How to propagate Hoya Kerrii – Do you think it is quite hard?
Hoya Kerrii, often known as Hoya hearts in colloquial usage, is a Hoya species native to Southeast Asia. Arthur Francis George Kerr, a British physician, and botanist, is the collection’s namesake.
The plant is known as “lucky-heart” because of its thick heart-shaped leaves. It is sold during Saint Valentine’s Day throughout Europe. Hoya Kerrii is a climber that may reach a height of around 13 ft. The diameter of the stems is 0.02 ft.
The leaves measure 0.2 ft in width and 0.02 ft in thickness. Adult plants have 0.16 ft diameter inflorescences with up to 25 blooms. They generate little nectar balls that range in color from red to brown. They have a mild or non-existent odor.
This epiphytic semi-succulent is also quite easy to care for, in addition to its lovely foliage. Read the full article for more information on how to care for this plant.
How to care for Hoya Kerrii?
When it comes to location, the darling hoya plant has a few preferences. It should be bright and sunny, as too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn. A room temperature of roughly 70°F is good in the summer, as is high humidity.
This is owing to the fact that the Hoya Kerrii is native to tropical areas. As a result, it’s the ideal plant for bathrooms with plenty of natural light. Water should be sprinkled on the plant on a frequent basis to increase the humidity in the air. The Hoya Kerrii flowering season is from March through October.
Although the plant can thrive outside in the summer if the pot is placed in partial shade or absconded, it should be moved to a winter home in the winter. The temperature should be chilly but bright, between 50 and 59 degrees. Frost sensitivity is high in the sweetheart plant.
As a plant substrate, cactus dirt is ideal. If you don’t have any particular soil on hand, universal soil, quartz sand, pumice, and expanded clay can be used to manufacture your own.
Hoya Kerrii should be irrigated on a regular basis during the vegetative stage, with the soil drying out completely between waterings. Rainwater is a fantastic alternative for watering because the plants are particularly sensitive to lime. Stagnant moisture should also be avoided, but with proper drainage, this is not an issue. Fertilizer should be applied every three to four weeks as well.
Plant the plants facing up with a climbing aid or hang them as hanging plants if they are large enough. If the pot grows too small, the Hoya Kerrii should be repotted. On average, this procedure is carried every two years. The greatest time for this is in the early spring, between February and March.
The new pot should not be too large. Drainage is crucial in order to avoid moisture buildup. Then you can put the plant into the new pot, cover it carefully with soil and press it lightly.
It is not necessary to trim the Hoya Kerrii; only remove any sick or stunted sections. Because the flower umbels that have wilted develop new buds for the following year, they should be left on the plant.
How to propagate Hoya Kerrii?
There are various techniques to propagate Hoya Kerrii; some are simple, while others are more difficult. Here are a few ideas we have for you.
1. Sphagnum MossÂ
Sphagnum moss is a common propagation media for houseplants, particularly among gardeners. According to age gardeners, when employing this method, roots develop faster than when using water, and converting propagations to standard potting soil is easier.
Because sphagnum moss is an inert substance, it is less likely to contain microbial infections than conventional potting soil. However, it also contains and can store nutrients that are beneficial to the root development of plants such as the hoya kerrii.
Soak the sphagnum moss for a few minutes before using it for propagation. Using hot water will ensure that there are no fungus gnat eggs or pathogens in the sphagnum moss; simply let it cool before squeezing off the water.
Wrap the nodes of the hoya kerrii cutting in moist but not overly saturated sphagnum moss, then pot it up in a clear container like any other plant in regular soil. To give the plant a proper anchor as it produces roots, bury up to the bottom third of the leaf cutting.
If the top of the sphagnum moss appears to be drying, generously spray it with water. Watering isn’t necessary until the sphagnum moss has dried up and you neglected to spritz it with water for a long period.
The leaf will not rot if the sphagnum moss is not oversaturated. Use a container with drainage holes if possible, however I frequently cultivate sphagnum moss in clear glass containers without drainage holes. This allows you to see how much water you’re putting in as well as the progress of the root growth without having to uproot the propagation on a regular basis.
2. Ziploc Method
The Ziploc method of propagating hoyas is arguably the most popular. All you’ll need is a third-filled ziploc bag with indoor potting soil.
But first, sterilize the potting soil with hot water to ensure it is free of fungus gnats and pathogens. After allowing the soil to drain and cool, make sure it is moist but not overly saturated before placing it in the ziploc bag.
Plant your hoya kerrii cuttings in the ground. It is not necessary to plant them properly as long as the stem and the bottom third of the leaf cutting are covered in soil.
After the cuttings are secured, generously spray the inside of the bag and then shut it. This will increase and maintain humidity in the ziploc bag, creating a greenhouse effect that will aid root growth.
You don’t need to open and check the bag every day; only add water if the soil appears to be dry; however, this should not be necessary if the bag is securely sealed. Leave the bag near a bright source of light, such as a south-facing window or a grow lamp.
3. Passive Hydroponics with Perlite
Passive hydroponics using perlite is the third approach to propagate Hoya Kerrii. Perlite, which is lighter and finer than leca or vermiculite and closely resembles the texture of conventional potting soil, can allow Hoya kerrii roots to sprout and produce roots much more easily than most houseplants.
Perlite, unlike conventional potting soil, is inert, which means it’s unlikely to contain infections or fertilizers that could harm freshly developed roots. Perlite can’t hold water, therefore as long as you don’t overwater your perlite propagation, your hoya kerrii’s nodes and roots won’t be drowning in water as they grow.
Fill your potting container with perlite to propagate Hoya Kerrii using passive hydroponics. It’s best if it’s clear so you can see the water level and root growth readily. To provide the hoya kerrii, proper anchor, pot the propagation like you would an ordinary plant and pot it up to the bottom third of the leaf.
Finally, fill it with water, but only to about a third of the way up. Because perlite is very light and will float, pour water gently and carefully to prevent overwatering and runoff.
Spray water on the perlite when they feel dry to the touch, and add additional water if the water level in the bottom third is going down, like with the sphagnum moss approach.
As with the first two ways of propagation, place your propagation near a bright source of light.
Within the first two weeks to a month, substantial roots should emerge, and you can keep them in these media for as long as you want before potting them up in a standard potting mix.
If you wish to grow it passively hydroponically using the perlite method, nutrients will need to be introduced once it has grown large roots (primary roots with subsidiary roots sprouting).
Final thoughts
All of the Hoya Kerrii breeding methods we can recommend are listed above. In addition, there is information on how to care for Hoya Kerrii. Hope it is useful to you.