If you can’t see a change in size, that’s because hoyas are known to be very slow growers. Especially after repotting, the plant focuses on its roots, and you won’t see changes in months. So after buying a new hoya plant, that’s completely normal.
Wax plants (hoyas) can take up to 7 years to reach maturity. That’s also the time they will bloom for the first time.
That’s not the news you were looking for, right? But don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to speed up the growth rate of your hoya. And if that’s still not enough for you, there are plenty of flowering hoya variants that grow significantly faster and can reach maturity in just a year or so.
And that’s the plan for today. In this article, we’ll check on the fastest-growing hoyas out there, and I will also give you some tips on how to make your hoya grow faster. Let’s dive in!
How Fast do Hoyas Grow?
When it comes to understanding how fast Hoyas grow, two primary factors come into play: species variation and environmental conditions.
Of course, the species will have the biggest impact. The hoyas family comprises a wide range of species, each with its own unique characteristics and growth tendencies.
Secondly, the environment in which you cultivate your plant can significantly impact its growth speed. Hoya needs ideal conditions so it can focus on growth. When the plant is stressed, it will focus on recovery or survivability instead of growing new leaves and branches.
Now let’s take a closer look at these two crucial aspects.
1. Species Variation
Hoya is a large genus with over 500 species. They all have a few things in common, such as waxy leaves (that’s where the name “wax plant” comes from) or beautiful star-shaped flowers.
On the outside, these plants may look similar. But it’s the inside processes that can very differ, such as growth speed.
Some species, like the hoya carnosa (that’s the most popular one), are renowned for their relatively swift growth; except for carnosa compact, which is on the totally other side of the spectrum, taking ages to grow. On the other hand, species like hoya kerrii tend to grow more slowly.
The point here is that the difference in growth rates among hoyas is huge, sometimes even in years. And if you want to see them flowering soon, you have to choose the right one. But which is the right one? Which hoya is the fastest grower?
What’s the Hoya Plant with the Fastest Growth Rate?
The fastest-growing hoya will definitely be hoya publicalyx and hoya carnosa. Other fast-growing varieties, although not that fast, are hoya bella or hoya krimson princess.
Also, when choosing your hoya, less variegation means quicker growth. That’s because variegated plants are less efficient at photosynthesizing. If you want your hoya to grow as fast as possible, more green equals more growth.
2. Environmental Factors
Hoyas are particularly sensitive to their surroundings, and the conditions in which they are can significantly affect their rate of growth.
Your goal here should be to mimic as accurately as possible their native habitat. Wax plants are native to various tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Australia. Its natural habitat includes high humidity levels, good air circulation, and multiple hours of filtered sunlight through the canopy of trees.
Your hoya would love to be placed somewhere where will get indirect light all day long. Some do well with about two hours of direct sunlight in the morning, but be careful because too much direct sun can burn the leaves.
The spot should also introduce good airflow. So placing the pot right next to a wall may not be the best idea.
And finally, watering. Hoyas don’t like being constantly wet. Make sure the soil is completely dried before watering again. Watering your hoya once every 14 days is a perfect starting point.
Hoyas Growing Stages
If you are working with hoya cutting, you can expect it to start forming roots within a span of three to four weeks. The visual of your hoya won’t change much now, as the plant is working on its roots, and the first leaf shoots appear within a month.
From there, your hoya should get to 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) within the first year. After this initial growing stage, the growth rate will usually slow down, and from now on, it highly depends on the species. Some species will take an additional 2 years to reach maturity, while others even 7+ years to start flowering.
How to Make Hoya Grow Faster
If you want to make your hoya grow faster, there are many things you should be focusing on, and these are all to allow one. All these methods focus on giving the plant the opportunity to focus on growth rather than channeling its energy towards repair, dealing with pests, or other stressors.
That means:
- Give the plant enough sunlight.
- Monitor the humidity levels and higher if needed. Hoyas are tropical plants, and if you have ever been to a tropical botanical garden (in the closed part), these parts are extremely humid. You won’t be able to recreate that inside your house, but you can mist the leaves from time to time or place the pot in your bathroom.
- The native habitat of hoyas has not only high humidity levels but also higher temperatures. Make sure to protect your plants against cold or drafts.
- Give your hoyas enough water. You should let the soil dry out between watering.
- Don’t repot hoyas if it isn’t critical. These plants take ages to root, and during that time, the plant will focus all its energy on establishing a root system. So do some forward planning and choose a pot that is big enough to comfortably accommodate your hoya. And don’t forget to use a well-draining soil.
I can’t see any difference in Hoya’s Size. What to do?
If you find yourself unable to discern any noticeable change in your hoya’s size, don’t worry, and don’t rush it.
Hoyas are known to be slow growers. And I agree that it may look weird in comparison to other plants. In my apartment, I have a palm that literally grows by inches every week. And right beside it, there’s my hoya that looks still the same. It will probably be months before you see any significant growth.
Especially if you just repoted your hoya. It takes time before it acclimatizes itself to the new soil, and until then, it will work on its roots.
Make sure you give it everything it needs, and I am sure you’ll see growth in no time.
How Long do Hoya Plants Live
You want your Hoya to grow fast enough to bloom but not to die, right? But don’t worry!
Not to be pessimistic, but it is likely that your Hoya plant will outlive you. On average, Hoyas live up to 30 years when growing indoors. But I’ve talked to gardeners whose Hoya is already over 100 years old. And that’s very much possible with proper care. If the environmental conditions, such as lighting and humidity, water, fertilizer, and soil, are right, your Hoya will thrive for dozens of years!
Before you go…
You want to speed up your hoyas’ growth rate to enjoy their beautiful flowers, right? I knew it! Then, unfortunately, your work doesn’t end here. Make sure to check out my next article, which will tell you everything about hoyas blooming and their flowers…
