distilled water on the plant. But, if you don’t have distilled water, consider collecting rainwater to give the plant the most nutrients.
If you forget to water your Hoya vine, don’t replenish it all at once. Instead, give it frequent, small waterings to help nurse it back to health. Do this slowly for over a week to ensure it gets the nutrients it needs.
Sunlight
The Hoya splash loves indirect sunlight. Therefore, it needs at least 6 to 7 hours of bright indirect light. With proper lighting, the leaves will turn a beautiful pink silver color. Too much sun, however, will scorch the leaves.
If you don’t have 6 to 7 hours of indirect sunlight, direct sunlight will work in the morning, but only for 2 – 3 hours. Make sure to move it quickly to avoid excessive sun exposure.
If you keep your Hoya pubicalyx indoors and don’t have indirect sunlight, you can place it under a grow light. However, it must be under the light for 16 hours in the growing season (late spring to late summer) and 12 to 14 hours in non-growing seasons.
Temperature
The Hoya pubicalyx pink silver plant needs a warm and humid place. It doesn’t like dry heat and does best in temperatures of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure if your plant is outdoors, you bring it in if temperatures fall below 65 degrees or if there is a frost warning.
Soil
The Hoya pubicalyx splash flower likes well-draining soil with plenty of aeration for the roots. If you’re looking at store-bought soil mix, look at cactus or succulent soil. But, you can also make your own soil. Just make sure you use plenty of organic matter, such as organic compost, perlite, or orchid bark.
Humidity
Since the Hoya silver is a tropical plant, it loves humidity. It needs at least 60% – 70% humidity to thrive. If your area doesn’t support such high humidity levels, you can artificially raise the humidity levels by using a humidifier or lightly spraying the leaves often.
Fertilizer
In general, the Hoya vine doesn’t need fertilizer. So it’s important not to fertilize it in the non-growing season. However, it might do well in the growing season with some liquid fertilizer. Choose one that’s high in potassium. You can also fertilize it with compost tea or fish emulsion (diluted).
Before fertilizing your plant, make sure the soil is moist. You should never fertilize dry soil.
Pinching/Pruning
It’s best to prune your Hoya pubicalyx in the spring or summer, but after it’s done blooming. Pruning is required, though. However, this trailing plant does fine without pruning; if you prune while it’s blooming, it might not fully bloom.
If you prune it, start from the bottom and trim any unsightly or damaged leaves or if the plant is too large, you can prune part of the plant to propagate and make new plants.
Potting and Repotting
You don’t have to repot this trailing plant often. It doesn’t have extensive roots, and the roots it has like to be root-bound. If you find the plant is too large for the current pot, only choose a pot that’s an inch or two larger. If you use a large pot, the roots may not take.
The Hoya pubicalyx also grows best in a terra cotta pot, but any pot will do if you don’t have one.
Growth Zone
The Hoya vine grows best in zones 10b and 11b if you plant it outdoors. However, if you have it as an indoor plant, you can have it in any climate, but make sure it gets the proper temperature and humidity levels.
Common Pests, Toxins, Diseases & Other Problems
The Hoya pubicalyx pink silver is a beautiful plant with a wonderful fragrance, but it also has its pest and disease issues.
The most common pest problems are mealybugs, aphids, and white flies. However, the most problematic pest is the root rot nematode. Plants that suddenly turn yellow or start wilting usually have root rot nematode. It’s essential to separate the part of the plant that’s affected and, unfortunately, destroy it. Left untreated, the pest could kill your plant.
As for the other common pests, you can use water, neem oil, or insecticidal soap to remove the pests. However, if you have white flies, it’s best to place yellow sticky traps to reduce their population near your plants.
In addition to pests, the Hoya pubicalyx can be toxic. It contains a fluid inside it that looks like milk and is toxic. Keep the plant away from kids and pets for good measure. When trimming the plant, you may also want to wear gloves.
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Propagation
It’s easy to propagate the Hoya pink plant. All you need are cuttings from the stem or leaves. The best time to propagate is in the early spring. This gives it time to root, so it’s ready for the active growing season.
To propagate:
- Grab a pair of sterilized pruning shears and cut the stems into 5 to 7-inch lengths, cutting from the growing end.
- Remove leaves from the end and let the leaf cuttings sit in the shade.
- Plant the cutting in 4-inch deep soil moist with water.
The soil must remain moist in the first few weeks, so plan on watering at least three times a week. Keep the plant in bright indirect light and make sure it has enough humidity, and wait for the roots to develop. Once rooted, you can repot the plant outdoors or inside.
If you don’t have any cuttings, you can also grow Hoya pubicalyx from seeds in a peat moss soil mixture. However, it takes around five weeks for germination in the perfect environment, which means warm temperature and adequate humidity.
Hoya Pubicalyx Mature Timeline
It can take up to three to four weeks for a Hoya pubicalyx roots to take, and then the plant grows fast. In maturity, it measures up to 20 feet in nature or about 10 feet indoors.
Hoya Pubicalyx FAQ
How Old Does Hoya Pubicalyx Have to Be Before They Bloom?
Typically, the Hoya pubicalyx plant doesn’t start blooming until it’s fully mature, which can take a few years, depending on its cultivator.
How Many Hoya Pubicalyx Varieties Exist?
There are over 600 varieties of the Hoya pubicalyx plant.
What Is the Difference Between Hoya Pubicalyx and Hoya Carnosa?
The main difference between the Hoya pubicalyx and the Hoya carnosa is the leaves. The leaves on the Hoya vines are thin and waxy. But the leaves on the Hoya carnosa compacta are broader and shorter. The carnosa leaves also don’t have the same splash effect as the Pubicalyx splash.
What Is the Difference Between Hoya Pubicalyx and Hoya Splash?
The Hoya splash is the same plant as the Hoya pubicalyx; it is just another name for it.
Why Is My Hoya Pubicalyx Plant Not Blooming?
Typically, when a Hoya plant isn’t blooming, it’s because it isn’t getting enough light. While the Hoya requires indirect light, it needs at least 6 to 7 hours of it. If you can’t give it that, consider using artificial indoor plant lights to encourage your plant to bloom.
How Do I Train My Hoya Pubicalyx to Vine?
The Hoya plant is straightforward to train. Just take a couple of vines and twist them around whatever you want them to vine on. This is enough to get the remaining vines to follow suit.
How to Train Hoya Plants to Grow Along a Path?
To encourage your trailing Hoya to grow the way you want, simply guide the vines in the direction you want them using any support items that will allow your plant to grow in the direction you want.
How Can I Remove Hard Water Spots From Hoya Pubicalyx Leaves?
If your Hoya has hard water stains, use a mixture of 1 teaspoon vinegar (can be red or white) and a pint of warm water. Gently rub the leaves with the mixture to remove the stains.
Is Hoya Pubicalyx a Hybrid?
Yes, the Hoya pubicalyx is a hybrid plant with almost 600 other varieties.
Is Hoya Pubicalyx a Fast Grower?
Yes, the Hoya plant is a fast grower. Within its family, it’s known as the fastest-growing plant.
What Does the Hoya Pubicalyx Flower Smell Like?
The Hoya Pubicalyx has a highly sweet fragrance that is especially noticeable at night.
How Long Do Trailing Hoya Vines Grow?
The trailing Hoya vines grow as long as 20 feet outdoors and 10 feet indoors.
Is Hoya Pubicalyx a Succulent?
Yes, the Hoya pink silver is a succulent vine native to the Philippines.
How Long Do Hoya Pubicalyx Blooms Last?
The Hoya plants’ flowers last through most of the growing season. After that, the flowers take on a bouquet shape but only appear once the plant is mature, which could take several years.
What Kind of Pot Is Suitable for a Hoya Pubicalyx?
It’s best to use a terra cotta pot for the Hoya plant, as they thrive the best in it.
Is Hoya Pubicalyx Rare?
The Hoya plant isn’t incredibly rare, but it can be somewhat hard to find depending on the time of year.
Is Hoya Pubicalyx Toxic or Poisonous to Pets and Humans?
The Hoya plant has a toxic milk liquid inside of its stems. It’s best to keep it away from children or pets that could accidentally ingest it.
Hoya Pubicalyx: The Bottom Line
The Hoya pubicalyx makes a beautiful plant for indoors or out. If you live in a humid environment, it will thrive and reward you with beautiful flowers. However, if the weather turns cold in your area, bring it indoors before it frosts. Always give it plenty of bright indirect light to continue its growth.
Last Updated on September 5, 2022 by Gustaf Johansson
