How to Grow and Care for a Krimson Queen
Understand what your Hoya Krimson Queen needs for vibrant variegation. Learn to interpret its signals for the right balance of light, water, and overall health.
The Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Queen’ is a popular houseplant admired for its striking variegated foliage. Its waxy leaves feature creamy white or pale pink edges that contrast with a deep green center. This vining plant can trail from a hanging basket or be trained to climb a support. A similar variety, the ‘Krimson Princess’, displays an inverted variegation pattern with color in the middle of the leaf.
Krimson Queen Care Essentials
Light
Bright, indirect light is necessary for a Krimson Queen to maintain its vibrant variegation. With enough light, new growth may emerge with a pink hue that fades to creamy white. In low-light conditions, the colorful leaf margins may fade, and new growth can revert to solid green. Avoid harsh, direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves; a spot near an east-facing window is often suitable.
Soil
As an epiphytic plant, the Krimson Queen’s roots require a growing medium with excellent aeration and drainage. Standard potting soil is too dense and can lead to root rot by retaining excessive moisture. Create an effective mix by combining a peat-based potting soil with amendments like perlite and orchid bark to ensure a porous substrate.
Watering
The Krimson Queen’s semi-succulent leaves store water, making it sensitive to overwatering. Water the plant thoroughly, letting excess drain from the pot, then allow the soil to dry out almost completely before watering again. Instead of watering on a strict schedule, check the soil’s moisture level regularly. Underwatering is less harmful than overwatering for this plant.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant thrives in indoor temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 29 degrees Celsius). While it is a tropical plant, it adapts well to average home humidity levels. To increase humidity in drier environments, you can group it with other plants, use a small humidifier, or place it in a kitchen or bathroom that has adequate light.
Fertilizer
During the spring and summer growing season, the Krimson Queen benefits from feeding. Apply a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half-strength, about once a month. Reduce or stop fertilizing during the fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows down.
Encouraging Blooms
To encourage the fragrant, star-shaped flowers, a few conditions must be met. The plant needs to be mature, often a few years old, and receive consistent, bright indirect light. Allowing the plant to become slightly root-bound can also encourage it to direct energy toward producing flowers.
The flowers grow from specialized stems called peduncles. After a blooming cycle finishes, leave these peduncles on the vine. The plant reblooms from these same spurs in subsequent years, so cutting them off will prevent future flowers from forming in that spot. This trait makes preserving the old peduncles a practice for anyone hoping to see their plant flower repeatedly.
Propagation Methods
The Krimson Queen is easily propagated through stem cuttings. Select a healthy vine and use sterilized pruners to cut just below a node, which is where a leaf joins the stem. The cutting should have at least one node and a few leaves for photosynthesis to provide energy for root development.
There are two common rooting methods. You can place the cutting in water, submerging at least one node and changing the water weekly. Alternatively, plant the cutting directly into a moist, well-draining soil mix. For either method, placing the new cutting in a warm location with bright, indirect light will facilitate the development of new roots over several weeks.
Common Issues and Solutions
Common pests include mealybugs, which appear as white, cottony masses, and aphids. For small infestations, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove them directly. Widespread problems may require an application of insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Changes in the leaves can also indicate care issues. If a vine produces all-white leaves, they lack chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesize, which drains energy from the plant. It is a good idea to prune these sections. Wrinkled, soft leaves indicate the plant is thirsty, while yellow, mushy leaves are a sign of overwatering and potential root rot.