Don’t let its compact size fool you – Hoya fitchii is one of the most beautiful foliage Hoyas available. Its small, rounded leaves are intricately patterned with raised dark green veins over a vibrant green background, giving each leaf a beautifully textured appearance. As the plant matures, it produces elegant trailing vines that look fantastic cascading from a hanging pot or climbing a small trellis. In the right conditions, Hoya fitchii will also reward patient growers with clusters of sweetly fragrant peach to pink flowers, making it every bit as impressive in bloom as it is in foliage.
Scientific Name
Hoya fitchii
Common Name
Wax Plant, Porcelain Flower, Wax Vine
Origin
Native to the Philippines, where it grows as an epiphyte on trees in warm, humid forests.
Light
Thrives in bright, indirect light and benefits from a little gentle morning or evening sun. Avoid prolonged direct midday sunlight, which may scorch the leaves.
Water
Allow the top third of the potting mix to dry before watering thoroughly. Reduce watering during autumn and winter, and never allow the plant to sit in water.
Humidity
Prefers moderate to high humidity but adapts well to average household conditions. Higher humidity will encourage stronger growth and may improve flowering.
Soil
Grow in a chunky, free-draining houseplant mix containing bark, perlite and peat-free compost or coco coir. Good airflow around the roots is essential.
Food
Feed every three to four weeks during spring and summer using a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser. Once mature, a fertiliser slightly higher in potassium can help encourage flowering.
Temperature
Prefers temperatures between 18–28°C and should be protected from temperatures below 15°C.
Pet-safe
Hoyas are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. However, chewing any houseplant may cause mild stomach upset in some pets.
Sprouts Top Tips
Hoya fitchii naturally stays more compact than many other Hoyas, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces. Give it plenty of bright, indirect light to bring out the beautiful veining in its leaves, avoid overwatering, and don’t remove long, leafless vines—these often develop new growth and flower spurs over time. Mature plants are reliable bloomers and can flower repeatedly from the same spurs, so never cut these off after flowering.
