The porcelain flower has meanwhile become a rarity on the window sills of plant lovers. The tropical beauty from the Far East has a lot to offer visually, olfactorily and in terms of design. In addition, it is not particularly maintenance-intensive.
Table of Contents
Show all- sorts
- Natural area of origin: Far Asia, Australia and Oceania
- Habitats in tropical to dry forests, coastal and high altitude areas
- Actually epiphyte
- Fast growth, flexible shoots suitable for shaping
- Many climbing varieties - suitable for climbing
- Small, racemose umbelliferous inflorescences with an attractive star structure
- Often sweet, heavy scent
- Secretes nectar that drips and sticks
- Water regularly, but avoid waterlogging
- Regular showers are highly recommended
- Bright location
- Temperature between 10 and 14°C
- Water moderately
- Frequent change of location
- Location too dark
- Cut off faded inflorescences
- Hoya carnosa
- Hoya kerrii
- Hoya bella
- Hoya australis
- Hoya linearis
origin
The porcelain flower or wax flower, scientifically Hoya (named after the English gardener Thomas Hoy), is a plant native to the tropics and subtropics of the Far East. Their home range spans relatively large areas of Asia, Australia and Oceania - the various Hoya species naturally occur in China, Vietnam and Thailand, Japan, East India and Indonesia and colonize tropical rainforests as well as dry forests, coastal areas and Altitudes of up to 2500 meters.
growth
The porcelain flower is an epiphyte, i.e. an epiphytic plant that chooses other plants as a growth ground in the wild. Like orchids or bromeliads, for example, they prefer to grow on trees. In terms of growth, it develops quickly and forms flexible shoots - this also makes the porcelain flower well suited for trellis or arch culture. The fact that most species are climbing also makes the wax flower predestined for climbing on scaffolding and railings. Over time, the shoots become more or less lignified.
blossom
Hoya got its nickname wax flower from the mostly fleshy and waxy nature of its flowers. They appear in racemose (pseudo) umbels with small, star-shaped individual flowers, which form a very pretty structure with their five-rayed calyx and petal combination. It is also nice that the porcelain flower blooms again and again from spring to autumn. Many species also emit a sweet, sometimes heavy scent in the evening hours. The nectar that the flowers secrete and that sticks to the windowsill is less beautiful.
Characteristics of the porcelain flower blossom:
location
In accordance with its origin, the wax flower likes it warm and bright. However, it does not tolerate full sunlight well - after all, it thrives in its homeland in woody habitats. As with all exotic ornamental plants from warmer regions of origin, you cannot cultivate the porcelain flower outdoors in our latitudes. It is therefore best kept as a houseplant.
The substrate should be loose and permeable to air and water - it is best to create drainage with expanded clay (€19.73) in the pot. This will prevent the roots from suffocating or getting waterlogged - they don't like that at all.
pour
Watering the porcelain flower too much is therefore taboo. However, you should still water it regularly, especially during the growing season. But make sure that the root ball is completely dry before the next watering. As a tropical to subtropical plant, the porcelain flower also likes a shower or two: spray its leaves with a refreshing mist of water from time to time.
Note:
Fertilize
The porcelain flower can be fertilized with a moderate dose. You should use a rather weak green plant fertilizer that you add to the irrigation water. However, this is not necessary more often than every 3-4 weeks. The danger of over-fertilization is certainly greater than growth or flowering weakness due to a lack of nutrients. In winter there is no fertilizer at all.
transplant
You don't have to and shouldn't repot the porcelain flower too often. She dislikes having her feet disturbed just as much as constantly changing her location. So only transplant them when absolutely necessary, that is, when the pot is getting too narrow. The new pot should not be disproportionately larger than the old one - that would mean too much getting used to it and increase the risk of leaf and flower weakness. Provide the new substrate with expanded clay drainage and, if necessary, some sand.
hibernate
In winter, when the porcelain flower does not have enough light for normal vegetation, you should allow it an appropriate period of rest. However, the general rule here is that the location difference from the summer camp should not/do not have to be too great. The winter quarters should also be relatively bright and not too cold.
While the optimal temperature for the porcelain flower is between 18 and 23°C in summer, it should not fall below 10°C in winter. Of course, it must not be allowed to get frost under any circumstances. But it shouldn't be too warm either, since that is not compatible with the inevitable lack of light. Warm temperatures also increase the risk of pest infestation. A good winter location for the porcelain flower is, for example, a window seat in an unheated stairwell.
You should only water the porcelain flower moderately in winter, depending on the reduced vegetation.
The hibernation rules:
To cut
Apart from the faded inflorescences during the summer, you can cut back the wax flower relatively easily. If shoots become excessively long, they can be pruned without major losses. You should make sure that you always apply the scissors directly over the axis of the leaf. The plant can then best sprout again there. By regularly shortening the shoots, you can keep the wax flower compact or in a special shape.
In general, you should also carry out a regular pruning to increase flowering.
not blooming
A relatively common problem with porcelain flower culture is the absence of the popular bloom. With certain care mistakes, the wax flower can be a bit sensitive.
The most likely causes of poor or no flowering at all are:
Above all, the porcelain flower does not like relocation. So, right at the beginning of the cultivation, pay attention to a suitable, sufficiently bright place with as little draft as possible. If you wait in vain for flowering, moving to another location is usually counterproductive.
What can also spoil the willingness to bloom for the porcelain flower is a location that is too dark. The tropical plant needs some light to produce its flowers. In this case, a change of location to a brighter parking space is of course unavoidable.
You should also never cut off the faded inflorescences. This prevents the formation of new flowers in these same places. If you leave them alone, the porcelain flower will soon give you a new umbel of its small, waxy star blossoms, provided it is not yet autumn.
multiply
The best way to propagate the wax flower is to use sinkers. You can also take cuttings, this method is explained below.
With the lowering method, you lead a tendril of the mother plant into a pot with sandy, loose soil substrate. It is best to do this in the spring when the available light increases. Remove the leaves at the rooting point and cut off the shoot tip. An evenly moist, warm environment is particularly beneficial for growth - to create this, it is best to use the tried and tested foil method. Keep the sinker permanently moist, but again, don't water too much.
As soon as roots have formed at the support point, you can cut the connection to the mother plant.
Poisonous
The toxicity of the porcelain flower is a somewhat nebulous matter - on the one hand, there are sometimes different statements from experts. On the other hand, it also depends on the respective species. Some are quite slightly poisonous - above all, it is often warned against leaving cats, dogs and above all birds alone with the wax flower. But even small children should not play unsupervised near porcelain flowers.
pests
Fortunately, porcelain flowers are relatively insensitive to diseases and pests. If there are problems with growth or flowering, this is usually due to an unpopular change of location, over-fertilization, waterlogging or other care errors.
Nevertheless, the wax flower can also be attacked by pests, especially during the winter period, when it is slightly weakened. Take precautionary measures to protect them from unfavorable conditions, especially during this time. Aphids, scale insects or mealybugs are most common on the porcelain flower.
In the case of an infestation with aphids, you should first work with hoses. If you have scale insects, it is best to add some nettle, garlic or tansy to the spray mixture. The best way to combat mealybugs is to remove infested parts of the plant and treat the plant with a solution of alcohol, curd soap and water.
offshoot
In addition to the casual sinking method, you can also use the well-known cuttings method to get a new porcelain flower. In most cases, this works without any complications. As with the lowering method, spring is the time for cultivating cuttings.
You get a cutting in the form of a shoot cut off above a leaf axis - so you can also use the clippings for one of the regular prunings.
Put the cutting in either a glass of water or let it root in a soil substrate. With the water glass method, you should change the water from time to time because of the risk of putrefaction. You can put some rooting hormone in a soil substrate.
sorts
The wax flower genus is extremely species-rich - no wonder given the variety of original habitats across the entire tropical and subtropical Far Asia region. There are around 200 different types in total. For a long time only the Hoya carnosa with its flesh-colored flowers was used as a pot plant. In the meantime, however, the pot cultivation spectrum has expanded considerably. Here is an overview of particularly popular varieties:
Popular Varieties
Hoya carnosa
The Hoya carnosa is named for its pink to flesh-colored flowers. This rather unusual color makes them an attractive ornament on the windowsill or in the conservatory. The umbels of flowers are upright or slightly hanging and exude a very strong scent. However, they are also highly nectar-secreting.
The Hoya carnosa forms soft, later woody and climbing shoots that are covered with fleshy, shiny leaves. Overall, it can reach a height of up to 4 m.
It needs a bright location without too much direct sunlight, in winter it should be relatively cool, i.e. not above 14°C.
Hoya kerrii
This variety also owes its name to an optical feature: and that is its heart-shaped leaves. Recently, the Hoya kerrii has enjoyed increasing popularity, perhaps also because of the Valentine's Day culture that has been reviving for years. The leaves also have the property that they can be rooted individually. A simple leaf cutting is therefore particularly suitable as a heart-warming souvenir. However, whether the sweetheart sprout is very individual and can take up to 6 years!
As a location, the Hoya kerrii prefers a sunny to semi-shady place - it can cope with relatively little light compared to other Hoyas.
The flowers of Hoya kerrii are white with contrasting red petals and appear between May and October. It forms long, climbing shoots that should soon be guided by a climbing aid. Overall, the sweetheart porcelain flower only reaches a height of about one meter.
Hoya bella
Hoya bella is characterized by its elongated, cone-shaped leaves that create an interesting textured effect. Its rich branching makes the Hoya bella perfect for compact shrub formations. However, it can also be cultivated as a hanging plant without increased pruning. Overall, it is one of the smaller varieties with a growth height of only about 50 to 60 cm.
Its particularly beautiful flowers appear from May to October in white with raven-pink petals. The Hoya bella is also well suited for a more shady location on the windowsill.
Hoya australis
Hoya australis has its origins, as its name suggests, mainly in the tropical areas of northern Australia. It is subdivided into different subspecies within its species. It is particularly fast-growing and can reach a total height of 5 meters - in indoor culture it therefore usually has to be cut back a little more frequently. Its shoots writhe and moderately lignify with age.
Like Hoya kerrii, the flowers of Hoya australis are white with red petals and have a very pleasant scent.
Hoya linearis
The Hoya linearis is characterized by particularly elongated, thickening leaves and is very robust. It also tolerates relatively warm temperatures in winter without immediately becoming susceptible to pests. This makes it ideal as a houseplant. Due to its long-shooting growth, it can also be cultivated wonderfully as a hanging plant. Overall, it is a very small variety, only reaching about 60 cm in height.
Its flowers are white with a cream-colored corolla and are delicately scented. Compared to the other porcelain flower species, it prefers cooler temperatures, but overall it should not be colder than about 7°C.