Hoyas are some of the most popular types of houseplants because they are not only easy to take care of, but they are also beautiful and a great way to brighten up any room. Hoya Curtisii is a compact Hoya variety, which makes it perfect for use around desks, in offices, or in other compact locations.
This article covers:
- What Hoya Curtisii is and what it looks like
- How to care for it including the best amount of water and light
- Common problems for this plant and what to do if they happen
Let’s get started!
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Table of Contents
What is Hoya Curtisii?
The Hoya Curtisii, as the name suggests, is a Hoya cultivar, which are commonly called Wax Plants. However, since all Hoyas are wax plants, if you want this specific type you need to use the full botanical name Hoya Curtisii.
Hoya Curtisii is a trailing vine that is substantially smaller than some of the other Hoya cultivars, which makes it a great choice if you don’t have a ton of space. It can grow two to three inches in height and about 1 foot wide.
The leaves are round or shaped like hearts with a thickness that mimics succulents. With a dark, somewhat olive-green color and silver to gray variegation, Hoya Curtisii is a wonderfully attractive plant for any home.
They flower in some conditions and produce a sweet scent, but it usually takes years of healthy growth before they will bloom. When they do though, the flowers will form in round clusters like a sphere with bright red flowers that will have yellow centers.
While Hoyas are very easy to take care of in general, when compared to some others, Hoya Curtisii is a little more difficult. Still, with the right care tips below, you will have a lovely Hoya Curtisii plant in no time.
If you want to compare it with other Hoyas, check out this video about some of the prettiest, but harder to take care of cultivars:
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How to Care for Hoya Curtisii
To care for a Hoya Curtissi, you simply need to know how to produce the right type of environment that it likes. While it isn’t the easiest Hoya to care for, it is by no means hard to do if you know how.
In general, since Hoyas are from Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, they prefer warm humidity. Let’s look at how to care for the plant so you can have a gorgeous addition to your home.
Light
Hoya Curtisii plants like a lot of light, preferably bright indirect light. That means they should get a lot of light, but not too directly because it can scorch or harm the leaves. A little direct sunshine should not do too much to harm your plant, but that also depends on the region you live in and how direct the sun is.
We recommend placing your Hoya Curtisii almost directly in front of a window that faces the East. This will give it bright mostly direct light only in the morning, which means it gets what it needs, but is less likely to get burned.
Western windows may also work well as long as you are careful during the direct sunshine, especially during the summer.
If you want it to bloom after a few years, then you might need more light, which means you have to cultivate the perfect balance between bright enough light, but not too direct to burn the leaves.
Water
Watering is important for any plant, which includes Hoya Curtisii. While they prefer humidity, they don’t need as much water as you may think. In fact, they are quite tolerant of droughts and may even do best if you allow them to completely dry in between waterings.
Every time you water, you will have to water all the way through so that every portion of the soil is moist, but don’t overwater because it can cause root rot. That’s exactly why your pot needs drainage holes.
Before watering, place your finger on the top part of the soil to ensure it is dry enough. At the very minimum, the top 1 inch should be dry as a bone. It may be better to have 1.5 to 2 inches of dry soil before watering.
Soil
Hoyas, including Hoya Curtisii, hate when water sits tightly around their root systems, which is why you need to use well-draining soil. You can purchase a well-draining potting soil mix of course, but we want to recommend a blend that you can make yourself that may work better for Hoya Curtisii.
Use 2 parts of a succulent mix and then add 1 part perlite and a little pumice. Mix them thoroughly together. This works so well to ensure all the excess water drains out of the bottom of the pot, so that root rot doesn’t inflict on your wonderful plant.
Fertilizer is also a consideration regardless of whether you make your own planting soil or use a premade mixture.
Hoya Curtisii doesn’t need a ton of fertilizer, but it can help with healthy, fast growth during the growing season of spring and summer. Use a premium fertilizer and dilute to 50% and follow the directions on the bottle.
You will not need to use fertilizer at all during the fall and winter and doing so can cause more harm to your plant than good.
Temperature and Humidity
Hoya Curtisii likes humidity, but most people’s homes offer plenty. However, if your humidity is under 50% then you can add a humidifier and get it up a little more to promote healthier foliage. In fact, they like it up to 70% humidity, so you may even try growing one in the bathroom. Every shower will make the conditions better for your Hoya Curtisii friend.
These plants cannot handle frost at all. Even continuous temperatures below 60°F are bad for the plant. Anything above 95°F is also bad for the plant, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you are growing them indoors.
Common Issues with Hoya Curtisii
There are several issues that can arise with Hoya Curtisii, but if you know what to do in order to address the problem efficiently, they aren’t likely to harm your plant severely. Let’s examine the most common problems and what you can do to prevent them or treat them when they occur.
Yellow Leaves
With Hoya Curtisii, yellow leaves are most likely a sign that you have given your plant too much water. This could be caused by poor drainage or simply watering it before it needs more moisture. Make sure that the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is completely dry before watering. When you water, make sure that it drains out the bottom. If not, then you may need to use better soil or unclog the potholes.
Wrinkling Leaves
Wrinkled leaves are a sign that you are not watering enough, especially if the soil is also dry. If they are wrinkling with moist soil, then it could be root rot. Otherwise, make sure that you water consistently and the wrinkled leaves should come back to health soon. For more information on root rot check the next paragraph on dropping leaves.
Drooping Leaves
Drooping leaves, especially if they are also discolored and sickly in appearance, are likely a sign that the plant has root rot. If this is the case, then you will need to place it in another pot and remove all the affected portions of the root systems. Then, use completely new soil and try to let the plant dry out throughout every time before you water.
Pests
Hoya Curtisii can attract lots of different pests and they can start to eat your plant and even kill it if you do nothing about the infestation. Pests including spider mites, scale, thrips, and mealybugs are the most likely to attack your Hoya plants. Neem oil is usually sufficient for getting rid of them and can also prevent a future infestation.
Thin or Crispy Leaves
If you have thin or crispy leaves that are turning dark yellow or brown, that is probably caused by either too little humidity or too much direct sunlight. For Hoya Curtisii, direct sunlight is the more likely culprit, which means you may have to move it further away from a window or provide some more shade than you have before. If it’s the humidity that is the problem, then get a humidifier or set a pebble of water and small stones underneath the pot.
Final Thoughts on Hoya Curtisii
Hoya Curtisii is great with lovely round leaves, bright green and gray foliage, and easy-to-case for formidability. Just make sure you follow our care instructions and provide the right environment with lots of bright indirect light, well-draining soil, and other factors and you should be happy with your plant for years to come.