Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Hoya incrassata moon shadow, also called hoya incrassata variegate or just hoya moon shadow, is an easy-to-grow houseplant that can be kept in a pot or as a hanging plant. Hoya incrassata moon shadow also likes bright light but not direct sunlight. Watering should be done when the soil feels dry and never let the plant sit in water after watering. When keeping it in the pot, give it a quarter turn every week to prevent rot.
Hoya incrassata moon shadow is a beautiful tropical plant that is native to the Philippines and other southeast Asian countries. Despite its exotic background, this plant can be cultivated in most locations around the world, provided that you can provide it with its ideal growing conditions. The hoya incrassata moon shadow care instructions below will help you create the perfect atmosphere for your plant’s growth and wellbeing.
The moon shadow plant is a beautiful member of the Hoya family and one of the easiest to care for. This lovely plant features delicate flowers that are similar in color to coral and pink lotus blooms, and its care requirements are minimal, making it an excellent addition to your home or office that you can enjoy year-round!
Origin and distribution
Hoya incrassata moon shadow is an epiphytic perennial native to Malaysia and Indonesia, where it grows as a vine over trees and rocks. The species has also been introduced to Java, Sri Lanka, and other areas with tropical climates. It is currently listed as endangered on IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species due to deforestation in its native habitat.
In its natural environment, Hoya incrassata moon shadow is found at elevations between 500-1000 meters above sea level. It can grow up to 10 meters long when given ample support (such as tree branches) and sunlight.
Hoya incrassata moonshadow propagation
Hoya incrassata Moonshadow is a terrestrial Hoya that does not require any sort of special care in order to produce offspring. The plant will grow quite readily from cuttings, but you should use pieces of stems that are approximately six inches long.
Also, remember to sterilize your cutting tool before making each cut; I recommend boiling for ten minutes as a sterilization solution. Once you have made your cut, simply allow it to dry and callous over for two weeks. Then place it into some well-draining soil with high organic content.
You can expect new growth within one month, though some people report seeing new growth within just a few days!
It’s also worth noting that Hoya incrassata moon shadow can be propagated through seeds if you don’t want to bother with taking cuttings, however, germination rates are very low. If you do decide to propagate via seed, make sure they’re fresh (they lose viability quickly) and sow them on top of moistened potting mix.
Keep them warm and moist until they sprout. If they don’t sprout after a few months, try again with different seeds or discard them entirely.
Remember: dead plants cannot produce offspring!
Hoya incrassata moon shadow care
Although Hoya incrassata moon shadow is a large, tropical species, it still requires some care to maintain. These plants need ample sunlight to grow properly but also require good air circulation and regular watering. This plant prefers well-drained soil and does not like wet roots.
Over-watering can cause root rot which will kill your Hoya incrassata moon shadow tree. The best time of year to water your plant is late spring or early summer.
Light requirement
Hoya incrassata moon shadow needs a little light and will thrive as long as it’s not exposed to direct sunlight. A lack of sufficient light will cause leaves to turn yellow or brown, and plants may die within just a few months. Hoya incrassata moon shadow does best when kept in indirect sunlight; you should use a grow light if your windows don’t get enough sun for at least 4 hours per day. Keep an eye on your plant to make sure it doesn’t get too much light, which can burn its leaves.
If you notice that parts of your plant are growing too quickly (leaves turning dark green), move it away from any sources of direct sunlight immediately. It’s also important to note that hoya incrassata moonshadow is sensitive to cold temperatures, if temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, consider moving your plant indoors until springtime.
Soil/potting mix
Hoya incrassata moon shadow must be potted in a soil-based mix, such as African violet potting mix. It needs regular watering to keep its soil slightly moist, especially during its first few weeks in your home. Make sure you water enough to allow water to run out of the bottom of your pot and empty it into a saucer or tray. If your plant is too dry, it will drop leaves; if it’s too wet, it will rot.
Watering
Hoya incrassata moon shadow appreciates a generous amount of water, but it doesn’t like its leaves to sit in water. To avoid rot, let all of your plant’s leaves dry out between waterings. It is okay if the soil feels moist on top; roots need oxygen and that won’t happen if they’re submerged in wet soil.
Avoid getting water on its leaves, you can use a spray bottle for individual leaves rather than misting all over. Keep it warm.
Fertilizer
When planting a Hoya incrassata moon shadow, it is highly recommended to fertilize. Fertilizing allows your plant to grow as big and beautiful as possible! To fertilize your plant, you need to water it with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and nitrogen.
Apply 1⁄4 teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water when watering. The reason why phosphorus is so important is that it provides a lot of nutrients that help support good root growth.
Nitrogen helps support strong vegetative growth. If you don’t have any fertilizer available, try using fish emulsion or compost tea. Fish emulsion and compost tea are both organic forms of fertilizer and will work just fine for your Hoya incrassata moon shadow!
Temperature
Hoya incrassata moon shadow plants are incredibly temperature-sensitive and should not be exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
This plant grows best when temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (21–29 Celsius). If possible, place it near an east-facing window where it can get morning sun but avoid direct afternoon sunlight that could burn its leaves.
Humidity
As a tropical plant, hoya incrassata moon shadow needs humid conditions. However, too much humidity can cause rot on leaves and stems. Your greenhouse or home may be too humid for your new hoya plants if any of them develop yellowing leaves or rotting stems. It’s also possible that you’re over-watering your hoyas; allow them to dry out between waterings.
The ideal humidity range is 40-60% relative humidity. You can check your greenhouse or home’s humidity by using a hygrometer, which you can purchase at most hardware stores. A hygrometer will give you an accurate reading of your room’s current relative humidity. If it’s too high, there are a few things you can do to bring it down.
The best way to control your greenhouse or home’s relative humidity is with a humidifier and dehumidifier.
Pruning
Pruning helps control your plant’s size while giving you more space to make new flowers grow next year.
If you’re growing your hoya indoors, remember that too much light can burn its leaves. Keep it away from direct sunlight and put it near a window with indirect sunlight instead. If you have trouble remembering when to prune your hoya, look at its stem; if there are no buds growing on it yet, then it’s time to trim!
When to repot
Repotting a hoya is not something you should do on a whim. Many people are tempted to repot too soon, only to find themselves spending more money in one month than they did for their entire original purchase. Repot your hoya only after it has outgrown its current container by at least two inches in all directions.
For example, if your plant is currently in a 6-inch pot and has filled every inch of that space with roots and leaves, then it’s time to move up to an 8-inch pot. If you have any doubt about whether or not your plant needs repotting, err on the side of caution: leave it be until next year.
Dormancy
Hoya incrassata are not like many of our other hoyas. These plants go dormant at temperatures below 65 degrees F. If you live in a climate with cold winters, it’s imperative that you give your Hoya incrassata a rest period by letting it go dormant for several months.
If you do not do so, your plant will eventually die from getting too much light and heat during cold winter days. You can help your plant prepare for dormancy by gradually reducing watering over a couple of weeks.
Make sure to allow all soil to dry out between waterings before giving it more water. Once new growth has stopped and leaves begin to yellow, cut back on watering completely until spring when new growth begins again. You can also place your Hoya incrassata in an area where there is less sunlight during these months if you don’t want to let it go completely dormant as long as possible.
Hoya incrassata moon shadow flower & fragrance
Many people only think of orchids when they hear flower fragrances, but, while it is true that some orchids are great for growing indoors, there are a few other flowers you can use to fragrance your home with fragrant blooms. One of these flowers is a plant called Hoya incrassata moonshadow, a beautiful flowering vine that has an incredibly sweet scent. Growing indoors isn’t easy for most people because many plants require special care and different lighting.
Growth rate
Hoya incrassata, also known as moon shadow hoya, has a slow to moderate growth rate. It grows on average about 1 inch (2.5 cm) per year. If you would like to see your Hoya incrassata bloom and flower, it is best to give it plenty of sunlight and water daily. The plant needs a rest period in the winter months during which time watering should be light or stopped completely.
Toxicity
The leaves of Hoya incrassata moon shadow are poisonous. They can cause skin irritations and inflammation of mucous membranes. Additionally, they contain a compound called Tyloxin which is known to be a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Do not ingest parts of this plant under any circumstances! The toxicity varies with different parts of the plant. So it is important to avoid all contact with other parts in addition to avoiding oral ingestion of any part.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Hoya incrassata moon shadow thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. In colder climates, it can be grown as a houseplant. When grown outdoors, it prefers morning sun exposure and partial shade during midday hours.
This plant is not frost-tolerant and must be protected from frost by placing it indoors or covering it with a light blanket if temperatures are expected to drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant’s leaves will turn brown if exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for more than a few days at a time.
Pests and diseases
Common pests include thrips, mites, mealybugs, scales, and aphids. Hoya incrassata moon shadow may also be susceptible to crown rot (which causes leaves to yellow and die off at their bases), leaf spot (which causes dark spots on leaves), and fungus. Your hoya incrassata’s biggest threat is powdery mildew, which can lead to distorted growth. These diseases are generally caused by overwatering or high humidity levels indoors.
Conclusion
This plant prefers cool temperatures with high humidity. It is important to water your Hoya only when it needs it. Be careful not to overwater as you can cause root rot and damage to your plant. If you find that your plant has been planted in a pot that is too small, it will be necessary to transplant it into a larger pot at some point or risk damaging the roots of your Hoya.
