Once you delight in cultivating the aromatic flowers and lush succulent leaves of a hoya plant (Hoya carnosa), you may wish to expand your collection of these plants and share them with loved ones. Fortunately, mastering the art of propagating a hoya (also known as a wax plant) allows you to easily create more hoyas featuring various leaf shapes and sizes. Follow the detailed guide below to propagate hoya plants from cuttings rooted in water or layered in soil.
**How to Propagate a Hoya Plant in Water**
Witness the wonders of water-based stem propagation by taking a stem cutting from your hoya plant and submerging it in a container of water until it develops roots. This method is simple, cost-effective, and enjoyable to observe as the plant’s roots flourish.
Step 1: Prepare a Container
Select a transparent container for the cutting. Prior to using it, sanitize the container with mild dish soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Fill the container three-fourths full with room-temperature tap water.
Step 2: Take Hoya Cuttings
Choose a healthy stem that is at least 6 inches long and boasts a minimum of three leaves. Identify the nodes along the hoya’s vine, which are distributed throughout. Utilizing clean, sharp garden pruners or scissors, cut a section of the stem just below a leaf node, ensuring that the cut piece contains these nodes from which roots will sprout.
Step 3: Remove Lower Leaves
Strip off the lower leaves near the base of the hoya cutting to prevent them from being submerged in the water and causing decay.
Step 4: Place Cuttings in Water
You can place multiple hoya cuttings in the water-filled container, ensuring that the lowermost nodes are submerged while all leaves remain above the water.
Step 5: Provide Optimal Propagation Conditions
To expedite root development, position the jar of cuttings in a well-lit area with indirect sunlight, maintaining a room temperature of 73°F to 77°F. Replace the water in the container weekly to supply fresh oxygen to the cuttings. Typically, hoya cuttings will establish roots within two to four weeks.
Step 6: Transfer Rooted Cuttings to Soil
Once the cuttings’ roots reach a length of at least 1½ inches, transplant the new hoya plants into pots filled with potting mix. Water the rooted cuttings until excess water drains from the pot’s bottom. Situate the plants in a warm spot that receives indirect sunlight.
**Related: Check Out the Top 7 Potting Soils**
**How to Propagate Hoya in Soil**
One effective method for propagating vining houseplants like hoyas is through layering propagation. With this technique, your hoya cuttings will readily develop roots as they benefit from a constant supply of water and nutrients while still attached to the parent plant
Step 4: Maintain Moisture Levels
To ensure successful propagation, it is crucial to maintain optimal moisture levels throughout the process. Keep the second pot consistently moist while allowing the mother plant to dry out completely between waterings.
Step 5: Cut Vines from Mother Plant
After six to twelve weeks, inspect the new root system in the second pot. Look for roots that have grown to at least 1 inch in length on some of the vines. If sufficient growth is observed, proceed by cutting the vine that connects the small pot to the mother plant.
Helpful Tips
Since the vine has been layered into a new pot, you have the option to keep it intact or divide it into individual rooted nodes for separate propagation, yielding multiple new plants. Once the hoya plant’s roots reach a length of 1 inch, water it similarly to the mother plant. Provide the hoya with bright, indirect light for up to six hours daily to support its growth.
How to Propagate Hoya Heart Plant
Recognized for its charming heart-shaped leaves, the hoya heart plant (Hoya kerri) is a popular choice, especially around Valentine’s Day. While individual leaves may be sold as gifts, they lack the necessary stem tissue to develop into a fully vined plant. For successful propagation, you must acquire a hoya heart plant with a vine containing at least two leaves for stem cutting propagation.
Related: Show Your Love with These 6 Heart-Shaped Houseplants by Kindra Clineff
How to Propagate Hindu Rope Plant
The Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta,’ known for its distinctive crinkled leaves resembling a rope, can be propagated similarly to other hoyas. Root stem cuttings in water or a well-draining potting mix to expand your collection of these unique plants.
For more detailed information, refer to the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.
