If you are looking for an extraordinary trailing houseplant with variegated leaves. Then you should go for hoya memoria gracilis.
It has beautiful green leaves with white lines and grows pink flowers in the active growing season.
Growing and caring for hoya gracilis is simple. You don’t need to buy costly fertilizers and grow lights to grow this plant.
Moreover, it is an inexpensive plant and you can easily buy it from your local garden center.
Summer and Spring are the best seasons to bring it home. Do not buy it in the winter season because it cannot tolerate cold weather.
And it is hard to care for a new plant in the winter season because plants are already in their dormancy period.
Below is the complete guide on hoya memoria gracilis care, propagation, and common problems.
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About the Hoya Memoria Gracilis?
Hoya Memoria Gracilis is native to Asia and Australia. It is an excellent indoor plant because it needs a warm environment to grow.
Under ideal conditions, the expected length of this plant is 30 to 50 cm.
Its drought tolerant capabilities make it easy for growers to grow it at home. It needs less water and less care.
This means you have plenty of free time for your family. Many times, I saw people grow high-care plants and spend their whole free time caring for them.
They don’t have time for their family and friends because their plants are costly and they are busy with them.
I don’t want these types of high-care plants. Because I like to grow houseplants to decorate my home and office.
This is the reason I choose Hoya Memoria Gracilis over other trailing indoor plants.
Because it needs less care, less maintenance, less water, and less fertilizer. To develop beautiful green leaves with white variegation.
It needs indirect bright light to produce pink scented flowers.
The best part is Hoya Memoria Gracilis looks good in plant pots and in hanging baskets.
Hoya Memoria Gracilis Care Requirements
Light Needs of Hoya Gracilis
Light energy is a crucial part of Hoya Gracilis care. Because the white line that you see on the leaves is triggered by indirect bright light.
In low light conditions, your plant will produce green bright shining leaves. But it will not have white lines called variegation.
Therefore, you should place your Hoya Gracilis in a place where it can get plenty of indirect bright light.
Direct sunlight is also not good for its leaves. Sunrays are hot and high-intensity light rays. They damage the leaf tissues and, in some cases, turn them yellow.
Let’s say your Hoya Gracilis Memoria is only producing dark green leaves. In this case to encourage white variegation.
You must expose your plant to morning sunlight (7 am to 10 am) until it develops variegation. Then move it back to its permanent place.
Before bringing it home, decide its location first, to avoid low and bright light problems.
Watering
As I said Hoya Gracilis Memoria can tolerate drought and is a succulent plant. It is prone to root rot and needs less water.
To prevent overwatering-related issues, you should only water once you feel that the top few inches of the potting soil are dry.
If you forget to water it for 2 to 3 days, no problem, it stores enough water in its leaves for such conditions.
Use fresh water and pour it directly around the base of the plant. No need for deep watering and bottom watering.
Hot weather increases the transpiration rate. Therefore, in a hot environment, you need to give more water to your plants.
Whereas in the winter season watering once in 2 weeks is enough to keep it healthy and alive.
I use filtered water for watering my all-indoor plants. They all are happily growing and never face overwatering and underwatering issues.
Filtered water is easy to absorb and plants can store it in large quantities in their leaves and stems.
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Potting Soil
The first thing that you need to keep in mind while selecting potting soil is the pH of the soil. It should be between 6.2 to 7.5 pH.
This range allows roots to absorb a good amount of fertilizer and water from the soil.
The second thing important thing is the nature of potting soil. It should be well-draining and rich in organic material.
Because Hoya Gracilis Memoria does not need much water. We need soil that holds a small amount of water and allows extra water to drain out of the plant pot.
You can use any succulent potting soil that is made by local garden centers and commercial potting mixes.
If you have perlite, compost, and orchid mix at home. Then you can make your own soil formula at a low cost.
Mix perlite, orchid mix, and general potting soil in equal parts. Then add a few cups of compost according to the quantity of the soil to add organic nutrients.
Compost is light in weight and adds a good amount of nitrogen to the soil.
It is the main substance that plants need to grow their green parts. In this case, your plant will use organic nitrogen to produce its bright shining leaves.
Temperature
55 to 95 degrees F is the ideal temperature range for the good health of hoya gracilis plants. In its natural habitat, it enjoys warm weather thought the year.
But in North America, we have snow, frost, and freezing winds.
Therefore, you should protect your plant from cold weather and freezing winds.
In the winter season move your plant indoors if your plant is growing outside. Choose a room that is warmer than the rest of the house.
Do not place it near the heating vents because the hot air flow can make your plant dehydrated. Yellow leaves and dry soil are the two common signs of dehydration.
The best place will be away from windows and doorways. Choose a bright corner and let your plant go in dormancy and take some rest.
Below 55 degrees F temperature freezes the tissues of its leaves. As a result, you see blisters on leaves.
To protect itself from cold weather Hoya Gracilis, fold its leaf edges and shrink its leaf size.
Humidity
The general home humidity is good for Hoya Gracilis Memoria care and maintenance. It is good if you buy a hygrometer and measure the air moisture in your home.
It should be above 45% and below 65% for the good health of plants and your family members.
This range is easy to maintain and you have various methods to do so.
Particularly for your plants, you can use a plant humidifier. Place it near your plants and turn it ON.
For overall home humidity, you can use a home humidifier, and then no need to buy an extra plant humidifier.
But if your home humidity is good but your plant is showing low humid signs. Use a spray bottle and mist some water on its leaves.
It is safe to spray water on Hoya Memoria on low humid days.
Fertilizing
To boost the production of leaves and flowers. You can use organic nutrients. I use compost and manure to improve potting soil fertility.
But I found that compost tea is the best fertilizer for hoya plants.
I make compost in my garden so I have lots of compost tea for my plants. But if you don’t have it you can use organic liquid fertilizer.
Go to Amazon for the best deals and search for organic general-purpose houseplant fertilizers.
Choose any with a good percentage of nitrogen.
Dilute it in water before use and pour it around the base of the plant. Do not spray it over the plant leaves.
To prevent overfertilization, you should only fertilize Hoya Gracilis Memoria in spring and summer.
Use the nutrient-rich solution once in 20 days.
Keep in mind that when we use fertilizers to boost our plant health. They required more water to store and use given nutrients.
Pruning
Trailing plants need frequent pruning because they produce many vines and many leaves per vine.
The aim of pruning is to keep the size of Hoya Gracilis Memoria in control and improve its appearance.
Use sterilized shears to cut the yellow, brown, and dry leaves and vines.
By removing them you are pushing your plant to produce more new growth. Your plant will grow dense with new shining leaves.
Toxicity
Hoya Gracilis Memoria is safe for pets and humans. This means you can grow it at any place without worrying about toxicity.
The sap of the plant and other parts does not cause any toxic effects or skin irritations.
This is a beautiful plant and its leaves are its real beauty. To maintain its beautiful appearance, you should teach your kids not to pluck the leaves and flowers.
You can involve them when you work on your plant. This way they will learn about plants and continue the habit of growing indoor plants.
Repotting
Repotting is required every 2 years to boost its health. For repotting you should use 2 inches wider pot than the current pot.
There must be a 2 inches space between the root ball and the walls of the plant pot.
Fill the new pot with fresh potting soil and place your plant in it. Then fill the rest of the pot with soil and gently tap around the base of the plant.
Give some water and you’re done with repotting. At first, you see signs of weakness in your plant. They are temporary and hoya will heal itself with time.
In 5 to 7 days your plant will adapt to its new home and you will have a thriving and shining Hoya Gracilis Memoria.
Hoya Gracilis Propagation
We will go with the stem propagation method. It is easy and has a higher success rate. Below are the steps of propagation.
- Choose a healthy stem with healthy leaves and leaf nodes
- Cut the 5 to 6 inches long stem just below the leaf node
- It should have 3 to 4 leaves at the top, you can remove the bottom leaves
- Take a glass of water and dip the stem cutting in it, make sure the leaves stay above the water
- Place this glass in a warm and humid place
- Protect it from direct sunlight and indirect light is sufficient for the growth of new roots
- Change the water once it gets unclear
- Within a few days, you will see the tiny new roots
- Transfer your plant to potting soil once the new roots grow more than 1 inch long
Pests and Diseases
Generally, hoya gracilis is disease resistant plant. But overwatering can result in root rot and leaf rot. Limit the use of water and you will never face any problem with your plant.
But in case your plant has yellow leaves with wet soggy soil. This indicates the presence of root fungus.
Immediately unpot your plant and inspect the roots. Cut the damaged roots and use fresh soil to plant your treated plant in a new pot.
Give a little bit of water to just keep the soil slightly moist. After 10 hours give a good amount of water. Your plant will show healthy signs in 10 to 15 days.
Because roots take time to grow and spread underneath the soil.
Pest Infestations
All houseplants attract insects and hoya gracilis is no different. But by keeping your plant and surroundings clean.
You can prevent pest infestations.
Make a habit of regular inspection of plants. I inspect my plants while watering them you can also do so to save your time and energy.
I also use neem oil spray twice a month on my all-indoor plants. Because I don’t want to fight plant diseases and pests.
Anti-bacterial properties of neem prevent fungus bacteria and pests. Pests get attracted to the sweet sap of the plant.
But when they find neem on the plant leaves, they leave the plant and move to the next one.
Conclusion
Hoya Gracilis Memoria Care is easy for beginners and hobby growers. For its good health protects it from cold weather and overwatering conditions.
Use filtered water and expose it to indirect bright light to encourage flowering.
Use neem soil and keep your plant clean to prevent diseases and pests.
