Hoya Polyneura - Plant Care Guide

We cover all you need to know about caring for and propagating the hoya polyneura, a.k.a. the fish tail hoya. They key is to give them a chunky well draining soil and let it dry out before watering again, while keeping them humid and well lit…

Hoya Polyneura Care Summary

Light needs:	Bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Let the soil dry out almost completely before watering again. Check weekly.
Fertilizer:	Use a balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.
Soil:	Use a specific hoya mix.
Humidity:	60%.
Temperature:	10-25°C (50-77°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Other names:	Fishtail Hoya.
Common issues:	Overwatering, yellow leaves.

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Introduction

The hoya polyneura aka the fish tail hoya is known for it’s fish tail-like trailing leaves. It is found in the wild in the Himalayas. This is a real stunner!

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

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Light Needs

Ideally give your hoya bright, indirect sunlight to encourage growth. It will also be ok a bit further back from the window in medium indirect light also.

How Often to Water A Hoya Polyneura

Let the soil dry out almost completely before watering again. You can check the soil with your finger twice a week.

Tip: they are fussy about watering: they don’t like to be overwatered or underwatered. So the best thing to do is check the soil twice a week and water it if it is almost dry. They don’t not want to dry out completely, but at the same time they don’t like to sit in wet soil.

Fertiliser

Feed this hoya every month in the warmer months in spring and summer. Use a balanced feed. Dilute it well to avoid fertilizer burn on the leaves.

Soil

You need to use a specific hoya mix to make sure the plant does not get root rot. They like a mix of orchid bark, cactus soil and perlite. See our guide here for more info: Hoya Soil.

When To Repot A Hoya Polyneura

Repot in Spring if the roots are crowded, it is not a super quick grower, but you want to make sure it has some extra root space over spring and summer.

Humidity

Aim for over 60% humidity to get the best out of this plant. They thrive if given good humidity levels.

Tip: give them plenty of light and humidity to encourage blooming.

Temperature

10-25°C (50-77°F) is a good range for this hoya, they grow naturally in the Himalayas, so don’t like heat too much, and in fact too much heat can discourage flowering.

How To Propagate Hoya Polyneura

Propagate your hoya polyneura in water by taking cuttings with a few nodes. You need to strip leaves from the bottom nodes and keep leaves on the upper nodes. The leaves will be out of the water and the naked nodes under water to root. Keep it in a warm and humid place and once it has established roots you can pot it up into a hoya soil mix. For more on hoya soil see our guide: Hoya Soil.

hoya polyneura yellow leaves

Yellow leaves occur for a number or reasons, and is quite common on these fussy plants. The most common reason for yellowing is overwatering, which is a real issue for hoyas. It can be due to underwatering or sunburn too. These are all fairly easy to trouble shoot – make sure you are watering the plant properly and keep it out of direct sunlight.

hoya polyneura USDA Zone

Zones 10-11.

hoya polyneura flower

It flowers with yellow and burgundy flowers with subtle sweet scent. They tend to drip a lot with fluid from the blooms, which happens on hoyas sometimes and is nothing to worry about.

Is it toxic to cats?

The good news is they are not toxic to dogs and cats.

hoya polyneura vs broget

The ‘broget’ is a variegated cultivar of the polyneura.

Where To Buy

Try our list of Rare Plant Shops. Or Etsy.

Other Names

Fishtail Hoya

Hoya Polyneura FAQs and Common Problems

Yellowing leaves are common, they are most often due to overwatering, so make sure you only water the plant when it is dry and do not let it sit in water.