Hoya ‘Mathilde’ is part of the Apocynaceae family, it is a cultivar or Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens discovered by Emilio Begine (a travel agent and plant collector). Leaves are round and glossy with silver flecks. Flowers are flat, pubescent and light pink and sometimes white, each umbel produces up to 16 flowers. Genus name is new Latin, named after Thomas Hoy ( c. 1750– c. 1821), English gardener. Cultivar name given by Emilio Begine to honor Belgian princess. Hoya aren’t considered toxic, however, they may make your pet or child vomit if ingested, keep out of reach just to be safe. For further information about Hoya, check out our blog. Light: Bright indirect light, meaning the plant sees the sun for 0-4 hours per day - this could be through trees or a translucent curtain, it’s important for the plant to see the sky in order to thrive. More hours of light are thought to encourage flowering. Water: Given adequate light, allow the mix to dry out a little. If your Hoya is potted in a chunky, fast draining mix, you may need to water more frequently. Potting mix: A chunky well-draining mix composed of coco coir, perlite or vermiculite, orchid bark, worm castings and some horticultural charcoal. I also recommend potting Hoya in coco chips. Fertilising: Feed your plant every few waterings during the growing season or when you observe active growth. You can dilute fertiliser to half the recommended amount but never add more. Temperature: 12-23˚C. Humidity: Hoya would prefer higher humidity, between 60-80% but do well to adapt to average home humidity. You can increase humidity by placing the plant on a watered pebble tray, growing under a cloche or using a humidifier. Hoya aren’t considered toxic, however, they may make your pet or child vomit if ingested, keep out of reach just to be safe.
