How to Grow and Care for Hoya Boolay
A comprehensive guide to the Hoya Boolay. Understand the needs of this uncommon plant to ensure healthy leaves and encourage its unique blooms.
A comprehensive guide to the Hoya Boolay. Understand the needs of this uncommon plant to ensure healthy leaves and encourage its unique blooms.
The Hoya ‘Boolay’ is a sought-after variety known for its unique foliage. The leaves are thick, succulent, and waxy, with a heavily dimpled or puckered texture. Its versatile growth habit allows it to be displayed as a hanging plant or trained to climb, making it a prized addition to any houseplant collection.
Hoya Boolay flourishes in bright, indirect sunlight. An ideal location is near an east-facing window for gentle morning sun, or several feet from a south or west-facing window to avoid harsh afternoon rays. Too much direct sun can scorch its leaves, causing discoloration. Insufficient light may lead to slower growth and less vibrant foliage.
Hoya Boolay requires a soil mix with excellent aeration and drainage to prevent root rot. A chunky, well-draining potting medium is recommended. An effective mix can be created using components like orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir or coco chips. This type of substrate allows water to flow freely while retaining enough moisture for the plant.
Due to its succulent leaves, Hoya Boolay stores water efficiently. Use the “drench and dry” method: water thoroughly until it drains, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. To check for dryness, insert a finger about two inches into the soil. This approach prevents overwatering, a common issue for Hoyas.
Hoya Boolay prefers temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 29°C). Protect the plant from sudden temperature drops and cold drafts, especially during winter. This plant also appreciates average to high humidity. To increase ambient moisture, you can group it with other plants, place it on a pebble tray with water, or use a small humidifier.
During the active growing seasons of spring and summer, feed your Hoya Boolay every four to six weeks. Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Always water the plant before fertilizing to prevent root burn. Suspend feeding during the fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows.
Flowering a Hoya Boolay requires patience, as the plant must first reach maturity over a few years. Once mature, certain conditions can encourage its fragrant, star-shaped flower clusters. Providing slightly more intense light and allowing the plant to become slightly root-bound in its pot can stimulate flowering.
The flowers are clustered in an umbel with a waxy, porcelain-like appearance. To promote future blooms, do not remove the flower stems, known as peduncles, after the flowers fade. Hoyas re-bloom from the same peduncles in subsequent seasons.
Hoya Boolay is best propagated by stem cuttings during the spring and summer. Using clean pruners, take a four to six-inch cutting from a healthy vine. The cutting must include at least one or two nodes, which are the small bumps on the stem where roots emerge. Remove the leaves from the lowest node to prepare it for rooting.
Allow the cut end to dry for a few hours to a day to form a callus and prevent rot. You can root the cutting in water or soil. For water propagation, place the cutting in a jar, submerge at least one node, and change the water weekly. To root in soil, plant the leafless node in a well-draining mix and keep it moist until roots form.
Overwatering is a frequent issue for Hoya Boolay, signaled by yellowing leaves or a soft stem, which can lead to root rot. To fix this, let the soil dry completely and adjust your watering schedule. Wrinkled or shriveled leaves indicate the plant is underwatered and needs a thorough watering.
Mealybugs are a common pest for Hoyas. These small, white insects hide in leaf axils and on the undersides of leaves. Treat them by dabbing with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or by using an insecticidal soap. Regular inspection helps catch these issues early.