Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
The hoya diversifolia is a species of hoya that has been cultivated and grown as a house plant. They are native to Southeast Asia and North America, though they can be found all over the world now. The hoya diversifolia is an epiphyte, meaning it doesn’t need soil in order to grow. It thrives on the air around it and will only thrive if given ample amounts of light as well.
Hoya diversifolia, commonly known as the lifemate flower or Chinese honeysuckle is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to China and Taiwan where it grows on shady slopes with other shrubs at elevations from 400 – 2500m. The flowers are white with pink throats which have five lobes and they are followed by a red, five-lobed berry.
The leaves of this plant look like small versions of the ones found on grapevines, however, only one leaf is formed per stem node. This particular species can be grown from cuttings or seeds if fresh-picked fruit pulp is used as a rooting medium.
What is hoya diversifolia?
It is a flowering vine that produces large, fragrant flowers. Hoya diversifolia is also known as the “flower of the lover” and it has been said to improve relationships. There are many ways hoya diversifolia can be used in your life; for instance, you could plant it in your backyard or on your deck for an aromatic garden, or you could hang hoyas above doors and windows to keep evil spirits away!
Origin and description
An evergreen climber with simple, opposite leaves. Hoya diversifolia is native to Australia’s eastern coast in lowland areas from Queensland through New South Wales into Victoria and Tasmania where it typically climbs or scrambles over other vegetation in protected forested areas near the sea.
The flowers are about an inch in diameter and have five petals. They range from whitish to pink, magenta, or dark red with a yellow center that is covered with tiny hairs. Hoya diversifolia can bloom most of the year but they seem to be more abundant during spring through summer.
Hoya Diversifolia is a plant with beautiful leaf forms and flowers, making it popular as an ornamental houseplant. It typically grows to about four feet tall in its native habitats, but will usually grow taller when grown indoors or in greenhouses due to the warmer conditions and stronger light availabilities of these environments (compared to the outdoors).
It is one of many closely related species in the Hoya genus. It has been used for centuries by people from Southeast Asia as a medicinal plant and ornamental houseplant, with its roots having been applied topically to treat inflammation, wounds, insect bites, or stings, among other things.
How to propagate
Hoya diversifolia can be propagated by cuttings or seeds. Although, cutting is more preferable. Just get some healthy leaf and make a cut from a branch, which is about 20-30cm. Remove the lower leaves and leave the ones at the tips of each leaf stalk. Place the cutting in a glass of water to keep it watered. A soilless potting mix, mixed with perlite at about 50% can be used for rooting.
Make sure the container is kept warm (25 – 28 ºC) and the plant will root in less than 3 months.
General Care Information
Light requirement
A successful hoya diversifolia will need bright, filtered light indoors. It should be grown in bright, indirect light, this is because it does not like direct sunlight and scorches easily under intense lighting conditions.
The plant requires a good amount of light, but make sure it is not direct sunlight because the leaves will burn and turn brown quickly from too much sun exposure. During the summer months when there are longer days you can move your hoya outside to get more natural light during those few extra hours that plants receive.
Remember though if you decide to keep your hoya outside it will need to be brought back in during the wintertime if you live somewhere that has cold weather.
Soil/potting mix
Hoya diversifolia prefers a loose, well-draining potting mix. Use equal parts peat moss and perlite or coarse sand as your base. You can also use an all-organic soil mixture such as one part chopped sphagnum moss with two parts composted bark for potted hoyas.
This will work well for overwintering hoyas in outdoor gardens or in greenhouses with high humidity levels.
This plant does well with most potting soils as long as they are moist and drain easily. You can also use perlite or sand which is common for cacti growing outdoors so this would give the plant a more secure standing.
Watering Hoya Diversifolia
Hoya diversifolia is not a plant that likes to sit in wet soil. It should be watered only when the top inch of soil feels dry, and you do so very little at a time. Watering too much can lead to root rot or fungus diseases, which may cause your hoya plants to die.
Fertilizer
For best results, fertilize your hoya every two months with any plant fertilizer that is diluted by half. Make sure to water evenly throughout this process. The soil should always remain moist, but never soggy.
Temperature
Hoya Diversifolia likes a warm location. In general, try to aim for around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and keeping it at 65 degrees Fahrenheit or lower during the nighttime. If you live in an area that has higher temperatures all year, then be sure to place your plant near a window where there is shade from the sun.
Humidity
Hoya diversifolia thrives best when there’s high humidity or moisture around it all day long and prefers to be kept warm – but not too hot! The ideal humidity level for this plant is 80% or higher.
Pruning
One of the most important aspects of caring for hoya is pruning. You can tell if a plant needs to be cut back simply by looking at it. If you see bare, brown branches reaching toward the light then they need cutting off immediately! However, don’t let your scissors get carried away with this one. The more leaves that are removed, the faster your hoya will grow. You cannot quickly remove too many leaves on a hoya plant at a time because they are fairly dense with them in the first place!
When to repot
There is no definite rule for how often to repot the hoya diversifolia, as this depends on your growing conditions and preferences of its appearance as well as those who care for it. In general, though, you should consider repotting every five years or so.
If you choose not to repot your hoya diversifolia during the blooming season, then do it as soon after flowering as possible. In general, if you want a healthy plant that will produce flowers for many years in the future, then never allow its roots to dry out or become potbound. The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to repot it whenever it begins to outgrow its current pot.
If you do not want the hoya diversifolia plant in your collection right away, then divide it into several small pieces that each have two leaves on them before putting them back into pots once they are big enough for their own space.
After the plant flowers and produces its first set of leaves, repot it into a one-gallon pot. If you do not want to flower your hoya diversifolia again for another year or so, then wait until the next time when it has finished blooming before pruning back some of the root systems and repotting into a one-gallon pot.
Keep the hoya diversifolia in its original container until it is almost completely covered with roots and appears to be growing very well. When you are sure that the plant has had time to grow some healthy root system, then prune back all of its thick root balls before repotting it into a one-gallon pot.
Dormancy
Hoya diversifolia naturally hold their leaves all year round, however, it is best to mimic the conditions of its native environment by keeping humidity levels high during winter. This means that watering should be reduced significantly in order for your plant to enter a period of dormancy, which will begin around November or December and end again in March or April.
Flowers & Fragrance
The flower of the Hoya Diversifolia is a star-shaped, short-lived blossom. The petals are yellow and maroon with deep purple around the edges which age to green as they die off. This variety has a very powerful fragrance that can be somewhat offensive to those who dislike strong scents in floral arrangements or potpourri.
Hoya Diversifolia leaves are long, thick, and glossy green with a slightly leathery feel to their touch which makes the plant appear more like an ornamental grass than a vine or shrub. The Hoya can grow around ten feet in height if allowed full access to sunlight, but while indoors, it will be much smaller depending on the amount of light that is given.
The Hoya Diversifolia plant has both ornamental and medicinal values to its users. The roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of some forms of cancer, anxiety disorders, and depression while leaves can be chewed on by an upset stomach or applied directly to wounds as a natural adhesive bandage.
Growth rate
Hoya diversifolia is a slow-growing plant that can take up to five years before it flowers. It prefers moderate temperatures and high humidity, so the best place for this hoya would be an East or West window in your home with plenty of water. The leaves are thick and glossy green which makes them easy to identify as well as the clusters of flowers that appear around the stem.
Toxicity
Hoya diversifolia is not considered to be toxic when ingested. However, it does produce an irritant sap when the leaves and stem are broken or cut, which can cause skin contact dermatitis in rare cases. If you do end up with a rash from handling this plant, bathe in warm water and apply calamine lotion.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Hoya diversifolia is a popular houseplant, but it can be grown outdoors in USDA zones 12 to 13.
Pests and diseases
This plant is very sensitive to aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects. As a tip, you can put a snail or slug in the pot as they will eat any soft-bodied pest that tries to attack your hoya diversifolia. If it survives then great! It’s safe from pests for now but if not don’t worry. Hoya diversifolia is also sensitive to thrips, mites, and lice.
