Want to grace your work desk with a pretty yet low maintenance specimen? Learn everything about Growing Hoya Mathilde indoors!
Hoya Mathilde is a beautiful hybrid cross between Hoya Carnosa and Hoya Serpens. The low-maintenance houseplant is a popular choice for indoor gardening due to its compact size and attractive foliage. It is also relatively easy to care for, making it a great choice for beginners or anyone looking for a low-maintenance plant to brighten up their living space.
- Botanical Name: Hoya cv ‘Mathilde
- A cross between Hoya carnosa x Hoya serpens
- Loves temperatures between 60-80 F or 15-26 C
- Thrives in a moist, well-aerated medium
- Nontoxic to pets and humans
Hoya Mathilde Plant Profile
Hoya Mathilde (Hoya carnosa x serpens) is an evergreen indoor plant that belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family. It is a hybrid created by crossbreeding two beautiful species—Hoya carnosa x Hoya serpens. The round, waxy leaves have a green hue with silver, white, or gray specks or dots, giving the plant a striking appearance.
The beautiful houseplant blooms in small clusters of star-shaped, pink or white flowers that’ll mist your room with sweet floral notes. The climbing vines can grow to about 5-6 feet tall and can be trained around beautiful plant stakes or nearby objects for classy decor.
Hoya Mathilde Propagation
The easiest way to propagate Hoya Mathilde is via stem cuttings. Follow these easy steps to propagate this vining beauty:
- Look for a mature, healthy plant and detect a sturdy stem to get your stem cutting.
- Use a sharp, sterile knife to make a clean cut just below a node. The cutting should be 4-6 inches long with 2-3 nodes.
- Remove the lower leaves, leaving the upper pair intact. Allow the cutting to dry out and callus over, barring potential fungal issues.
- Fill a pot with a well-draining potting mix and plant the cutting into it.
- Place the cutting in a warm, bright location with indirect sunlight, ensuring that the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
The cutting will develop a strong root system in a few weeks. You can then cut back on watering and transplant it to hanging baskets or any space with bright, indirect sunlight.
Ideal Pot Size
The ideal pot size for an indoor Hoya Mathilde is approximately one size larger than the plant’s root ball, allowing enough room for the roots to spread and grow.
For a small to medium-sized plant a pot size of 4-6 inches would be appropriate. You may repot the plant to a size bigger container as and when it outgrows the pot. It’s important to make sure that the pot has good drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
Requirements for Growing Hoya Mathilde Indoors
Light
Hoya Mathilde prefers bright, indirect light. It can tolerate some direct sunlight, but too much can scorch its leaves. To provide optimal conditions, place it near a window that receives bright, indirect light. North or east-facing windows are good options, as they tend to provide more gentle light than south or west-facing windows. If your plant is not receiving enough light, you may notice its leaves becoming smaller or losing their variegation.
It’s also important to note that Hoya Mathilde is sensitive to sudden changes in light, so avoid moving it around too much. Keep it in a location with stable lighting conditions for best results.
Soil
When it comes to soil requirements, Hoya Mathilde prefers well-draining soil that retains moisture but does not become waterlogged, ideally a combination of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. The pH level of the soil should be slightly acidic, ranging from 5.5 to 6.5.
Water
If you want your Hoya to exhibit the best foliage, grow it in a well-draining medium that retains some moisture. The best way to attain the same is to follow a deep watering session once a week. Water the plant thoroughly until it seeps out of the drainage holes. Then wait until you find the top two inches of the medium dry to touch.
All you got to do is to keep an eye on the top layer of the soil and do the needful.
Temperature & Humidity
Hoya Mathilde is a popular houseplant that requires specific temperature conditions to thrive indoors. Generally, the plant prefers warm and humid conditions with temperatures between 60-80°F (17-28°C). Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) as this can cause damage or even kill the plant.
The ideal humidity level for this beauty is between 60-80%. However, it can still thrive in lower humidity levels, around 40-50%.
Misting the plant regularly, using a humidifier, or placing a tray of water near the plant can also help increase the humidity levels.
Hoya Mathilde Care
Fertilizer
Hoya Mathilde is a relatively easy plant to care for, but it does have specific fertilizer requirements to ensure its optimal growth and health. Look for a fertilizer labeled 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. You can also use a fertilizer specifically formulated for flowering plants. Feed the plant every 4-6 weeks after diluting the blend to half its strength.
You can use fish emulsion, seaweed extract, or compost tea. However, do remember that this beauty is gonna stay with you in your house, so it is better to avoid fertilizers that might emit an unpleasant odor. Also, do not feed the plant in the colder months during its dormancy.
Pests and Disease
The most common pest and diseases include spider mites, mealybugs, scales, leaf spots, and root rot, among others. Wipe the leaves with cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol or organic neem oil solution. You may also use a horticulture or insecticidal spray to clear the plants of these nasty conditions.
Ensure to avoid overwatering and provide good air circulation to keep potential diseases at bay.
