Last updated on October 28th, 2023 at 09:28 pm
The Hoya carnosa tricolor is a beautiful plant that can be found in the Hoya genus. This Hoya species gets its name from the three colors of flowers on it, which are red, white, and yellow. Hoya carnosa tricolor only has one flower per leaf axil.
It is an amazing Hoya plant that has been cultivated over the years. It was first discovered in 1841 by a Dutch botanist named H. Van Houtte. This Hoya Carnosa Tricolor has three colors: pink, white, and green which make it very unique!
Hoya carnosa tricolor originates from India and South East Asia, where it is found on forest floors across the region. The leaves are variegated and the flowers are large, sometimes with a pinkish color.
This Hoya plant that has been known for centuries with names like Hoya carnosa var. tricolor, Hoya erythrina var. tricolor, and Hoya sanguinea var. tricolor in the past, according to what country it was being grown in at the time of its discovery from 1790-the 1800s, up through today with a few changes here and there due to modern taxonomy updates which have now made this species Hoya erythrochila (named by John Lindley) but are still referred to as Hoya carnosa var Tricolor or Tricolor on occasion because of all the confusion over names that has happened since 1800s.
Origin and description
Hoya carnosa tricolor is a twining vine that can grow to about six or seven feet tall if allowed, but it’s often kept as a houseplant. Hoya comes from India and South East Asia where they are found on forest floors across the region. The leaves are variegated and the flowers are large, sometimes with a pinkish color.
This hoya is native to India but can be found in greenhouses across Europe, North America, and Australia where it has become popular as an indoor plant because of its ease of care.
Hoya carnosa tricolor propagation
In case you want to propagate your Hoya carnosa tricolor plant, it is easy. You can take cuttings from the mother plant easily and replant them in a new pot with soil after allowing some time for healing of the wounds. In many cases, this propagation method works without any special measures but there are also situations where propagation should be done under special conditions.
The propagation of Hoya carnosa tricolor does not require much preparation or expense because the plant is very easy to care for and will survive well in most situations. The only thing you need is some patience, a sharp knife (preferably), rooting hormone powder which can be bought cheaply at any gardening store, and a pot to transfer the cuttings into.
If you want to propagate a new hoya carnosa tricolor plant from a leaf, make sure the lower two-thirds of the leaf is healthy and not dried out. Then cut off this part at an angle with your sharp knife (or scissors) so that there is no chance of any disease spreading into the mother plant via wounds on the stem or veins in the leaves.
If you want to propagate the plant by division, this is best done in spring. It is also possible to divide your Hoya carnosa tricolor at any other time of year, but remember that it can take up to a month before new shoots appear once the division has been completed.
During propagation, it is important not to over-water or under-water the plant. There is no need to water your mother plants heavily or frequently but it’s equally unwise to allow them to dry out too much either because Hoya carnosa tricolor does not like this at all!
Hoya carnosa tricolor care
It is a slow-growing evergreen, very durable, and suitable for the home or office. It requires medium to high lighting conditions in order to flourish. If you are going to grow it outside, make sure there is no direct sunlight on its leaves during the daytime because this plant tolerates low light levels better than most other plants.
If you’re interested in adding a plant that offers more than just good looks to your home, then the tricolor hoya might be right for you! This tropical beauty is easy to care for and comes with colorful foliage that will make any room come alive.
Light requirements
The tricolor hoya is a shade-loving plant that thrives in bright indirect light. It does just fine with some filtered sunlight, but it’s especially beautiful when grown on an east or west windowsill where its variegated leaves are bathed in morning and afternoon sun. A south window may be too intense for the plant.
Soil/potting mix
Hoya carnosa tricolor is succulent, so it should be grown in a good-quality, fast-draining potting mix. A cactus or African violet soil works well for this plant since both are formulated to retain water while still providing excellent drainage.
Traditionally, the tricolor hoya has been potted in clay pots, but it also does well in plastic pots.
Hoya carnosa tricolor watering
Water hoya carnosa tricolor deeply, but allow its potting mix to dry out completely before watering again. You can also mist it once or twice a day if you want to provide humidity for your plant.
The tricolor hoya is a thirsty plant, so it’s important to provide lots of drainages. If its potting mix becomes waterlogged, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off.
Although hoya plants don’t require a lot of maintenance, their care requirements vary slightly depending on which species you have. For example, Hoya carnosa prefers higher humidity levels than some other kinds, so misting once or twice per day can be helpful for keeping it healthy.
Misting also helps reduce dust on the glossy green foliage, which can cause leaf drops if left unattended for long periods of time.
Fertilizer
To promote healthy growth, provide your hoya carnosa tricolor with a weak liquid fertilizer once every two weeks.
The three colors in this plant’s leaves come from different types of chlorophyll which are produced at varying levels depending on the light conditions it receives. To keep all these colors vibrant, you need to be sure that its soil has enough nutrients.
If you find that your tricolor hoya is losing its leaves after months of vigorous growth, take a look at the colors in them and see if they’re fading or becoming duller than usual. If this is true then it could be an indication that there isn’t enough light for your plant to feed naturally.
Temperature
Although the hoya carnosa tricolor can tolerate a range of temperatures, it should be kept between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hoyas are known for their tolerance to different climates, but this doesn’t mean that they aren’t sensitive to temperature changes. Be sure not to expose your plant to drafts as well since this will cause its leaves to drop.
The tricolor hoya is a tropical plant and as such, it should be kept in warmer conditions than those that other plants might need for optimal growth. However, if you’re keeping your home on the cooler side, then placing your pot near an artificial light source can help keep things warm enough for this plant to survive.
Humidity
The tricolor hoya prefers humid conditions, so if you can mist it once or twice a day that would be helpful.
Hoyas are native to the jungles of South America, making them natural humidity lovers. They’re often grown outdoors in places with high levels of rainfall and moisture because they need these things to thrive.
An ideal humidity range is between 50 and 80%. If your home is on the drier side, this can be achieved by misting frequently or placing a humidifier near it.
If you notice that its leaves are yellowing despite being watered often, then humidity levels in your home might need to be increased. Put trays of water underneath the pot so that it stays moist or mist it daily to provide moisture for your plant.
Pruning
In order to maintain a healthy hoya carnosa tricolor plant, you should prune it at least once every year. This will help the growth of new leaves and stems, as well as encourage blooming if that is your goal. You can do this by cutting back any stems or branches that are growing into each other so that they have room to grow.
Hoya plants are vines, so if you’d like to encourage more growth, it can be helpful to tie them onto stakes or trellises. This way they will grow upwards instead of outwards and have room for new branches. New stems should grow after a few weeks as long as the plant is getting enough sunlight. You can also prune them back if they are growing too quickly.
When to repot
The hoya can be repotted at any time of the year, except during hot weather when the plant should be given a slight rest. After flowering, cut back its long arching stems and leave only a few inches to produce new shoots for next spring’s blooms.
Hoyas only need to be repotted every few years, because they don’t grow very quickly. You can tell when it’s time for a new pot by looking at the root growth and age of the soil. If there are visible roots growing out of drainage holes in the bottom, then it is time to replant.
You can tell that the roots are getting crowded if they’re growing out of holes in the bottom or through the soil, and it is time to repot when there are more than four visible root tips coming out of each hole. This means that your plant needs a larger pot with fresh soil, so that its roots don’t get cramped.
The best time to repot the hoya carnosa tricolor plant is in the spring when it’s just about finished blooming and before new growth starts up again for the year. This will allow you plenty of time to monitor its health throughout summer, as well as give it enough growing time before winter rolls around again.
Dormancy
If you live in a region with cold winters, then your hoya carnosa tricolor plants will enter into dormancy. Although this is not the same as hibernation, it can be difficult to tell what its winter care requirements are without researching more about where you live and which species of hoya plants grow there naturally.
Dormant Hoyas should still receive plenty of light, but they need less water than usual. You can check to see if it is time for dormancy by looking at the leaves and stems: if they’re turning brown, then winter has arrived and you should stop watering them until spring rolls around again.
Hoyas that are kept indoors year-round don’t need dormancy because they are already in a controlled environment that offers them plenty of light, water, and humidity.
Flowers & Fragrance
Although hoya carnosa tricolor plants are prized most for their leaves, they also produce interesting flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Blooming usually takes place during spring or summer, depending on the species of plant you have and where it is grown.
Typically these blooms will last a few days to about two weeks before dying off again. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, from greenish-white to pink or yellow. Some scent the air with a sweet fragrance that people enjoy while others have no discernible odor at all.
Hoya carnosa tricolor growth rate
Hoya carnosa tricolor plants grow a few inches per year on average. Some species will grow much slower than others, but most of them take about ten years to reach maturity and start blooming if they are grown indoors from seed or cuttings rather than being purchased as a mature plant.
Although hoyas can be slow-growing, it is still important to give them plenty of space and light so that they can develop strong stems and allow for growth. They also need lots of water, at least one inch per week in the summer and no less than half an inch every two weeks during winter when there is less sunlight.
Toxicity
Hoya carnosa tricolor plants are not poisonous to humans or pets, but they should still be kept out of reach so that children and animals cannot eat them. The sap can leave a sticky residue on surfaces as well as cause skin irritation in some people if it comes into contact with the eyes or bare skin for long periods of time.
In order to avoid these problems, you should always wear gloves when performing pruning or repotting tasks. It is best to avoid getting sap on your skin in the first place if possible by wearing protective clothing and equipment, such as goggles and a mask for larger plants.
If you have pets that might want to chew on the leaves, then it would be wise to keep your hoya in a hanging basket so that they cannot reach it. Additionally, you should only repot your plant while wearing gloves and other protective gear if its leaves are large enough to cause problems if eaten.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Hoya carnosa tricolor plants are hardy in USDA zones 11-12. Some people grow them as annuals since they cannot survive winter, but most people will prefer to keep their hoyas indoors year-round and treat the plant like a houseplant instead of an outdoor one.
If you live in zone 12, then your best bet is to purchase a well-established plant in the spring, repot it when fall arrives, and let it go dormant for winter. Once the weather warms up again, you can move your hoya outside into partial sun if desired or bring it back inside where there are no frosts or freezes expected that season.
Pests and diseases
Hoya carnosa tricolor plants are mostly pest and disease-free. They don’t attract too many insects, although it is possible to have scale problems if aphids get into the plant crown or stem where they can hide from predators until winter arrives.
There aren’t any serious insect infestations that will ruin your plant unless you don’t take care of it properly, but pests can weaken your plant and make it more prone to disease.
If you see any insects crawling around the leaves, then remove them by hand or with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. This will prevent an infestation from occurring that could cause serious problems later on if not treated.
If you want to keep pests away from your plant, then it is best not to water the lower leaves and stems, because this will make them more vulnerable since they can’t retain as much water compared with the top of the cone-shaped crown where the tiny roots are located.
Conclusion
Hoya carnosa tricolor plants are about as easy to care for like any other plant that you might be able to purchase at a nursery or home improvement store. They need plenty of sunlight, water when it is hot out, and protection from frosts in winter if they are kept indoors.
They can grow slowly but steadily with proper care, and they are not poisonous to humans or pets unless consumed in large quantities.
