If you’re new to hoyas, you might wonder, do hoyas climb or hang? The simple answer is they can do both, and understanding this dual nature is key to helping them thrive in your home. These versatile plants are natural climbers in the wild, but they also make beautiful trailing specimens when given the right support—or lack thereof.
Do Hoyas Climb Or Hang
Hoyas are primarily climbing vines by nature. In their native habitats across Asia and Australia, they use their stems to scramble up trees and rocks towards the light. However, their long, flexible vines can also cascade beautifully from a shelf or hanging basket. Whether your hoya climbs or hangs really depends on how you choose to grow and train it.
How Hoyas Climb in Nature
In the jungle, hoyas are epiphytes. This means they often grow on other plants, like tree trunks, without taking nutrients from them. They climb to reach brighter sunlight in the forest canopy. Their stems will twine and latch onto any available support using their own growth habit, rather than specialized tendrils.
- They seek out vertical surfaces like bark or rock.
- Stems grow long and search for something to grip.
- Climbing improves their light exposure for better flowering.
The Benefits of Letting Your Hoya Climb
Encouraging your hoya to climb can lead to a healthier, more spectacular plant. When a hoya climbs vertically, it mimics its natural growth pattern, which often triggers more robust growth and can increase your chances of seeing its famous blooms.
- Better Air Circulation: An upright plant has less dense foliage, reducing the risk of fungal issues.
- Encourages Flowering: Mature climbing vines are more likely to produce the stunning, fragrant flower clusters hoyas are known for.
- Saves Space: A climbing hoya grows upward, making it ideal for smaller floor spaces.
How to Support a Climbing Hoya
Providing the right support is easy and fun. You need to guide your plant gently and secure its vines without damaging them.
- Choose a Support: Popular options include a moss pole, a trellis (bamboo, metal, or plastic), or even a simple piece of cork bark.
- Insert the Support: Carefully add the support to the pot early in the plant’s life to avoid damaging roots later.
- Gently Attach Vines: Use soft plant ties, velcro tape, or even hair clips to loosely attach the longest stems to the support. Never use wire or string that can cut into the stem.
- Continue Training: As new growth appears, gently weave it around or attach it to the support to guide its direction.
The Beauty of a Trailing Hoya
Letting your hoya hang is a fantastic option, especially for certain varieties with compact leaf growth. A trailing hoya creates a beautiful, cascading effect that works perfectly in hanging baskets or on high shelves.
- Showcases Foliage: The vines and leaves become the main attraction, spilling over the pot’s edges.
- Easy Maintenance: Trailing plants often require less frequent training and adjustment.
- Ideal for Certain Types: Varieties like Hoya linearis or the Stringbean Hoya have a naturally pendant growth that looks best when allowed to hang.
Choosing Between Climbing and Hanging
Your decision might depend on the hoya species, your space, and your personal style. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide.
Best Hoyas for Climbing
Larger-leafed hoyas often excel as climbers. Their substantial foliage looks impressive on a large trellis.
- Hoya carnosa (the classic Wax Plant)
- Hoya pubicalyx
- Hoya kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya)
Best Hoyas for Hanging
Hoyas with smaller, cascading leaves or very long internodes are perfect for hanging baskets.
- Hoya linearis
- Hoya curtisii
- Hoya bilobata
Essential Care Tips for Both Styles
Whether climbing or hanging, basic hoya care remains similar. Getting these fundamentals right ensures your plant stays healthy in any form.
Light Requirements
Hoyas need bright, indirect light to grow well and potentially flower. A trailing hoya high up near a ceiling might need to be placed closer to a window to recieve enough light. A climbing hoya on a trellis can be positioned to ensure all parts of the plant get good illumination.
Watering and Soil
Use a well-draining potting mix, like one for orchids or succulents. Water thoroughly only when the soil is mostly dry. Overwatering is a common mistake. Trailing baskets may dry out a bit faster than pots on the ground.
Feeding Your Hoya
During the active growing season (spring and summer), feed your hoya with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer once a month. There’s no need to feed in the fall and winter when growth slows.
Common Problems and Solutions
Sometimes, issues arise related to how your hoya is growing. Here’s how to troubleshoot.
- Leggy Vines with Few Leaves: This usually means not enough light. Move the plant to a brighter spot.
- Vines Not Attaching: You may need to manually tie them more frequently until they start to grip on their own.
- Top-Heavy Pot: A large climbing hoya can become top-heavy. Use a heavy pot, like ceramic or terracotta, from the start to prevent tipping.
Training a Hoya to Change Direction
You can change your mind! A trailing hoya can be trained to climb, and vice versa. It just takes a little patience.
- For a hanger becoming a climber, install a support and begin attaching the longest vines.
- For a climber becoming a hanger, slowly remove the ties and allow the vines to droop over the side of the pot. You might need to prune some stems to encourage new trailing growth.
Pruning and Maintenance
Prune your hoya in the spring to control its size or shape. For climbers, prune any vines that stray too far from the support. For trailers, trim back vines that get too long or sparse. Importantly, never remove the long leafless stems called “spurs” where flowers reappear year after year.
FAQ: Your Hoya Growth Questions Answered
Do hoyas like to climb or trail?
They are biologically adapted to climb, but they trail very readily. In your home, they will happily do either based on the support you provide.
What is the best way to get a hoya to climb?
Provide a sturdy, textured support like a moss pole and gently attach the vines with soft ties. The plant will eventually start to grip on it’s own.
Should I let my hoya hang?
Absolutely. Letting it hang is a low-maintenance and attractive option, especially for smaller-leafed varieties. Just ensure it gets enough light even when placed high.
Do hoyas need a trellis?
They don’t strictly need one, but a trellis or other support encourages climbing, which can lead to a fuller plant and better flowering.
Why is my hoya not climbing?
It might be a trailing variety, or it may simply need you to physically attach its stems to a support first. Some hoyas need that initial guidance before they take over.
Ultimately, whether you choose for your hoya to climb or hang is a matter of personal preference and the specific plant you have. By providing the appropriate support—or choosing to withold it—you can shape your hoya’s growth to fit your space beautifully. Paying attention to its light and care needs will ensure it remains a healthy and fascinating part of your plant collection for years to come.