Hoya wallichii

Hoya wallichii is a native of Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and Singapore.  It grows in moist, shady lowland forests along streams rooting on the ground or on rocks.  It is named after Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854) who collected it in Singapore.

It took me three tries to get this plant to live having killed my first two specimens.  I struggled mightily with this Hoya.  If you want to read about all of my travails with this plant, search this site as I made ten posts with all of the nitty gritty.

I’m probably the last person to give you advice on how to grow Hoya wallichii with all of the problems that I have had with the plant, but I will give it a try.  Don’t fool with the water chemistry.  For a long while I was trying to lower my water pH for this plant.  I don’t think it liked it.  Use water out of the tap having allowed it to set for at least 24 hours to dissipate any chlorine that may be present.  Fertilize at 1/2 strength with every watering but water sparingly.

Grow in a net pot so that you can be more sure when it is time to water.  Don’t keep wet, or allow to get bone dry; leaves will yellow and fall off very quickly.  Needs very warm temperatures above 80°F during the day and above 65°F at night.  Needs lots of humidity above 60% at all times, better if it is higher.  Light levels should not be too high – at least 18 inches under T-5 fluorescent bulbs.

If you are looking for a challenge, Hoya wallichii may be for you.  I rate it as an 8 on a 10 scale of difficulty with 1 being dead easy.  This is my experience with it; it may not be yours.  It has a wonderful, large, albeit very short-lived, flower with virtually no scent.  It is a plant that is probably best left to very experienced growers with the ability to give it what it really needs.