Hoya Compacta aka Hindu Rope Plant Ultimate Guide

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Introduction to Hoya plant

Hoya plant is native to South India. Like most other varieties of hoya plants, this species grows very well in its natural habitat. If you want to grow it at your home. You need to give it the most suitable growing environment. Hoya is an air plant with succulent leaves and attractive flowers.

Now you know the two characteristics of your hoya compacta plant. These will help you to Develop a grow and care routine for your Hindu rope plant.

Hindu rope plant needs similar care to the orchids and other air plants. If you have a succulent at home then it will be easy for you to grow this plant in hanging baskets. Because growing and caring techniques of all succulent plants are similar to each other.

Hindu rope plant is a slow-growing plant. Hoya plants do not require much attention and care. They grow easily in almost all home environments. But it is best if you give hoya plants their best-growing environment by making some changes in their growing place.

Hoya Compacta Soil

Many professionals prefer cacti potting soil, succulent soil, etc for growing hoya plants.

You can use commercial potting soil by adding some perlite to it. Any type of succulent potting soil will go best for growing the hoya plant.

But don’t add sand to the mixture because when you water the mixture it gets compacted. In simple words, it gets tightly packed and become heavy that reduces the aeration. For growing healthy hoya plants you need to choose the Hoya soil with good draining abilities along with good aeration properties.

You need to choose the lightweight soil for the Hindu rope plant. If you like to make potting soil for the hoya plant at home use the following mediums.

1. Perlite

2. Pine bark

3. Clay pellets

4. Pebbles

But not sand in any case.

There is one another factor that affects your choice of soil, is Humidity. If you are living in a high humid area then you need to choose soil that dries quickly. On the other hand side, for low humid areas, you should choose soil that can hold moisture for several hours.

Best pots for your Hoya Compacta

Hindu rope plant is vine type houseplant. This means it is very suitable for hanging baskets. You should choose the correct size of the container. Because the plant roots are packed together. If you choose the large size pot then normal.

Then your will plant spends 80% of the energy on developing roots. Your hoya compacta will not grow healthy and produce enough flowers.

A small size pot is good for growing hoya plants. As it prefers repoting, you need to repot it once the pot becomes too small for the plant.

The main benefit of using small pots is. When you have a small quantity of potting mix it will dry out quickly. This saves your plant from root fungus diseases.

Of course, you need to choose the pot or hanging basket with a draining hole, as this hole protects your plant from rainwater and overwatering.

Best fertilizer for the hoya plant

Start fertilizing it from the mid of the spring season to the summer. Hoya carnosa compacta do not need high fertilization. In fact, you only need to fertilize it once a month. For a happy hoya plant fertilize it in its vegetative stage.

High nitrogen fertilizer from hoya carnosa compact Amazon USA,

Do not fertilize your Hindu rope plant in fall and winter because it is its rest period. If you fertilize in this stage your plant will suffer from over-fertilization. And develop dry, brown edge leaves.

Also don’t fertilize it when it is blooming this will not encourage it to produce more flowers. In fact, it will put extra stress on it.

For brilliant results always use liquid fertilizers for houseplants that are growing in pots and containers.

If you are sure your plant is suffering from excessive fertilization. To save it, Change the potting soil and plant it in a new potting mix.

Sunlight for Hindu Rope Plant

Your hoya plant will survive in low-light conditions. It will develop light green foliage but it will not bloom. For good bloom, you need to give it in-direct bright light. The light source can be natural (SUN) or an artificial grow light.

or

Place it on the east-facing window, the plant can handle little direct sunlight. Always Remember morning sunrays are always beneficial for all types of plants. From sunrise to 9 am sun rays are warm enough to put new life in dull dying plants.

If you plan to use grow lights for your plant, do not use HPS grow lights. T5 grow lights are recommended for plants that cannot tolerate direct sunlight.

Turn ON your light for 10 to 14 hours per day in its initial growth stage. When you see your Hindu rope plant is producing more greens increase the lighting hours to 16 hours per day.

Humidity for Hoya carnosa Compacta plant

30 to 40 percent humidity is enough for the hoya carnosa plants. We have 20 to 30 percent humidity in our homes. To increase it turn ON your humidifier. If you don’t have one you can move to the next methods.

Put your plant container on a tray filled with rocks, this will increase the humidity near the plant. Fill the tray with water.

Do not put it in your bathroom to give it a humidity boost. High humidity can develop root rot disease in your plant roots. The bathroom is not a good place for growing plants.

How to water Hindu rope plants?

The good news is hindu rope plants don’t need frequent watering like other house plants. In cold months water it occasionally. In Spring and summers give water when the potting mix gets dry completely.

Overwatering can kill your plants in a few days.

Do not spray water on its leaves, always give water to its roots. Because in this way the excess of water will drain out through the drain holes. This will save your plant from many over-watering diseases.

Correct Temperature for Hindu plant

You will be happy to know that the Carnosa plant likes to grow in 15 to 30 degrees C. We have our home temperature in the same range. You don’t need to do anything special for maintaining the ideal temperature for your growing hindu rope plant.

How to propagate Hoya Carnosa Compacta?

Use sharp shears to cut the healthy stems and grow another plant from it. The cuttings should be healthy and free of diseases.

Put the cutting in the water and roots will develop in a few days. Change the water every other day. Use fresh drinkable water for developing roots.

Or

Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in the container. Spray some water on the soil to keep it moist. Then cover the pot with plastic wrap to make the greenhouse effect. Roots will come out in a few days.

When to repot hoya carnosa compacta plant?

You may need to repot your plant in the following conditions:

Overfertilization

Potting mix become nutrient deficient

Potting soil drying out quicker than normal

Oversize roots

Unhealthy plant

Blocked draining hole

Always repot house plants in their growing stage. Never try to repot them in their rest period. Also do not repot when plants are blooming (producing flowers). Choose a new pot just 2 inches bigger than the existing one.

FAQ

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