Hoya Curtisii is an easy-to-grow Hoya that has beautiful, tiny leaves. This compact plant is excellent for a small home but will look fabulous as part of any plant collection.
This tropical plant is originally from Southeast Asia but is now found all around the globe as a houseplant, known for its small and pretty silver speckled spade-shaped leaves.
The tiny leaves are shaped like a spade and have gorgeous silvery variegation. The Curtisii is known for its lovely cascading vines.
How to Pronounce Curtisii: Ker-tee-see-eye
H. Curtisii is also known by the more common names Fung Wax Flower, Tiny-Leaf Porcelain Flower, and Hoya Aloha.
Hoya Curtisii plant will flower, but it generally only blooms if it has enough sunlight.
So, how do you care for Hoya Curtisii?
Proper Hoya Curtisii Care
Here are the basics of H. Curtisii care, which we will detail.
- Soil: Well draining, well-aerated soil
- Light: Bright indirect light (with some direct light if you want to encourage blooming)
- Water: Check weekly. Only water if the soil is 100% dry.
- Humidity: 50-60% humidity
- Pruning: Prune to the desired shape and to remove dead leaves
- Where to buy: Available on Etsy and Amazon.
Soil
The best soil for Hoya Curtisii is a well-draining potting mix with some perlite added in for additional water flow. Another option is a succulent/cacti mix, adding perlite.
Hoya Curtisii in Leca
You may choose leca for your plant instead of soil. Many Hoya lovers do this. If you’re not familiar with LECA, it’s an acronym, and it stands for: Lightweight expanded clay aggregate. Like soil, it’s another medium you can grow your plants in. Unlike soil, it doesn’t contain any nutrients for your plant.
Benefits of Leca:
- More accessible to water your plants
- Less risk of root rot
- Lowered risk of pests
- Easy to see if plants need something
If you’re a classic over-waterer, Leca might be right for you. Most houseplants, including Curtisii plant, will thrive in Leca.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your Curtisii once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) and cut back on or withhold fertilizer during the winter months.
Feeding your plant will encourage growth and flowering.
Pot
The right pot for your Curtisii plant will have drainage holes that allow all the excess water to drain out. We prefer a ceramic pot or a hanging basket.
Pro Tip: If a Hoya Curtisii likes a small pot. If it is planted in a too big pot for its root system, it will not flower.
Does Hoya Curtisii climb?
Hoya Curtisii vines climb up trees when they are found in their natural habitat. You can provide your Hoya with a moss pole if you like the climbing look.
However, most indoor plant lovers choose to let this Hoya hang down from a pot or basket. It’s a beautiful, cascading plant.
Related Post: Moss Pole for Plants
When Should I Repot Hoya Curtisii?
H. Curtisii can stay in the same pot for many years. They prefer to be pot-bound. One important thing to keep in mind is only to go up one pot size when replanting any Hoya.
You don’t want to over pot your houseplants. When you place your plant into a far too large pot, it takes too long for the soil to dry out between waterings. Being waterlogged can cause several different issues for your plant.
How to Repot Hoya Curtisii
Avoid repotting your Curtisii until necessary. Repot your plant when it has clearly outgrown its current container.
If you need to go up a size, use a pot the next size up from the current one. And, of course, choose a pot with good drainage. Remember it’s best to repot in the spring or summer (the growing season).
Sun/Light Requirements
Hoya Curtisii enjoys bright indirect light. A bright, sunny window or under a grow light is best.
Like many houseplants, Curtisii will likely burn with too much direct sunlight. If you want it to flower, give it some direct morning sun, but not too much.
Grow light:
How to Water Hoya Curtisii
The Curtisii, like other Hoya plants (wax plant), is drought tolerant, does well with minimal water, and likes to dry out between waterings.
The Curtisii leaves are thick and store water. Always check the soil before watering your plant. If the potting mix is primarily dry, go ahead and water your plant. If it’s not, wait a few days and check again.
Never allow your plant to stand in water, leading to root rot. Pour out any excess after watering.
Humidity
Although Hoyas are tolerant of low humidity in the home, they prefer a humid environment. They are native to the tropical climates of Southeast Asia and are used to humidity.
50-60% humidity is ideal. Tropical plants do best in this range, so get a humidity meter for monitoring the humidity level in the drier months when you may need to mist your plants.
There are a few ways to increase the humidity around your plants. The best way is by using a humidifier. Adding a humidifier is easy, low maintenance, and works.
We have two fantastic articles detailing humidifiers for plants:
Pro Tip: An inexpensive hygrometer is a wise investment in testing the humidity level in your home and adjusting it accordingly for your plants.
Temperature
This tropical plant enjoys warmer temperatures, but it does well in various typical household environments.
Hoya Curtisii is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones ten and above.
Pruning
Pruning your Curtisii plant encourages fullness since new growth will emerge just above the area you cut. This new growth will branch out a bit instead of growing straight down.
You can prune your Hoya to remove leggy vines. Simply cut the vines to your desired length with clean, sharp scissors. Also, remove any dead leaves or vines as you see them.
Be careful not to prune off the peduncle (where a hoya flower blooms from), even after the flower dies. Hoyas will bloom from the same place each time. Removing the peduncle would mean your plant will never bloom again from that spot.
Hoya Curtisii Flower
Like other Hoyas, the Curtisii blooms beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers. The flowers looks like clusters of white and pink stars. Hoyas aren’t guaranteed to flower for you, but there are some things you can do to encourage your plant to bloom:
- Hoyas like to be rootbound and are more likely to flower when they are.
- A few hours of direct light every day will encourage buds.
- Again, don’t remove the nub (peduncle) where your Hoya bloomed from after the flower falls off.
Pro Tip: Once the plant finishes blooming, leave the stalk as it sometimes will produce more flowers from the same stem.
How to Propagate Hoya Curtisii
Hoya Curtisiii is easy to propagate using sphagnum moss. Follow these steps:
- Take a cutting with at least three nodes (the joint from which the leaves grow).
- Remove the leaves from the bottom two nodes but keep the leaf on top.
- Plant your cutting in moist sphagnum moss with the no-leaf stem under the surface and the leaf stem on top of the surface.
- Keep your cutting humid, warm, and in a location with indirect light until it forms roots.
- You can put it in a plastic bag to help with the humidity. Just refresh the air every couple of days to avoid rot.
The best time to propagate is in the summer or early spring. The roots will begin to grow quite quickly, and before long, the cutting can be planted in a pot.
Size and Growth of Hoya Curtisii
Hoya Curtisii is a miniature trailing Hoya and grows slowly at first. Once it gets going, though, it becomes a very full-looking plant that typically grows to be 2-3 inches high.
The Curtisii vines can grow to about 2 feet long and look best hanging planter or high on a shelf.
How Fast Does Hoya Curtisii Grow?
In general, hoyas are slower growers. The Curtisii grows similarly to the String of Turtles plant – densely packed, eventually spilling over the sides of its pot and trailing very nicely.
The Curtisii leaves stay small, about 1 inch, and are heart-shaped, similar to the String of Hearts plant.
Hoya Curtisii Common Problems
The Hoya Curtisii is a small, ground cover plant and so can have problems with small insects that thrive in damp, dark environments. Moist environments mean insects like aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats could cause you issues.
You can prevent these bugs by watering your plant correctly and making sure the leaves don’t get too wet when you water the plant.
To prevent bugs, spray your plant a couple of times a year with insecticidal soap or use neem oil regularly to prevent an infestation.
Why is My Hoya Curtisii Yellowing?
Yellow leaves on your Hoya Curtisii are caused by too much water. Make sure your plant’s pot has good drainage. Allow the surface of the soil to dry between watering. If the soil stays too moist for too long, consider repotting into a mix that dries more quickly.
Read More: Why Is My Hoya Turning Yellow?
FAQ’s: Hoya Curtisii
Is Hoya Curtisii Rare?
Hoya Curtisii is becoming more and more common as a houseplant. Beware of any online listings saying this plant is rare and trying to sell it for an inflated price.
Is Hoya Curtisii Toxic to Cats?
Hoya Curtisii is nontoxic to cats.
Plants Similar to Hoya Curtisii
Hoya Curtisii vs. String of Hearts
Is Hoya Curtisii String of Hearts? The Hoya Curtisii and String of Hearts are not the same plant but look similar. They both have silvery green and dark green leaves. The Curtisii is in the genus hoya, and the string of hearts is in the genus Ceropegia.
Here are some of the more noticeable differences:
- Hoya Curtisii leaves are more spade-shaped, while String of Hearts has heart-shaped leaves.
- Curtisii has more random, speckled variegation, while the variegation in the String of Hearts has more defined lines and patterns.
Hoya Curtisii vs. Krohniana
The Curtisii and the Krohniana are very similar, and unless they are flowering, they are difficult to tell apart. The Curtisii has longer points at the end of its leaves. Hoya Krohniana is a small-leafed Hoya. Each heart-shaped leaf is about the size of a nickel or smaller.
Hoya Curtisii vs Eskimo
Hoya Krohniana “Eskimo” has heavy white markings on the leaves. The Eskimo will eventually get fuzzy, white fragrant flowers.
Hoya Curtisii vs. Dischidia
Dischidia is not as common in the houseplant world as Hoyas are. Dischidia plants are generally easy to grow, and they make nice houseplants.
The genus Dischidia belongs to the milkweed family (Apocynaceae) and is closely related to plants in the genus Hoya. Both plants are admired for their showy, sometimes fragrant, often waxy flowers.
Dischidia flowers tend to be much smaller than Hoya Curtisii.
Related Post: Hoya Linearis Care Guide
Where to Buy Hoya Curtisii Plant
Hoya Curtisii (also labeled as Hoya Aloha to sometimes Fung Wax Flower), a trailing hoya, is not as rare as it used to be, but you might not be able to find one at your local garden center or greenhouse. Luckily, you can find one easily online!
Final Thoughts on Hoya Curtisii
If you’re looking for an indoor plant to add to your houseplant collection that’s small, inexpensive, yet beautiful, this is it!
Some items we discussed that will help you with Curtisii plant care to keep it growing strong:
Good luck growing your H. Curtisii plant (aka Fung Wax Flower) and making it part of your cozy, fresh, and green home!
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