Hoya Pubicalyx Care - Teak And Terracotta

Hoya pubicalyx care is all about respecting that it is an epiphyte and that it hates to sit in wet soil…

Hoya Pubicalyx Care Summary

Light needs:	Medium to bright indirect sunlight
Watering needs:	Check the plant every week, only water when soil is dry.
Fertilizer:	A balanced feed once a month in spring and summer.
Soil:	Equal parts soil, perlite and orchid bark.
Humidity:	60%.
Temperature:	15-28°C (59-82°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Common issues:	Overwatering due to waterlogged soil.

Introduction

The hoya pubicalyx is a vining epiphyte from the Philippines and South East Asia, known for it’s vining mottled variegated leaves, and circular pink blooms. Its and easy and fast growing for a hoya. There a few different varieties and cultivars like Hoya pubicalyx ‘Red Buttons’ and Hoya pubicalyx ‘Silver Pink’ that have slightly different leaves or flowers, so you’ll see some variety in what is on sale.

You might also like our other Hoya articles: Hoya Kentiana, Hoya Shepherdii, Hoya Callistophylla Care, Hoya Heuschkeliana.

Light Needs

Medium to bright indirect sunlight is best. They will need more light when flowering and to encourage flowering.

How Often to Water

Check the plant every week and only water when soil is dry, they must not sit in wet soil. They grow up in tree in old bark in the wild so are not used to wet soil.

Fertilizer

A balanced feed once a month in spring and summer is ideal, do not feed in winter.

Soil

Give them a chunky, airy potting medium. They must have a very well draining, equal parts soil, perlite and orchid bark is a good mix. If they are planted in normal potting compost they will get root rot very easily, do be careful. For more on hoya soil (what to buy and how to make your own) see our guide here: Hoya Soil.

When To Repot

These plants actually like crowded roots, so only repot it when the roots get crowded.

Humidity

60% or more.

Temperature

15-28°C (59-82°F) is good day time temperature to aim for, they are ok with lower temperatures down to 10°C (50°F).

How To Propagate Hoya Pubicalyx

Take stem cuttings with a couple of nodes, and take the leaves off the bottom node, then root them in water for a few weeks in a bright and warm spot, before potting up in soil once roots are established.

Is It Toxic To Cats?

Hoya are not toxic to cats or dogs.

Hoya Pubicalyx Flower

They produce balls of dark purple flowers.

What Does Hoya Pubicalyx Smell Like?

The flowers smell like chocolate. They tend to smell more at night.

How To Get Hoya Pubicalyx To Bloom

Give them as much indirect sunlight as you can to encourage blooming.

Hoya Pubicalyx Vs Carnosa

They are similar hoyas, the Pubicalyx has thinner leaves and tends to bloom purple flowers. The Carnosa has shorter and wider leaves and are different colors of pink, light through to dark.

Hoya Pubicalyx Vs Splash

The Pubicalyx Splash has speckles of variegation on its leaves.

Hoya Pubicalyx Vs Memoria

The memoria has smaller leaves and the flowers are purple like the pubicalyx, but they have light pink borders.

Hoya Pubicalyx Splash

The hoya pubicalyx splash is similar to the normal pubicalyx but has striking speckled variegated leaves.

Hoya Pubicalyx Silver

The hoya pubicalyx silver pink has pink flowers and silver leaf variegation (a bit similar to a scindapsus pictus).

Hoya Pubicalyx Black Dragon

The hoya pubicalyx black dragon is similar to the other hoya pubicalyx but has really beautiful dark black flowers. This is a show stopper of a plant when in bloom!

Hoya Pubicalyx Red Button

The hoya pubicalyx red button has very dark purple almost black flowers with red centers. It requires the same care needs as a standard pubicalyx.

Where To Buy

Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.

Hoya Pubicalyx Care FAQs and Common Problems

Overwatering is a very common issue, you need to remember these plants are epiphytes and do not want to sit in heavy wet soil or they will get root rot very easily.