Hoya Mathilde: Ultimate Care Tips with Buying Guide

Hoya mathilde is a low-maintenance tropical plant that is easy to care for but withers easily when provided improper care.

Read till the end to learn the ideal care to encourage the luscious growth of Hoya mathilde.

Overview of Hoya Mathilde

Hoya mathilde is a flowering epiphytic hybrid cross of Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens native to Southeast Asia.

Mainly grown for its waxy green foliage with splash marks, Hoya mathilde also produces sweet-scented white flowers.

Hoya Mathilde: Ultimate Grow & Care Guide

Like any other Hoya plant, Hoya mathilde also requires similar Hoya care to thrive.

For flawless growth, aim to mimic the natural habitat-like condition for your Hoya mathilde.

1. Sunlight & Temperature

To preserve waxy green foliage, Hoya mathilde demands medium bright sunlight with a warmth of 60-80°F.

That said, take the pot a few feet from the window or use a sheer curtain to protect the plant from cold drafts in winter.

Low light and cold temperatures (<55°F) slow plant growth and influence flowering and leaf coloration.

Likewise, improper temperature results in leaf discoloration, immature flower bud drops and wilting and curling leaves.

If you notice such symptoms in Hoya mathilde, aim to use LED grow lights, frost blankets and heat pads to keep them healthy.

Alternatively, place your Hoya outdoors if you live within 11-12 USDA zones for optimal growth.

2. Water & Humidity

Hoya mathilde does not make a fuss when you forget to water occasionally but gets upset when the humidity is too low (<40%).

Although they are semi-succulent, Hoya can not withstand severe drought conditions.

So, water Hoya mathilde only once a week in the active growing season and reduce it to once every 3-4 weeks in the winter.

Likewise, low humidity results in shriveling, wilting and yellowing curling leaves, while high humidity results in mold growth and fungal infections.

Thus, use a bottom-watering approach, a pebble tray with occasional overhead watering, to keep Hoya mathilde hydrated.

Pro Tip: Use a moisture meter or chopsticks to measure soil moisture to water the plant accordingly.

3. Soil & Fertilizer

As Hoya mathilde detests excess water, use a well-draining, nutrient-rich soilmix with medium water retention.

Alternative to commercial soilmix, prepare Hoya soilmix by mixing orchid mix, perlite, peat moss and organic compost.

Meanwhile, increase fertilization to once every two weeks if necessary in the active season but completely cut back in dormant winter.

To avoid mishaps, thoroughly water the plant before and after fertilization and dilute the fertilizer to half-strength before use.

Otherwise, use eggshells, vegetable by-products and slow-release fertilizer without touching leaves and stems to avoid chemical burns.

4. Potting and Repotting

Hoya mathilde does not mind sitting on a 4-6 inches wide pot for over 1-2 years without asking for repot.

Moreover, the plant flowers are better when slightly rootbound in the same pot.

The common diseases in Hoya Mathilde are bacterial blight, root rot, and bacterial wilt.

In such peril, snip off infected parts, apply appropriate fungicides and repot the plant if the condition does not bounce back.

While repotting, use a 2-3 inches larger pot than the current one and ensure the pot has enough drain holes.

For routine repotting of Hoya mathilde, aim for spring or early summer to encourage better growth.

Note: The plant can wilt after repotting and is normal. Do not fret and continue with regula ideal Hoya mathilde care.

5. Occasional Pruning

Hoya mathilde is a slow-growing indoor plant that does not require regular pruning to thrive.

However, when the climbing vines of the plant become irregular and sparse, pruning once a year is a must to tame the beast.

Moreso, plants stressed out with pest invasions require thorough pruning as a control and treatment measure.

To treat and control pests, manually remove them and prune off severely infected parts using a sterilized pruner.

While pruning, focus on leggy, sparse foliage growth and ensure not to prune more than 20% part at a time.

Hoya Mathilde: All About Growth

Featuring the main traits of both Hoya carnosa and serpens, Hoya mathilde is a slow grower that grows actively in spring and summer.

But the plant stays dormant with no new growth at all in winter.

Besides the waxy, ornamental leaves, the plant produces clusters of small flowers with red or pink corona.

Each cluster has around ten to forty flowers, and each bloom lasts about five days. However, the flower takes almost 2-3 weeks to mature.

Hoya Mathilde’s flowers grow on spurs, so avoid deadheading the blooms once they fade, as removing or cutting off them prevents new flowers from sprouting.

Hoya Mathilde Toxicity

Like any other Hoya varieties, Hoya mathilde is not toxic to humans or pets like cats or dogs.

However, the plant is not edible, and the sap in the plant parts may irritate if consumed.

Be it humans or pets, accidental consumption can result in minor stomach upset, vomiting and gagging.

Therefore, keep it out of the reach of children and pets at all times by using preventive measures.

• Hanging Baskets: They are helpful for hanging the plant pots to a height where pets cannot reach them.
• Isolated Room: Use an isolated room to avoid contact with the pets and children.
• Cayenne pepper: Pets like cats avoid the plant when you sprinkle some cayenne pepper on it.
• Diluted Lemon Water: This can perform as a repellent against some pets.
• Protective Shelf: Use a shelf with protection so no harm can reach the plants.

If you suspect houseplant poisoning in your pets or kids, contact Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 for further assistance.

Propagation Methods for Hoya Mathilde

Hoya mathilde can be propagated via stem cutting and air layering methods.

But Hoya propagation via stem cutting is preferred due to easy steps that ensure optimal results quickly.

Meanwhile, the optimal time to propagate a Hoya Mathilde is spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.

1. Popagating Hoya Mathilde Via Stem Cuttings

Select a healthy vine free from pests and diseases for efficient stem propagation.

• Carefully snip the stem right below the leaf node, ensuring they are 3-4 inches long and have at least two nodes with 2-3 leaves on top.
• Let the cuttings rest for a while to allow callous formation on the cut ends.
• Dip the cut edge on the rooting hormone or organic honey solution to enhance rooting.
• Rooting in Water: Submerge the cuttings in a jar filled with clean, chemical-free water.
• Replace the water every 3-5 days and place the jar in a bright, warm room.
• Within 2-3 weeks, you can notice new root sprouts in the cutting, and once the roots grow over an inch, consider transplanting them in a pot.
• Rooting in Soil: Plant the cutting into the well-draining, fresh soil mix and thoroughly water to keep the soil moist.
• Keep the planted cuttings in a bright, warm room with relatively higher humidity.
• Within 2-3 weeks, cuttings should have new root growth.

2. Propagating Hoya Mathilde Via Air-Layering

As Hoya mathilde is a climber, they produce aerial roots pretty quickly. So, the air layering method involves leveraging those roots.

• Fill a fresh container halfway with moist moss and carefully lower the dangling stem with nodes.
• Firmly pin the stem into the moss and cover the nodes well with moss.
• Regularly sprinkle water on the moss, and continue to look after the mother plant.
• New roots will sprout from the buried node within a month or two.
• Once the new growth is sturdy enough with over-inch-long roots, snip the layering from the mother plant.

After transplanting the newly propagated Hoya mathilde plant, continue with a regular care routine.

FAQs About Hoya Mathilde

What is the other name for Hoya mathilde?

Other than Hoya mathilde, the plant is commonly named waxplant, waxvine, waxflower and Hoya carnosa x Hoya serpens.

Is Hoya Mathilde a hybrid?

Hoya mathilde is a hybrid cross between Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens and carries features from both plant parents.