Hoyas are every indoor and outdoo gardener’s favorite plant because of their diversity, leaf forms, and colorful wax flowers.
They have different growth patterns allowing you to decorate your indoor areas according to your preference.
However, new Hoya admirers are often confused about whether their Hoya will climb or hang because, in the tropical forest, these plants usually climb trees.
This article helps you understand everything about climbing Hoyas.
Table of Contents
Do Hoyas Climb?
Hoyas can climb, but it depends if they are trailers or climbers. Some varieties can do both. The climbing Hoyas perform better if you provide vertical support that is either a trellis or a moss pole. Hoya Australis, Hoya Pubicalyx, and Hoya Carnosa are popular examples of climbing Hoyas.
Do Hoyas Climb?
Climbing Hoyas
Hoyas are epiphytic, so they can climb as well as trail downwards. They prefer the growth pattern that ensures space for root growth, moisture content, and nutrients.
Climbing Hoyas usually react towards light using tropism. Tropism is caused by phytochemicals called auxins.
Phototropism forces your plant to bend and grow towards the sunlight. Whereas when the vines twirl around a pole, it is thigmotropism.
The climbing nature of the Hoyas depends on where they are growing. For example, if you grow your Hoya in a windowsill, it will climb upwards towards the light.
Top 3 Climbing Hoyas
Although you can train any Hoya plant to climb, the following varieties are natural climbers and need little assistance from you.
Hoya Australis
Give it something to climb on, and within few months, you will have a vertical jungle. I am growing mine on a trellis, and the beautiful green leaves and waxy flowers make a striking combination.
If you allow this plant to grow in an outdoor area, the vines can reach a maximum climb of 33 ft. (10m).
Hoya Pubicalyx
Hoya Pubicalyx is another variety of Hoya that can climb
This Hoya will twine on a moss pole and grows very fast if you provide moist support.
It can easily grow 6 ft (2m) as an indoor plant.
Hoya Carnosa
You can grow Hoya Carnosa, another climbing variety of Hoya, next to a brightly lit window
This is a classic wax plant.
You can grow this plant next to a brightly lit window as it loves traveling along the rim of the window.
But remember, it’s a slow climber compared to the previous two.
Hoya Carnosas can reach a maximum size of 20 ft. (6 m).
Support for Climbing Hoyas
Some growers add support for aesthetic reasons only, but climbing Hoyas perform better and produce more leaves with supports. In fact, some plants only reach their maximum size after you provide them with some vertical support.
If you like climbing plants like me, you can force your Hoya plant to climb upwards by providing a moss pole, trellis, or stake support. The additional support adds a vertical element to your plants.
Moss Pole
Moss poles not only support your plant for vertical growth but also ensure extra micronutrients for your Hoya.
If your Hoya has aerial roots, the contact of these roots with a moist surface will trigger your plant to produce larger leaves. Moss poles can easily mimic the natural growing condition of tropical plants.
The size of the moss pole will depend on the plant’s size. However, the pole should be larger than the longest vine on your Hoya.
Saturate the moss pole in water before attaching the vines. This helps in binding the plant. Now insert the woody end of the pole in the middle of the pot.
Do this carefully so you won’t disturb the root system of your plant. Wrap the vines around the pole using twine or wire and make sure the nodes are in contact with the moss pole.
I would recommend regularly misting the moss pole with water as this ensures the adventurous aerial roots receive plenty of moisture for growth.
Trellis
Trellis is my favorite support for climbing Hoyas because you can grow plenty of plants on them. It’s a perfect solution for gardeners with limited indoor space.
They are the most popular choice for training Hoyas to grow upwards. I like using a wooden trellis, but you can choose whatever you like.
You can use wooden trellis to allow your climbing Hoyas to grow on it
You can attach the trellis to the wall or keep it on the ground. The trellis for your Hoya should be made of weatherproof material, and it should be sturdy enough to support your plant.
If you are a creative gardener like me, you can DIY a climber trellis for your beloved Hoyas.
Simply use old wooden stems from your garden after removing the leaves from them. Letting the stems dry for a few days is the best way of doing this method.
You can use plain sewing thread or gardening ribbons as ties. You can clip the vines in different directions to help your plant grow in a certain shape/form.
The growing tip should always face upwards or else the vine might die.
Some Hoyas are not finicky and will climb any support. They can even attach themselves to furniture or walls.
I have installed a vertical grid with a shelf at the bottom for such varieties. You can decorate and paint these grids in your favorite colors to add an artistic touch.
This is not only a unique display of your Hoyas, but it is also inexpensive. Simply screw the grid and the shelf to the wall for your own display.
Place your planters on the shelf and ensure they’re receiving lots of sunlight. You can also compensate for light using artificial grow lights.
Another inexpensive option is bamboo u-hoops. These are great for helping young Hoya plants growing in planters. But you should tie the vines to secure them in place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Do Hoyas Climb
Most of my Hoya plants are growing high in windows, will they climb upwards?
Hanging Hoyas have more light exposure in the downward direction, so the plant will develop a trailing growth habit and grow downwards.
How can you differentiate between a hanging Hoya from a climbing one?
Closely observe the growth pattern of your plant to decide if it’s a hanging variety of climbing. In general, Hoyas that grow outwards and spread their vines down are hanging or trailing plants. Whereas those who grow in a spiral pattern are climbing plants.
Can I trim the vines on my climbing Hoya?
You can trim the dead vines to enhance the growth of your plant. But make sure you tie the vine until it wraps itself to the support. And always use sterilized gardening tools to protect your Hoya vines from infection or diseases.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.