Porcelain Flower Hoya carnosa

Porcelain flower or wax plant is a commonly grown houseplant. It has long slender vines covered with waxy, deep green leathery leaves sometimes flecked with silver or creamy white. To make this plant appear denser, wrap its sparsely leaved stems around a bamboo trellis and secure with florist tape or nylon stocking strips. Bright indirect light year-round is ideal. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.  Too wet or too dry soil can cause the leaves to drop.  

Wax plants love high humidity and the foliage appreciates misting. The flowers are star-shaped, in parachute-shaped clusters, with a sweet fragrance and may produce a sticky sap. 

Moving the plant when budding has begun, as changes in lighting can cause the buds to drop.  

Most plants will not produce flowers until they reach an age of 2 to 3 years old.  They can bloom in the spring, summer and even in the fall months.  

This low maintenance plant should be repotted when it outgrows its current container.  It appreciates being nearly pot bound, however, at some point may need to be moved to a larger pot.  The new pot should not be more than 2" larger than the existing.  When repotting, ensure that the plant is not budding or flowering.  At that point, repotting can lead to dropped buds or flowers.  

Should pruning be necessary, it is best done in the early spring before its most rapid growth begins.  Caution should be used to resist pruning the leafless stem where flowers have been produced.  Flowers form on the same stem year after year, cutting off these stems will reduce flowering.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Mealybugs are an issue as well as fungus gnats that are attracted to potting mixes that are too wet.

Occasionally, spider mites can be an issue.  They can appear when the air is too dry.  Misting the plant to provide moisture/humidity can reduce this issue.  

Cold water can shock this plant, water should be at room temperature.