March 2, 2022

Hey Plant Friends!

This week we are talking about Hoya carnosa 'Compacta', commonly known as Rope Hoya. This plant belongs to the Apocynaceae or Dogbane plant family along with adenium, stapelia, and even milkweed. Native to southern India, hoyas were introduced by Scottish botanist Robert Brown and named in honor of the 18th-century botanist Thomas Hoy. With its twisted waxy, green leaves the Rope Hoya is definitely one to add to your collection. Hoyas are known for their incredibly fragrant blooms and are generally referred to as porcelain or wax flower. In their native habitat, this species is epiphytic in nature meaning they grow on the branches of trees with no attachment to the ground.

Let’s talk about care. Place your Rope Hoya in bright, indirect light avoiding the hot afternoon sun. Watering is the easy with hoyas; allow the top 3-4 inches of soil to dry during the summer months. In the winter allow your plant to dry through a bit more. Hoyas can handle a bit of drought as they have succulent leaves that holds water in. All Hoyas need a soil with sharp drainage. Sitting in wet soil will lead to root rot and their ultimate deminse.

Create your own soil using 1 part Sol Soils Houseplant Mix and 1 part Espoma’s Organic Orchid Mix. A pest to look out for when caring for your Hindu rope is mealy bugs. They especially like this plant because there are small nooks for them to hide in. Check for pests each time you water. It’s not a bad idea to have Insecticidal Soap on hand. Fertilizing your hoya in the summer months encourages blooms. We recommend using the Schultz All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.

Rope Hoya is available in the greenhouse in 2”, 4”, and 6” pots. If you have additional questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us - hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy Planting!