Hoyas: Top 5 Easiest Hoyas To Grow (With Photos!)
Once you fall in love with hoyas…there’s no turning back! This is one adorable and interesting houseplant genus. Their chubby, succulent leaves are adorable, and given the right conditions, they may bloom for you as well! Their blooms are quite special! If you’ve been seeing all of those beautiful hoyas on Instagram and you’re looking for a solid, beginner-friendly hoya with straightforward care needs, here are the top 5 easiest hoyas to grow!
The easiest hoya species to grow is Hoya Carnosa, but the Hoya Publicalyx, the Hoya Chelsea and the Hoya Obovata are also very great hoyas for beginners.
I have owned each of these different types of Hoyas personally (among many others in my collection) so this article is primarily based on personal experience along with how other collectors in the plant community feel.
Top 5 Easiest Hoyas to Grow
Here are the top 5 easiest Hoyas to grow. These are listed in no particular order, as each one of these gorgeous plants fit the bill as an easy, beginner-friendly Hoya species.
1. Hoya Carnosa
Hoya carnosa species are truly special because they are essentially 3 hoyas in one category! All three of these hoyas have incredibly straightforward care needs, which puts them at the top of the list for the easiest hoyas to grow. Their thick, succulent leaves retain water quite easily, so they don’t need a ton of attention in the watering department. Stick these hoyas in a spot with bright, indirect light in a pot with good drainage and well-draining soil, and they are content! Just be careful not to overwater these beauties! If your light allows, you can find the Hoya Carnosa Krimson Princess, which is a variegated hoya carnosa with the variegation starting in the middle of the leaf outward, and then there’s the Krimson Queen, which has variegation beginning on the margins of the leaves, moving inward. All three Carnosa species are absolutely stunning, easy hoyas.
2. Hoya Pubicalyx
This hoya is remarkably easy to care for! It may be one of the most happily neglected plants in my own collection. These leaves are still thick and succulent, but compared to the carnosa they have a longer, lance-shaped leaf with a woody stem. This allows the plant to be even more tolerant of drought conditions. Some hoya pubicalyx get silvery, splashy variegation that is quite stunning. This hoya is an absolute staple for any hoya collectors, and rightly so because it is one of, if not the easiest hoyas to grow.
3. Hoya Chelsea
This hoya easily makes the top 5 easiest hoyas list, simply for its hardiness, as its thick and chubby leaves may be the most durable on this list so far. These hoyas can certainly tolerate a period of drought and give easy cues as to when they’re ready for a drink. Plus, they are utterly adorable. It’s doesn’t get any better than that!
4. Hoya Obovata
Hoya Obovata sings a similar tune to the hoya Chelsea. The Obovata’s round, circular and succulent leaves help them to retain water, and they are widely acknowledged as some of the easiest hoyas to care for. Similar to the carnosa, you can find Obovata in green varieties, and also with variegation or splashy variegation. Obovata does not disappoint and can be pretty prolific growers, which makes them easy and fulfilling houseplant hoya for beginners.
5. Hoya Kerrii
This hoya may compete with my pubicalyx when it comes to the top easiest hoyas to grow. If you happen upon one, note how tough and thick their leaves are. They can happily manage longer periods of drought, making them incredibly easy to grow. This applies to both the single-leaf cuttings and the full-fledged plants. For those of you who may not know, Hoya Kerrii can be sold as single “heartleaf” cuttings, and are typically sold around the holidays. These cuttings are unlikely to grow more leaves without a stem and node, but they will survive just fine on their own. Even the larger plants tend to be slower to grow new leaves, but they are still fantastic and easy to grow houseplants.
If any of these hoyas have caught your eye, here are a few tips for caring for these easiest hoyas on the list:
- When thirsty, hoya leaves will soften, pucker or their veins may be more pronounced, particularly on the undersides of the leaves.
- Well-draining soil and a pot with drainage is an absolute must.
- Hoyas do best in bright, indirect light. My hoyas particularly love either an east or west window.
- Larger, well-established hoyas tend to be easier to care for than smaller cuttings. Starting with a healthy houseplant is always the best idea.
Which of these easiest hoyas to grow will you be adding to your collection? More hoya-related blogs are definitely on the horizon, but in the meantime, take a peek at the resources below that have been incredibly helpful in my hoya care journey.
Additional Resources:
