Hoya kerrii: how to care for the sweetheart hoya and help it grow
Light, watering, warmth, a single leaf that does not grow, cuttings and common problems: the guide to Hoya kerrii, the plant with heart-shaped leaves.
In this guide
Hoya kerrii, or sweetheart hoya, needs bright light without direct sun, little water and a warm room. Let the substrate dry between waterings. It grows very slowly, and that is normal. A single leaf, without a piece of stem, can stay a single leaf for years.
Profile
| Botanical name | Hoya kerrii |
| Common names | Sweetheart hoya, heart hoya |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Habit | Vine, climbing or trailing |
| Leaves | Thick, fleshy, heart-shaped, up to 6 cm wide |
| Light | Bright, without direct sun |
| Watering | Infrequent, substrate dry between waterings |
| Growth | Very slow |
| Difficulty | Easy |
In the wild, Hoya kerrii is a vine. NC State Extension describes it as an epiphyte, that is, a plant that grows on other plants without feeding on them. Its stems climb or trail. Its leaves are thick like those of a succulent: they hold a store of water.
Will a single leaf grow?
This is the most common question. Hoya kerrii is often sold as a single leaf planted in a small pot. This leaf can live a long time. But it often never makes a stem.
NC State Extension explains why: a single-leaf cutting grows poorly if it has no piece of stem. New leaves form on the stem. Without a stem, there is no starting point for a new shoot.
When it arrives, look at the base of the plant. If you see a section of stem between the leaf and the substrate, the plant can grow, very slowly. If you see a single leaf, think of it as a decorative leaf that lives a long time.
Our sweetheart hoya is about 10 cm tall, in a 6 cm pot. It has one or more heart-shaped leaves.
Light: bright, sheltered from hot sun
Place the hoya near a bright window, without direct sun. The RHS also recommends bright, indirect light, with protection from hot sun. Without enough light, it does not grow at all.
A spot that is too dark does not kill the plant straight away. It simply stays still for months. If your hoya has done nothing for a long time, move it closer to the window before you change anything else.
Watering: little, and only on dry substrate
Its fleshy leaves store water. So the hoya copes better with being forgotten than with too much water. Let the substrate dry between waterings.
- In spring and summer: a few spoonfuls of water per plant every two to three weeks, when the substrate is dry all the way down.
- In autumn and winter: once a month at most, or not at all in a cool room.
NC State Extension recommends water at room temperature. The same source warns that too much water, or a pot that holds water, makes the roots rot. On the other hand, leaves that thin, turn brown or wrinkle show that the plant is drying out too much.
Warmth and humidity
A temperature of around 21 °C suits it well. NC State Extension says that cooler air slows its growth and flowering. Avoid cold rooms and icy windowsills in winter.
It likes a little humidity around its foliage. Regular misting of the foliage can provide it. NC State Extension also notes that it does well in humid, bright rooms, such as a kitchen or a bright bathroom.
Flowers and growth
A mature plant with stems can flower in summer. NC State Extension describes small waxy flowers, gathered in round clusters, fragrant at night. They produce a nectar that can stain fabrics and furniture. Young plants can take a long time to flower.
Do not cut the long leafless stems. The same source explains that new leaves and flowers form on these stems.
Propagate it
To get a new plant, take a stem cutting, with at least one leaf and a piece of stem. The RHS mentions layering in spring or summer, that is, rooting a stem while it is still attached to the mother plant. It also mentions semi-ripe cuttings, from a stem that is starting to harden, at the end of summer. The basics of taking cuttings are in our guide Water propagation.
Our hoyas as gifts
The sweetheart hoya is often given as a gift. Our sets arrive already potted, ready to give.
The Sweetheart mini gift pairs a Hoya kerrii in a ceramic pot 6 cm in diameter and 6 cm tall, red or pink, with an "I Love You" lollipop. The supplier does not give the ingredients of the lollipop: treat it as a decorative accessory.
The mini pot trio brings together three mini pots 6 cm in diameter, in pink and red. The selector also offers a Hoya kerrii with two succulents, or with two coffee plants. The Sweetheart trio brings together three Hoya kerrii in separate ceramic pots, all red or all pink.
The manufacturer does not say if these ceramic pots have a drainage hole. Check when they arrive. Without a hole, water with a spoon and never leave water at the bottom of the pot. More ideas are in our guide Plant as a gift.
Common problems
Nothing grows. Lack of light, or a single leaf without a stem. See the section on the single leaf.
Limp leaves and a blackened base. Too much water. Let the substrate dry out completely and water less often.
Thin, wrinkled or brown leaves. The plant is drying out too much. Water a little more often during the growing season.
Insects. The RHS and NC State Extension list mealybugs. NC State adds aphids and mites. Look under the leaves and at the base of the stem.
In short
- Bright light, without direct sun: without light, the hoya does not grow.
- Little water: a few spoonfuls every two to three weeks in season, once a month at most in winter.
- A warm room, around 21 °C.
- A single leaf, without a stem, lives a long time but often makes no new shoots.
- To propagate, take a cutting with a piece of stem.
Sources
- Hoya kerrii, NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Hoya kerrii, Royal Horticultural Society
- Manufacturer data sheets (dimensions of the plants and the pots, contents of the sets)
Frequently asked questions
Can a single Hoya kerrii leaf grow?
It can live a long time in a pot, but it will often never make a stem. NC State Extension says that a single-leaf cutting grows poorly if it has no piece of stem. To get a plant that grows, you need a leaf with a section of stem.
How often should I water a Hoya kerrii?
In spring and summer, a few spoonfuls of water every two to three weeks, when the substrate is dry all the way down. In autumn and winter, once a month at most, or not at all in a cool room.
Is Hoya kerrii toxic to cats?
NC State Extension lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Still keep the pot out of reach of a pet that chews plants: a chewed plant soon gets damaged.
Why is my Hoya kerrii not growing?
It grows very slowly, even after several years, and that is normal. If it does not grow at all, it probably lacks light. Also check that it has a section of stem: a single leaf often makes no new shoots.
