Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Also known as variegated hoya kerrii, Hoya kerrii variegata, or hoya sweetheart variegated, is a heart hoya plant that has been propagated and cared for. The Hoya kerrii variegata is easy to grow, add an inch of water every week or whenever the soil feels dry. This plant will bloom all year long with regular use and watering during the winter.
The Hoya kerrii variegata is a heart-shaped hoya plant that grows in seven to nine petals, with each leaf having red veins running through them. It also has a cream center with red margins. Hoyas are succulent plants that grow in humid environments such as the rainforest or desert and this hoya is native to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It typically grows in pots under grow lights or on window sills, providing proper warmth when needed.
What is Hoya kerrii variegata?
Heart hoya plants are hoyas that grow in a heart-shaped pattern. The Hoya kerrii variegata is one of the more common types of this plant type. This hoya’s leaves come from a stem and branch out outward into seven to nine petals, with each leaf having red veins running through them.
How to propagate variegated hoya kerrii
The Hoya kerrii variegata is a relatively easy to propagate plant. The leaves can be cut from the stem and placed in the water. They will grow roots within two weeks, at which point they are ready for potting or planting into the soil with high levels of humidity and light.
Hoyas also tend to produce small offsets, which are hoya plants that grow on the main plant’s stem or from its leaves. These can be removed and planted in the soil to make new hoya plants as well.
These hoyas are best propagated indoors with high levels of humidity and sunlight for optimal growth conditions.
Hoya plants are succulent plants that grow in humid, tropical environments such as the rainforest or desert.
The variegated sweetheart plant also tends to produce small offsets, which can be removed and planted in soil to make new hoya plants
Hoya kerrii variegated care
Variegated hoya kerrii propagation and care are more similar to the care of a regular hoya plant than it is different. Variegation means that all leaves are not green, but instead have white or cream-colored stripes across them. The variegated hoya kerrii has bark-like skin for its outer layer, and the leaves are smaller than hoya kerrii with green leaves.
The variegated hoya kerrii plant does not require any special care when compared to regular hoyas; it is recommended that a potting mix be used for this hoya in order to ensure good drainage. They also need to be watered more often than hoya kerrii with green leaves.
Light and temperature requirements
Variegated hoyas need a location that is well lit but not in direct sunlight, and they do best when the temperature is between 60°F – 75°F (16°C – 24°C). They should only need watering about once a week, but in order to avoid fungus or mold on their leaves, they should be watered more often than hoya kerrii with green leaves.
Soil condition
Variegated hoyas need to have their soil moistened thoroughly and not overwatered. When the variegated hoya kerrii is first planted into its pot, it should be watered until water comes out of its drainage holes.
The plants are not cold hardy and cannot withstand frost or freezing temperatures, so they need to be taken indoors before the weather turns colder in order for them to survive winter.
Watering
Variegated hoya kerrii plants are sensitive to overwatering or underwatering, so they need careful attention as far as watering goes if they will live in less than perfect conditions for a period of time. They also grow better when fertilized regularly with hoya plant food.
Growth rate
The variegated hoya kerrii grows slowly and should not be planted outdoors until it is at least two years old.
It takes a hoyas about three years to reach maturity and start flowering, but new growths can be seen after the first year. The plant will grow to around two feet tall in height, with a width of 18 inches at most.
Repotting Hoya kerrii variegata
Most hoyas can be repotted when they become root bound and need more room for new growth. Generally, this is every six to twelve months depending on the hoya plant’s size; however, a hoya should never stay in one pot longer than two years or it may begin to suffer from root rot.
How to pot your hoya sweetheart variegated
Potting hoya plants is not difficult, but it does require a little more effort than simply dropping the plant into any old pot or container. When preparing to repot your Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant, you will need:
- Horticultural charcoal (not necessary if planting outdoors)
- Soilless potting mix
- A Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant
- A container to put the Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant in (preferably with drainage holes)
First, you need to select an appropriate size of container for your plant. If it is going into one that has drainage holes, you can use a Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant that is any size. If it is going into one without drainage holes, go ahead and select the appropriate pot to fit your plant’s new home.
Next, fill the Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant’s new home with horticultural charcoal (if planting outside). If you are potting your hoya in a container that has drainage holes, mix some horticultural charcoal into the soilless potting mix. Fill it to about an inch below the top of the Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant’s root ball.
If you are potting your hoya in a container that does not have drainage holes, fill it with soilless potting mix to about an inch below the top of the Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant’s root ball. Cover with horticultural charcoal and water thoroughly.
If you are in a zone other than USDA Zone 11, please consult the Hoya kerrii variegata heart shape plant’s hardiness before planting outside or potting your hoya into a container without drainage holes. Be sure to read up on how much sun each hoya needs as well.
Pot size and Hoya kerrii variegata
One of the most common mistakes that people make when they first grow hoya, is the pot size. If your hoya plant outgrows its container or you want to repot it because it has become root-bound (roots circling inside and around the pot), then now would be a good time to buy a hoya plant pot with adequate space for the its roots.
There are several things you need to consider when choosing a Hoya kerrii variegata container size and depth:
The variegated hoya heart will grow taller than wide, so it is better to have an oversized (taller) pot than an undersized (wider) pot.
Hoya kerrii variegated likes it best when the soil surface is not higher than its crown, so make sure to choose a pot that’s at least three inches taller and wider than your plant’s current container or the new one you intend on purchasing for it.
It also needs as much potting soil as it has root space. The Hoya kerrii variegata will need a pot that is deep enough to accommodate the length of its roots and allow for sufficient drainage at the bottom.
Toxicity
The hoya plant is toxic, so it can be hazardous to your pets if they chew on or eat any part of the plant.
Pests and diseases
Hoyas are susceptible to the same pests and diseases as most other plants. The hoya kerrii variegated leaves may develop brown spots; this is not a disease, but a sign of stress. Poor hoya care is the reason for this problem. This includes too much water or not enough sunlight and/or humidity.
Will a single Hoya heart grow?
If you buy a hoya heart plant, you should know that it won’t be one single hoya. If the hoya is propagated through cuttings, then all of your plants will grow just like their mother hoyas – with multiple leaves and stems. Buds on these hoya hearts will also develop to produce hoya heart plants.
However, hoyas can be propagated through seed as well. When the seeds are germinating, they produce a single hoya plant – not two or more like you would find with cuttings and buds. These hoyas will grow the same way their mother hoya did – one at first and then more hoyas as the plant matures.
If you buy a hoya heart cuttings, all of them will grow into hoya heart plants with multiple leaves and stems. If you purchase one hoya seedling, it will produce just that single hoya plant – not two or more like when propagating through cuttings or buds.
The hoya will grow the same way it did when its mother was in a mature state – one hoya first and then more as the plant matures. Propagating hoyas through cuttings produces multiple plants, whereas propagating hoyas from seed produce just one plant at a time.
Is variegated hoya kerrii rare?
Variegated hoya kerrii is not a rare hoya. In fact, many hoyas are variegated to some degree with either light or dark green stripes on the leaves. Variegation can be found in other colors as well – pink and peach-colored hoyas have been observed growing near laba valley in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The Hoya kerrii variegata has a unique heart-shaped form and is propagated by cutting the stem off below the leaves of an adult plant or from a rooted leaf cutting. The hoya can be grown in low light conditions but will not produce flowers if it doesn’t get enough light.
