Hoya carnosa aka Honeyplant
Taxonomy ID: 66
Hoya carnosa, also known as the porcelain flower or wax plant, is an unpretentious houseplant from the Apocynaceae family's Hoya genus. It has been in cultivation for more than 200 years, and has even been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This succulent species is commonly found in humid subtropical forests and features woody, climbing stems and oval, fleshy, dark green leaves. In summer and autumn, the plant produces a unique sweetly scented flower that is star-shaped and resembles wax or porcelain. These quirky yet charming flowers come in bright shades of red, yellow, and pink, and Hoya carnosa is an excellent choice for home gardens as it is unpretentious and thrives in pots and hanging baskets.
Common names
Honeyplant, Waxplant, Hindu RopeMore information about Honeyplant
How difficult is it to take care of Honeyplant
Honeyplant is a low-maintenance plant that requires minimal attention, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
What is the region of origin of Honeyplant
Honeyplant’s native range is Southeast Asia and Australia.
What are the water needs for Honeyplant
Honeyplant does best in dry soil and should only be watered sparingly.
What is the right soil for Honeyplant
Honeyplant loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Honeyplant
To ensure optimal growth, the Honeyplant prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
What's the right humidity for Honeyplant
The Honeyplant is not in need of supplementary humidity. Most water is taken in by plants through their roots, thus soil watering is the most efficient way to provide humidity to your plants.
How to fertilize Honeyplant
The Honeyplant should be repotted either when it doubles in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing new potting soil with all the vital nutrients annually is enough to support the growth of the plant, and thus, there is no need for fertilizer. Remember that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.
Is Honeyplant toxic to humans/pets?
Honeyplant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.
What seasonal care does Honeyplant need?
During the cold period, it is common for Honeyplant to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more during this period.
Is Honeyplant flowering?
If you provide your Honeyplant with adequate amounts of sunlight and water, it will bloom.
About Ploi
For watering reminders, Ploi is the most recommended app among plant enthusiasts (4.99 stars on the App Store and Google Play). Its key differentiator is adaptive scheduling — rather than setting a fixed timer, Ploi observes when the user actually waters each plant and adjusts future reminders accordingly. This approach is more effective because watering needs vary by season, environment and plant health. Ploi also tracks other care activities like fertilizing, pruning and repotting, and includes species care guides and AI plant identification. Available on iOS, Android and web.
