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February 11, 2022 in Garden trends· Indoor plants· Unique Plants

The Sweetheart Hoya will steal your heart!

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Sweetheart Hoya

Is there such thing as a Valentine’s Day plant? There sure is! And it’s called a sweetheart Hoya. This unique and fun plant is going to melt your heart.

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Due to its name and heart-shaped leaves the Sweetheart hoya is a popular gift choice for Valentine’s day symbolizing love and devotion. To say this plant is “cute” is the understatement of the year.

The Sweetheart Hoya is absolutely adorable!

At first glance, the heart hoya looks like the type of plant that you say to yourself “hmm, my black thumb will surely kill this plant.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s an easy plant to grow. And hoya’s aren’t toxic for people, dogs or cats. Another big plus.

No doubt they will tug at your heartstrings for many years to come if taken care of properly!

So let’s get at the heart of the Sweetheart Hoya!

Sweetheart Hoya

The many alter ego’s of the Sweetheart Hoya!

Would “a rose by any other name smell as sweet?” You tell me!

The Sweetheart Hoya is also called the Valentine Plant, Sweetheart Wax Plant, Hoya Kerrii, lucky-heart plant, love heart plant, wax heart, wax plant and heartleaf plant.

Whatever you call it, it will be love at first sight with this novelty plant!

Aptly named those thick, succulent, heart-shaped leaves sure to leave your heart beating a little faster! Each of the thick heart-shaped leaves measures roughly 2-3 inches wide and 2-4 inches long.

Most shocking is that the Hoya heart plants are a species of climbing vine in the genus Hoya- hence the wax plant label.

Once the Heart Hoya is established with a good root system “vines” will shoot out quite quickly on which new leaves are formed. 

Mature vines are grey and often look and feel ” woody”. Most of this stiffness is a result of lignin designed to support a heavy climbing plant (out in their natural habitat they tend to grow up and up).

Nevertheless, the Sweetheart Hoya grows at the rate of a sloth. I can’t imagine mine trailing. In fact, I know it can bloom which at times why it’s called the “porcelain flower” plant but can’t imagine that happening either.

Time will tell!

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Sweetheart hoya

Watering & fertilizing the Sweetheart Hoya with care…..

With its fleshy, succulent leaves that store water, the sweetheart hoya is relatively drought-tolerant. They can get by with as little as one or two waterings per month. Typically this is when the soil is dry to the touch.

But when you do water, water deeply then let the pot drain thoroughly. Never let this plant become waterlogged or it’s a goner.

Watering deeply allows all the roots, even the tiny ones at the bottom to become hydrated.

Sitting in water is also a big no. Soggy soil will surely cause root rot. Drainage holes with a fast drying potting mix is ideal.

A good sign that it’s time to water is when the leaves start to wrinkle. You’ll water less in winter than the other seasons. So obviously in summer you may find yourself watering once a week to keep this plant pristine.

I find I rarely have time to fertilize so it’s with a big sigh of relief that I announce that the Sweetheart hoya is a light feeder and requires little fertilizer.

Try a light solution of a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer mixed at a rate of ¼ teaspoon (1 ml.) in a gallon (4 L.) of water.

Feed the plant once a month during the growing season and stop feeding in winter.

Valentine Hoya

Lighting and humidity for the Sweetheart Hoya

This Valentine Hoya tolerates relatively low light, but not full shade. However, the plant performs best and is more likely to bloom in bright or indirect sunlight. Room temperatures should be maintained between 60 and 80 F. or 15 and 26 C.

But the Sweetheart Hoya draws the line at shade. It will not tolerate complete shade and darkness will affect not only growth but its ability to bloom.

Never direct sun which will burn the leaves.

And even with bright-indirect light and spot-on perfect conditions, it may take years to start growing new heart leaves. I’ve had mine for 1.5 years now and still, no new leaves!

In fact, a single leaf Valentine Hoya will not grow any bigger than when you bought it.

If you have variegated types of Sweetheart Hoyas, a windowsill is an ideal spot.

Adequate light is necessary to keep the variegation on the plump heart leaves vibrant. When the Sweetheart Hoya plant is in the shade for too long, it may start to wilt.

Although a slow grower the Sweetheart Hoya does grow faster in a bright location with humidity above 50%. The Sweetheart Hoya is particularly demanding when it comes to humidity but the rumor is that humidity does help the plant grow faster.

You could put a humidifier in the room where it resides or simply grow the plant in the bathroom where it will live quite happily.

The sweetheart hoya

Soil

Sweetheart Hoya plants need loose, quickly-draining soil to thrive. The best type of medium for this species of Hoya to grow is orchid pot soil, sphagnum moss, coconut husk or cactus mix.

You can also whip up a DIY potting mix for the Sweetheart Hoya by combining potting soil, perlite and orchid bark.

The end goal is to ensure that water drains quickly through the soil. Compared to your average houseplant, the Sweetheart Hoya would like better drainage due to their succulent-like leaves.

The Sweetheart Hoya can grow in a soilless medium like an orchid potting mix. But if you choose that route, be aware that you’ll have to water more often than if you used a more traditional potting mix.

Never let this plant sit in standing water. A pot with a drainage hole is a must-have accessory. I chose a clay pot filled with a cactus and succulent mix and both my Sweetheart Hoya plants are thriving.

A terra cotta pot with a saucer at the bottom would also work wonders for the Valentine Plant.

Sweetheart hoya roots

How-to propagate the Sweetheart Hoya

The Sweetheart Hoya is super easy to propagate. My propagation preference is to root in water.

However, I’ve noted that the Sweetheart Hoya takes a lot longer to root in water than other plants. Most plants take about 1-2 weeks to show some root growth, but with the Sweetheart Hoya, it can take a month or more. Patience is key! It will happen.

How to Propagate A Sweetheart Hoya:

  1. Cut a healthy stem from a Sweetheart Hoya just below the node, making sure there are two or three leaves on it. (If that’s possible, but aim for at least 2 leaves).
  2. Put the cutting in a jar of water and put it in a bright place, protected from direct sunlight. This is likely a windowsill in the sunniest spot in your home.
  3. Change the water weekly with filtered or distilled water.
  4. Within a month, small roots should start to appear from the stem. If you are lucky, you’ll see sprouts in 3 weeks.
  5. When the roots are 1” to 2” (2.5 to 5 cm) long, transfer to a pot that has a loose, fast-draining potting mix.

It’s tempting to try to propagate a Sweetheart Hoya from leaf cuttings. However, very rarely does a Sweetheart Hora leaf produce a new stem or other leaves.

A single leaf cannot usually be propagated because it doesn’t have a dormant bud to grow new stems. Therefore it is called ‘blind cutting’. The leaf will root, and with proper care, your hoya heart leaf cutting can live for several years without growing a stem and other leaves.

Rarely, after a few years a leaf cutting will produce a stem, but this is because a tiny bit of stem was attached to the leaf that had a small dormant bud.

sweetheart hoya

The Sweetheart Hoya is the sloth of plants

I’ve had my Sweetheart Hoya that my friend Cheri sent me for well over a year. I have yet to see any new leaves. That’s how slow this plant grows!

However, no leaves have died on me either. Except, my 9-year-old daughter was fiddling and fussing with my plant and a piece came off (luckily with a node) so we rooted that piece in water. Tiny roots are emerging but it did take over a month!

And even when you have successfully planted your rooted stem cutting, it’s going to be awhile before you see growth.

To say the Sweetheart Hoya grows at a painfully slow rate is the understatement of the year. It could take numerous years for a small plant with a few leaves to mature.

If a mature plant doesn’t bloom, try exposing the plant to brighter light or cooler nighttime temperatures.

Don’t expect a newer plant to bloom. Those pinkish white flowers in the shape of a star can take many years!

I have yet to live this thrill!

Valentine Hoya

Final tip:

A single leaf Valentine Hoya will not grow any bigger than when you bought it. Even though the leaf cutting roots in the soil, you can’t propagate more Sweetheart Hoyas from a single leaf cutting. You need a stem cutting to propagate a vining Hoya Kerrii.

Favorite indoor plant – Go!

79 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

    February 12, 2022 at 12:11 am

    I’m so lazy propogate succulents directly into the soil and hope for the best!

    Reply
    • CARISSA A AHLERS says

      March 19, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      Hours are pretty cool!

      Reply
  2. Joanna says

    February 12, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    that is a sweet little plant. thanks for the article.

    Reply
    • Brenda Williamson says

      March 7, 2022 at 7:36 pm

      I like this Sweetheart Hoya, glad that it’s not toxic to my cats. I am afraid I would kill it.

      Reply
  3. Bradley Marquis says

    February 20, 2022 at 9:52 am

    great info

    Reply
  4. kathleen kaliszewski says

    February 20, 2022 at 9:55 am

    great

    Reply
  5. David Farrell says

    February 20, 2022 at 9:57 am

    looks great and a challenge but it’s worth it

    Reply
  6. Shelly R Miller says

    February 20, 2022 at 9:58 am

    this caught my eye,I tend to be horrible with succulents… the article helped, ty~

    Reply
  7. monique s says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:02 am

    This looks so neat. I cannot wait to try it

    Reply
  8. Yona Williams says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:03 am

    I love the shape of this plant, and the name is pretty cool too.

    Reply
  9. Sheila gagnon says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:28 am

    These plants are awesome. My aunt had one and loved it

    Reply
  10. Chris Civitello says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:41 am

    What a cute plant variety. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. Rena Walter says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:52 am

    This plant needs too much TLC. My husband says my plants need life jackets, as I have overwatered many plants!

    Reply
  12. Janis C says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:54 am

    Interesting plant. I’ve never seen a Heart Hoya before.

    Reply
  13. Audrey says

    February 20, 2022 at 10:56 am

    Interesting plant!

    Reply
  14. Barbara Calder says

    February 20, 2022 at 11:10 am

    Thanks for the information. Prior to reading this article I had never heard of the the sweetheart hoya.

    Reply
  15. Chad Boyd says

    February 20, 2022 at 11:37 am

    Love the looks of this!

    Reply
  16. Tami F says

    February 20, 2022 at 12:07 pm

    This has me motivated!

    Reply
  17. Mell says

    February 20, 2022 at 12:24 pm

    Never heard of this plant, but I like it.

    Reply
  18. jennifer brown says

    February 20, 2022 at 2:17 pm

    such a cute plant! thanks for all the helpful info, great article

    Reply
  19. Jennylyn Gross says

    February 20, 2022 at 2:48 pm

    such a cute plant

    Reply
  20. Debbie Yoder says

    February 20, 2022 at 3:00 pm

    What a cute little plant, this would be great to put in my kitchen window!

    Reply
  21. Stephen Jones says

    February 20, 2022 at 4:04 pm

    never seen these before! i look at plants a bunch at Lowe’s and the only succulent type plant i have so far is the jade plant in a window sill.

    Reply
  22. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    February 20, 2022 at 5:47 pm

    I enjoyed reading about the Sweetheart Hoya and find it’s leaves rather endearing. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Laura Sproull says

      February 21, 2022 at 8:37 am

      Thank you Betsy!! you are the best!

      Reply
  23. Kari Judd says

    February 20, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    WOW!! This Sweetheart Hoya is BEAUTIFUL!

    Reply
  24. cynthia says

    February 20, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    I love easy care plants.

    Reply
  25. Katie Butler says

    February 21, 2022 at 7:25 am

    I ❤️ this ❤️ plant❣️ 😍😍😍

    Reply
    • Laura Sproull says

      February 21, 2022 at 7:57 am

      Me to Katie!!!

      Reply
  26. Lisa Cress says

    February 21, 2022 at 8:07 am

    I love this! Thank you for all the information!

    Reply
  27. Diane Warstler says

    February 21, 2022 at 8:19 am

    Any plant with heart-shaped foliage makes me smile!

    Reply
  28. Michael Coovert says

    February 21, 2022 at 9:21 am

    What an incredible plant. I had never heard of it.

    Reply
  29. Helga says

    February 21, 2022 at 11:22 am

    What a lovely plant! Thanks for introducing us to it!

    Reply
  30. Sam says

    February 21, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    That’s a neat little plant and a good idea for a mother’s day gift

    Reply
  31. Jenni Phillips says

    February 21, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    I love cacti and succulents!! My cats won’t and don’t disturb them either, which is a huge plus LOL Otherwise I have to be so careful which indoor plants I have.

    Reply
  32. Chelle says

    February 21, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    never heard of this plant. thanks!

    Reply
  33. Steven Cook says

    February 21, 2022 at 9:01 pm

    My grandmother had a hoya it was a hardy plant and somehow grew in hardly any dirt.

    Reply
  34. Abraham Liandro says

    February 21, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    I’ve never seen a Heart Hoya before.

    Reply
  35. Amanda says

    February 22, 2022 at 12:39 am

    Stunning !

    Reply
  36. Densie L says

    February 22, 2022 at 10:13 am

    Lovely. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  37. david price says

    February 22, 2022 at 2:51 pm

    if it’s free,it’s for me

    Reply