The heart-shaped plant looked like a thornless succulent or cactus. Intriguing.
But I was taken aback by the gaudy etchings on the perfectly symmetrical heart. It was as bad as discovering graffiti mutilating the beautiful trunk of a tree.
It was much later that I realized the heart shaped plant was actually the leaf of a hoya. I saw my first hoya kerrii plant in a private garden in Singapore and it quickly flew to one of the top spots on my wishlist.
So when a visiting gardening friend gave me a couple, I was overjoyed. Imagine, not just one, but two hoyas planted in shells! And each with three perfect variegated hearts on them.
The hoyas were inactive for months. Each held on to their three hearts but were not keen on producing any new ones.
I sought the advice of a hoya expert. “It likes a regular feeding of sheep droppings. Make sure you get those from NZ,” he said.
And so I did. I fertilized them lightly and let them be. I knew there was no point expecting a growth spurt in the hoya as it’s just about one of the slowest growers there are in the garden. There was no point counting the days or weeks either. All I can say is, they do have more leaves now. :P
The next question is probably when the hoya kerrii will bloom. One thing’s for sure – I’d better not hold my breath.
Care and propagation: Filtered sun or bright light, light porous media such as a mixture of peat, husk, soil and perlite; water moderately. Propagate using stem cuttings
Do you think Hoya kerrii has different cultivars? They tend to look a bit different each time I see one. Yours is so plump and cute. Mine is lean. The leaf cutting that I have been growing for more than a year is still a leaf! I had two. One has rotted. The leaf was so sensitive to water. I didn’t realise the soil line was touching the leaf. That’s how the leaf rotted.
Nonetheless, I hope your hoya will flower soon. Thanks for your tips on the sheep droppings. Expensive? Currently I just use slow release fertiliser on my hoyas even for the all green one.
there is the all green type as well as the variegated. mine’s the variegated and each leaf has a slightly different marking.
try with 2-3 pellets of the sheep droppings first, stephanie, and place them away from the leaf. better to be safe than sorry, i think.
my hoya kerrii will probably take a long time to flower. i’ve had them for 2 years now. such a slooooow grower. 😉
Hi There,
I took over a hoya plant. Under my care, it grew a new leaf but this leaf looks longer than the other leaves. Do you know what could be the cause of that? I placed my hoya plant on my window grid and seldom fertilize it. It is growing another new leaf now. i hope this time i can get a perfect heart shape.
it could be the new environment, rachel. care to share a photo? you can email me at typicalgardener@gmail.com
I just got a cutting of a hoya kerrii and was doing some research on how to propogate it properly. One of the things a lot of the websites mentioned was that a hoya won’t grow from just a leaf. There has to be some stem attached to the leaf for it to grow into a new plant. A leaf cutting could live a long time, but it will always be just a leaf.
My mother’s flower only after seven years! Yes I know yours is the variegated type. I have both types – total green and variegated. Actually, one of my variegated is fatter than the other. When I dug out the rotted leaf one (leaner one) I saw so little roots formed. I learnt they like to be root bound before flower – that’s why they need such a long time to flower. I think my mom’s pot was big hence, flower only after seven years. Hers is not a kerrii but looks like a diversifolia.
Thanks a lot for the tips on sheep droppings again. I am glad I learnt another new thing today😀
yes, i’ve been told it needs to be root bound. did you take a photo of the blooms? the only time i saw a kerrii in flower was at a friend’s place.
You can have a look at my mom’s hoya here
http://stephgreenspace.blogspot.com/search/label/Hoya
Please note hers is a different hoya (possibly Hoya diversiflora). Hers can be placed out in the open. I have propagated a pot in my garden and now thriving out in the open as well. Needs to be watered thoroughly daily. But it’s not blooming yet.
In contrast, my Hoya kerrii is different, the plant has to be placed in the shade. Their new leaves will turn soft if it is too hot or under the sun. Yes, water moderately like you said. Actually I water thoroughly once a week only. If the weather is too hot, then I water more times.
As for Hoya kerrii flower… silly me I saw the flower (total green type) once (while buds were about to open), I forgot to take a picture! The flower was white and centre looks a bit pink.
They are beautiful… do they flourish in New Zealand?
If you are after kiwiana gifts then you can’t go past our NooZealand.co.nz store.
they should if you can find a good spot for it, todd; they enjoy warmth, high humidity and filtered sunlight.
Nicely variegated plant there!! I should think the whites will show up more with more exposure to sunlight! :))
guess so. some of the newer leaves seem to have more cream than green. 🙂
Hi Stephanie – I have a green Hoya Kerrii and it has 6 blooms over it and the necta is dripping of the flowers it is just beautiful I have had the plant for about 2 yrs – and it was from a cutting with 2 leaves on it – we live in Cairns – the flowers are lime yellow with burgundy centres – don’t know if the weather in Cairns has anything to do with it –
Hi
I have recentley purchased a Hoya Kerrii from my local Ikea store as I was after a small pot plant to brighten up my room. After passing up the usuall bansai’s and whatnot I accidentally found a broken Hoya Kerrii in the reduced damaged goods section and thought it’d be a sweet project for me and my girlfriend to try heal the broken heart. (yes, THAT soppy). Does anyone have any advice or care tips for us as we are pretty uneducated in the world of hoyas. The plant seems to have split straight down the middle of the heart and is in fist-sized pot. I’ve lightly watered it and it’s now residing on my window sill. Luckily it’s winter here in England so the natural daylight is pretty filtered anyway and it starts to get dark about 4-5pm. All help appreciated. cheers!
-Daryl and Chey
My Hoya Kerrii is 1 single heart leaf in a little pot. I bought it from Ikea as a decoration and didn’t know anything about it, I didnt even think it was real!
But I have watered it small amounts twice every 2-3 days and it was fine but it missed watering for 4 days and started turning brown.
I thought after a a few good watering It would regain its normal green colouring, but its gotten worse and worse and now has black spots on it and looks like its dying. But, it still drink all the water dry!
Help!?
-Evie
could you send a photo to typicalgardener@gmail.com?
iv sent a picture of my two hoyas. the smaller one being the one iv described. thanks
I have 3 types, including the green kerrii. My Hindu Rope Hoya (carnosa compacta regalis) is the most mature and it has about ten blooms right now. The scent is magnificent and fills up the room. I was curious whether anyone knows if goat droppings will work for feeding? I have lots of those around.
I can definitely confirm that the leaves will root by themselves, but they will not grow new leaves unless part of the stem or possibly 2 leaves/nodes and stems are present on the cutting.
I am glad other people out there are in love with this plant. It’s a great one.
Hello, I am a fellow Gardener and Blogger in Austin, TX. I have been unable to find this plant ANYWHERE and stumbled upon your site when searching online. Any chance you might know where I could get a cutting for a reasonable price?
Thanks a ton! Teresa
i’m not from the US; let’s see if anyone from within the US responds, ok?
There’s a place called Well’s Florist and nursery 979-345-3002 wellsflorist.com here in sweeny texas They have the heart shaped hoya
my mom buys from him. Her name is Norma
hi i was given a heart shaped hoya in february for vday and it has been a happy green up until 2-3 weeks ago. i thought it needed water but now i think i have overwatered it. it is brownish in certain areas and there are a few black dots. it came in a red pot and there is a sponge in it that is still damp. i am keeping it in my well lit room but away from the window as it is winter in oz.i’d appreciate any suggestions you may have ? thanks.
if there are any soft or rotting bits, you could discard that. may be good to let it dry out in between watering, Lydia.
Hello my heart shaped Hoya has the same problem with Lydia’s one, it became less green, has grown some black dots on it and it’s become softer and yellow.. The weather is quite cold I am not sure if it affects it, and I m not sure if I should still keep watering it now??What should I do to make it become healthy again??? Thanks!!
give it as much warmth and humidity as you can since this is tropical. however, watering over much may not be a good idea.