Hoya Mathilde has a tropical appearance and is quite attractive. It’s easy to care for and has beautiful little silver-flecked leaves on a vibrant green backdrop.
If you’re seeking a low-maintenance plant with beautiful features, Hoya Mathilde is the plant for you.
However, there are several essential conditions that you must meet in order for your Hoya Mathilde to flourish fully.
In general, Hoya Mathilde prefers 6-8 hours of bright indirect sunlight, weekly watering, room humidity of 40% to 60%, and a warm temperature of 60-80°F. Furthermore, it needs a well-draining potting mix, monthly feedings during the growing season, and re-potting every 2-3 years.
If you follow this article regarding Hoya Mathilde’s care and guide, you may make it one of the most rewarding indoor plants to own.
Table of Contents
Overview of Hoya Mathilde
Did you know that Emilio Begine discovered Hoya Mathilde, a cultivar of Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens?
He was a plant collector who introduced the world to beautiful glossy foliage plant that flowers every growing season.
Let us have a quick overview of Hoya Mathilde to know the plant better.
| Indicator | Identity |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hoya cv 'Mathilde' (Hoya carnosa x serpens) |
| Common Name | Waxvine, Waxplant, Waxflower |
| Native | Asia especially Borneo |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Growth Zone | USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11 |
| Plant Type | Vining epiphytic plant |
| Growth Size | Grows up to 6 feet long |
| Grown For | Attractive flowers and stunning foliage |
| Foliage Type | Round-leaved with trailing foliage |
| Flowering | Star-shaped white flowers with pink centre |
| Flowering Season | Warm spring and summer |
| Availability | Often considered rare |
| Toxicity | Non toxic in general but Sap is toxic |
Where to Buy Hoya Mathilde?
Who would not want to have a plant that offers you an exotic look with its foliage and blooms?
If you already own this plant, the most cost-effective option is propagating it.
However, if you don’t have one, you can check at nearby nurseries and plant stores.
Let’s take a look at a few to make your buying process more manageable.
| Buying Options | Delivery |
|---|---|
| Etsy | Delivery within 5-6 days |
| Plant the Studio | Delivery within 5-6 days |
| Thhoya | Delivery within 5-6 days |
| Rooted Hues | Delivery within 5-6 days |
| My Home Nature | Delivery within 10-15 days |
Hoya Mathilde – Ultimate Grow & Care Guide
Hoya Mathilde is relatively simple to care for if you understand the basics.
This plant may thrive with little attention and care, and it is easier to maintain than other Hoya plants.
For optimal growth, general circumstances such as proper temperature, adequate lighting, and basic watering requirements are enough.
Here is a table containing detailed information about the care requirements for the plant.
| Parameters | Suitable Conditions |
|---|---|
| Lighting | 6 - 8 hours of Bright Indirect Sunlight |
| Watering | Once a week or if the top 2 inches of soil is dry |
| Temperature | 60 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Humidity | Room like Humidity ranging between 40 to 60 percent |
| Potting Soil Mix | Well draining soil with good aeration, Orchid soil Mix |
| Soil pH | Acidic (5.5 - 7.0) |
| Fertilization | Once a month during spring and Summer Fertilizer with high Nitrogen |
| Pruning | Once in a year or when required Prune dead or damaged foliage |
| Repotting | Once in a year or once in two years during the spring or summer |
| Propagation | Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
| Common Pests | Mealybugs, Spider mites, Aphids, Scales |
| Common Diseases | Rhizoctonia Root Rot, Bacterial Blight, bacterial Wilt |
1. Bright Indirect Sunlight and Proper Location
Hoya Mathilde typically likes to grow in the shade of huge trees in the wild.
Hoya Mathilde requires medium to bright, indirect light of 6-8 hours, where it can grow and preserve their color.
Moreover, it is crucial to avoid direct and harsh sunlight during the daytime when choosing a location for this plant.
As a result, the best place for Hoya Mathilde is on the house’s patio porch, where it will receive adequate indirect sunlight.
At the same time, the absence of light will have a negative impact on the flower’s and the color of its foliage.
Here are some signs that your plant shows when it isn’t receiving adequate sunlight.
| Signs of Low Light | Signs of Extreme Light |
|---|---|
| It causes stunted, leggy, and dull growth. | It causes a high transpiration rate, and leaves start to curl. |
| Leaves appear bleached, yellow, disclosed, and smaller in size. | Extreme heat breakdowns the chlorophyll, so the leaves appear pale or discolored. |
| Low chlorophyll leads to less pigmented leaves. | Burning of leaf and leaf scorch. |
Tips to Provide Adequate Sunlight to Hoya Mathilde
- Place your Hoya Mathilde where they will get 70% of the day’s light or 6-8 hours of indirect light.
- To protect your plant from direct sunlight, arrange transparent drapes in front of the window.
- In the summer, keep your Hoya at least 3 feet away from the window to avoid sun damage.
- LED grow lights can be useful in winters to avoid cold stress for your Hoya Mathilde.
- To achieve an even distribution of sunlight, rotate the plant in the same area or move it to another every few weeks.
You can use artificial light for your plant, but it may cause issues like delayed bloom growth and poor colors compared to natural illumination.
2. Moderate Watering
Hoya Mathilde’s water requirements are not as demanding as those of other plants. You can get away with not watering it every now and then.
The semi-succulent leaves of the plant make it less vulnerable to water drought. On the other hand, they tend to decay quickly if left in water for too long.
Water your Hoya Mathilde only once a week in the hotter seasons. However, reduce the frequency to once every three or four weeks in the winter.
Do not allow your Hoya Mathilde to dry out extensively.
The good news is that the Hoya plants will make your life easier by indicating whether you have under or over-watered them.
| Overwatered Plant | Underwatered Plant |
|---|---|
| Yellowing, limping, and droopy foliage | Wilted and crispy leaves |
| Decayed lower roots | Brown leaf edges |
| Slowed plant growth | Curled and browned leaves |
| Root Rot | Stunted foliage growth |
There are several methods for checking whether or not your plants require water.
You can insert a stick 2-3 inches deep if it comes dry; water the plant. You can also verify by lifting the pot; if the pot is lighter, water the plant.
Here are ways to water your plant correctly to avoid the problems mentioned earlier.
Tips to Properly Water Your Hoya Mathilde
- Allow at least 50% of the soil and roots to dry before watering the plant again.
- Allowing the soil to dry between watering is also a good idea.
- Use a soil moisture meter to determine soil moisture.
- While watering, you should make sure to drown the root ball completely for a while.
- However, when watering your plants, make sure the excess water drains through the container’s drainage holes.
- Hoya Mathilde favors rainwater and so, if possible, occasionally water the plant using rainwater.
Remember: Water the plant with tepid water as it cannot withstand extremely hot or cold water.
Once you have taken all of these tips into account, you can surely properly provide the plant with the best possible watering needs.
3. Warm Temperature
The Hoya Mathilde loves warmer temperatures due to its tropical origin.
On the other hand, Hoya Mathilde is not much resilient to cold temperatures, as it is a tropical native.
Accordingly, the ideal temperature range for the Hoya Mathilde is 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ll notice a slowdown in its growth at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore it’s best to grow it indoors because the plant will get the proper temperature and nourishment.
Outdoors Zones 11 and 10 are the optimum USDA Hardiness Zones for Hoya Mathilde.
In zones 11 and 12, Hoya Mathilde can endure cold weather since there is ample sunlight to enable the plant to reach its full potential.
If all of the temperature care requirements are followed, your Hoya Mathilde will be able to attain its full potential.
Otherwise, your plant may display a variety of indications and symptoms, and you’ll need to follow a specific technique to keep it at the proper temperature.
Signs that Hoya Mathilde is Not Receiving Optimum Temperature
- Yours leaves will shade before the winter season
- You will notice the discoloration of leaves
- Buds will fall off the plant
- Leaves will droop and turn yellow
Tips to Maintain Optimum Temperature for Hoya Mathilde
- Mist spray the plant leaves to boost humidity when the temperature rises above 90°F in the summer.
- In the cold, you can use a mini greenhouse or terrarium to avoid cold stress for your plants.
- Frost blankets can work as shields to protect your Hoya Mathilde from cold.
- To reduce temperature loss, you can insulate the soil. On the top layer of the soil, use mulch such as straw or dried grass.
- Artificial grow lights can help to maintain optimum temperature for your Hoya and prevents them from unwanted stress.
Pro Tip: Maintain a good air circulation, especially throughout the spring and summer months, to promote the healthy growth of your plant.
4. Room-Like Humidity
Most plants suffer from low humidity indoors, but this Hoya Mathilde plant is an exception.
The plant can withstand low humid conditions and dry air for a period, but only to a limited amount, thanks to its succulent leaves that can store water for later use.
Therefore, humidity isn’t much of a concern for this plant.
However, Hoya Mathilde prefers a higher humidity range of 40 to 60 percent.
It can grow faster in this range of conditions, producing more leaves and keeping its color brilliant.
Keep your eyes on your plant if your room humidity keeps fluctuating.
| Signs of Low Humidity in Hoya Mathilde | Signs of High Humidity in Hoya Mathilde |
|---|---|
| Shriveling of leaves | Mold or mildew growth on the plant |
| Leaves turning brown and crispy | Infections with fungi |
| Wilting of leaves and stalks | Patches of grey mold |
| Yellow leaves may begin to fall | Growth of mold on the pot and potting soil as well |
If you see any of the signs and symptoms discussed above, follow the below-mentioned instructions to maintain the humidity.
Tips to Maintain Humidity for Hoya Mathilde
- You can boost the humidity levels of your room by using a humidifier.
- Or, you can place a pebble tray filled with water beneath the plant to maintain the air moisture.
- Consider misting the leaves when you see signs of low humidity.
- Proper room ventilation can help any excess moisture to escape through air circulation.
- Move your Hoya where the humidity is higher, like kitchens or bathrooms.
Note: The longer the moisture stays on the leaf’s surface, the higher the fungal and bacterial growth chance.
5. Light and Aerated Soil
Hoya Mathilde grows as a vining epiphyte in the wild and, therefore, typically likes to cling to trees in the wild.
The plant detests excess water or moisture, so you need to be extra careful potting it and maintaining a good air circulation flow.
Therefore, lightweight, well-aerated, and well-draining soil is ideal for planting the Hoya Mathilde.
This kind of airy soil allows excess moisture to drain when you water the root ball and permits plant roots to grow freely.
Hence, choosing a suitable potting mix or preparing one can be challenging. You can search for the ideal potting soil for your Hoya Mathilde on Amazon.
For your ease, here are some recommendations.
| Soil Mix | Image | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Black Gold All Purpose Soil |  | A multi purpose, nutrient rich mix that's ideal for most of the plants |
| Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix |  | Contains coco coir, which holds and releases water and helps soil easily get wet again |
| FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Mix |  | Ocean Forest has a light, aerated texture that's perfect for indoor and outdoor plants |
You always prepare your own mix at home for your Hoya Mathilde. Here is the quick recipe.
- One part of the orchid mix
- One part of perlite
- Half part of peat moss
- One thrid part of organic compost
Note: You can also add barks, charcoal, rice husk, dried leaves, and grass to make the soil light and porous.
But, avoid using heavy, poorly drained soils like clay because your Hoya Mathilde may have the risk of root rot in this kind of soil.
6. Moderate Fertilization
Hoya Mathilde does not require heavy fertilization, unlike other plants. But a slight nutritional boost is always beneficial for the plants.
Therefore, it is critical to provide your Hoya Mathilde with fertilizer to aid its overall growth during its growing season.
During warmer seasons, use it not more than once a month in the beginning.
Check up on your Mathilde plant at the end of each month to see how it’s doing. Increase the fertilization frequency to once every two weeks if necessary.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three primary nutrients Hoya requires from fertilization.
Advice: Remember to dilute the all-purpose liquid fertilizer to half its strength before using it.
However, when it comes to fertilizer, remember that more isn’t necessarily better.
Commercial fertilizers contain salt through which the plants absorb nutrients. Therefore, more fertilizer means more salts reach your Hoya Mathilde.
Cutting the dosage of fertilizer by half is a good idea to prevent the risk of fertilizer burns caused by the salt.
Here are some symptoms of under and over fertilization in Hoya Mathilde.
| Signs of Under-fertilization | Signs of Over-fertilization |
|---|---|
| Faint and pale foliage | Leaves start turning brown |
| Frail stem | Withering of lower leaves |
| Yellowing of leaves | Stem starts turning yellow and the leaves start wilting |
| Falling off of leaves | Fertilizer crusts and salt buildup on the soil surface and roots |
| Slow plant growth or stunted growth | Leaf tips and margins start to turn brown |
There is no need to fertilize your plant during the winter because it goes through dormancy.
Tips to Fertilize Hoya Mathilde Appropriately
- Always water the plant thoroughly before fertilizing them. Moisture present in the soil helps to trap nutrition within.
- Use slow-releasing fertilizers like time-release 16-5-11 for your Hoya Mathilde to avoid over-fertilization.
- Alternatively, if you can fertilize your plant timely in the right season, use liquid-soluble fertilizers.
- Only apply fertilizer to the soil. You must avoid any fertilizer touching leaves and stems as it causes burning and stress.
- If the plant is overfertilized, drench the plant in a pool of water to wash off excess salts.
Additionally, you can also use organic fertilizers for Hoya Mathilde.
I personally prefer home-based; below, I have mentioned both organic and commercial fertilizers for your ease.
Organic Fertilizers for Hoya Mathilde
Here are some organic fertilizers that you can use at home.
Eggshells: Because eggshells are calcium-rich, they offer calcium to the plants.
Vegetable By-Products: Vegetables are nutrient-dense. It can be the best organic fertilizer for your plants after it decomposes.
Garlic and onion Skin: Both of their skins are high in potassium and can help with disease resistance.
Chicken/Fish Bones: Phosphorous is abundant in both chicken and fish bones.
If you are looking for commercial fertilizers, here are a few fertilizers you can use for your Hoya Mathilde.
- J R Peters Jacks Classic No.4 – Used for both root and leaves
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant – Great for use on all indoor plants, including edibles
- EarthPods Premium Bio Organic – Release nutrients efficiently, straight to the plant roots
8. Potting and Re-potting
The Hoya Mathilde does not need repotting very often. The flowers bloom better when the Mathilde plant gets to grow in the same pot.
For Hoya Mathilde, a pot with a 4-6 inches diameter is a perfect choice.
Naturally, the root system of Hoya Mathilde is not very extensive. Due to this, the plant’s roots will not experience any abrupt growth spikes for a year or two.
Therefore, you do not want to disturb your Hoya Mathilde regularly in terms of transferring to a newer pot system.
Hence, you’ll probably only need to re-pot Hoya Mathilde only every two years or so.
The only thing that you must be concerned about is the pot size. Do not use a pot that is too small.
If you plan to repot your Hoya Mathilde, spring or early summer is the best period.
If you notice roots coming out of drainage holes, that is a clear sign that your plants need re-potting.
It shows other apparent signs such as yellowing, falling, limping of leaves, and stunted growth.
Steps to Re-pot Hoya Mathilde
Follow step to step guide to repot your Hoya Mathilde properly.
Step 1: Select the Container
- Select a container that is 2-3 inches larger in diameter than the older one.
- Do not use a black plastic container if your plant is to sit in the sun for long hours or grow outdoors. It retains a lot of heat.
- Always check for drainage holes. If not present, get one with drainage holes, or you can simply drill holes.
Here are some of the best and most commonly used containers for Hoya Mathilde if you are having a hard time choosing the right container for your plant.
| Container | Specification |
|---|---|
| Classic Planter, 8" (Plastic) | Durable and Lightweight with drainage holes |
| Plastic Planter, HOMENOTE (Plastic) | Available in five different sizes |
| LE TAUCI Ceramic Plant Pots (Ceramic) | 4/5/6 Inch pot with drainage holes |
Step 2: Prepare the Plant
- Water your a few hours earlier to repotting them.
- Grab the lowest stem with both hands and carefully pull it out of the pot.
- During the pulling procedure, you may also invert the pot to reduce tension on your Hoya Mathilde.
- Look for signs of degradation in the roots, such as dark, mushy, or stinky roots.
- If you find any rotting or browning, prune it off with a sterilized tool and wash it in room temperature water.
- If your plant has a fungal problem, wash it and spray the cut end with fungicide before transplanting.
Step 3: Prepare the Ideal Soil Mixture
- Choose the correct potting mix for your plant, start with the soil alternatives listed above in the soil section.
- You can add sphagnum peat moss to your potting to give Hoya Mathilde an acidic environment.
- Fill your pot or container a third of the way with soil and a few rocks, then water it gently.
Step 4: Repot Hoya Mathilde
- Fill the pot’s side with potting soil and place your Hoya Mathilde in the new container with the roots pointing down.
- When you water your plant, water abundantly so the water oozes out of the lower holes.
- After that, if the soil settles, add some potting mix up to the top edges. Check to see if there’s adequate space for water and fertilizer.
Note: The plant can wilt after re-potting and it’s completely normal. Just keep the parameters optimum and your plant will overcome re-potting stress in no time.
9. Occasional Pruning
Hoya Mathilde is a slow-growing indoor plant that does not become much enormous.
Therefore, pruning this Hoya species regularly is not always necessary.
However, depending on the placement of your Hoya plant, you may or may not need to prune it heavily.
As the vines get longer or begin to overlap, you may need to give it a light trim once a year or every now and then.
Additionally, if you let the Mathilde trail down from a hanging basket, things become more interesting.
It allows growing long and straight in a controlled manner. As a result, you may only perform only minor pruning.
You should cut the vines and spurs of the Hoya Mathilde to maintain the plant’s growth and health.
Because the spurs are perennials, they prevent new Hoya Mathilde blooms from blooming in the future. So it is ideal to cut the spurs before the blooming season.
If you want the Hoya Mathilde to keep producing flowers, this is the most critical component to remember while pruning.
Tips to Prune Hoya Mathilde Properly
- Use clean and sterile tools in order to avoid contamination.
- First, cut off the dead, yellow, and diseased leaves and stems.
- Avoid pruning the plant when it is actively growing. It slows the growth of the plant.
- Avoid cutting off more than 20% of the parts at a time.
- Avoid any kind of injury to the plant.
Growth Rate of Hoya Mathilde
Hoyas are perfect for planting as a vining plant in hanging baskets because their leaves provide a lovely cascading effect.
Hoya Mathilde is a mix between Hoya Carnosa and Hoya Serpens, with traits from both.
In general, Hoya Mathilde can vine up to six feet long and produces lovely star-shaped white flowers with an average diameter of fifteen millimeters.
It grows moderate to fast depending on the environment where you grow them.
Its leaves are round-shaped, velvety, fuzzy, and green with trailing foliage.
Besides, the Hoya Mathilde plant produces small flowers that grow in clusters with red/pink centers. Each cluster has around ten to forty flowers in it.
These blooms will last about five days, but they will take approximately 2 to 3 weeks to mature because they mature in stages.
Hoya Mathilde’s flowers grow on spurs, so you avoid deadheading the blooms once they’ve faded.
Because removing or cutting off the spurs prevents new flowers from sprouting, this is the case.
If you want to know about easy succulents, read on: Are Colored Succulents Real?
Hoya Mathilde Toxicity
In general, the Hoya Mathilde is not toxic to people or pets. However, it is not edible, and the plant’s sap may irritate if consumed.
If humans or pets chew or swallow any plant portion, it can cause vomiting and gagging.
Therefore, make sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets at all times by using several simple techniques. Some of them as follows:
- Hanging Baskets: There are helpful to hang 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 that no harm can reach the plants.
If you are planning to get hanging pots, read on: 7 All-Time Favorite Hanging Pots for Indoor Herbs
Propagation Methods for Hoya Mathilde
Hoya plants are among the most attractive, simple-to-grow, and simple-to-propagate indoor plants.
Propagation and routine snipping of Hoya Mathilde, like any other houseplant, encourages shapely and voluptuous growth.
When analyzing a Hoya’s growth potential, you should also consider how to propagate them effectively.
The optimal time to propagate a Hoya Mathilde is during the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.
If you are ready to propagate these waxy plants, stem cuttings and air layering are the most reliable method.
The techniques to propagate your Hoya Mathilde are simplified below:
1. Popagating Hoya Mathilde Via Stem Cuttings
For almost all Hoya species, Stem cutting is one of the easiest and best ways to propagate.
It is also efficient because it is a simple approach to increasing the number of plants. It’s free, and my favorite method of propagating Hoya Mathilde.
To perform stem cuttings, check your plant and be sure it’s a healthy plant.
Here are the steps to follow for the stem propagation of Hoya Mathilde.
- Sterilize all of your instruments before propagation.
- Also, ensure to take a sharp instrument that can give clean cuts lessening stress to plant.
- Now, inspect for a healthy stem free from diseases and pest infestation.
- Now, divide the stem strand into as many cuttings as you like. But, make sure that each cutting is 3-4 inches and has at least two nodes and 2-3 leaves. Also, make cuts 1 inch below the leaf node.
- Leave the cuttings in the air for callous formation for a couple of hours.
- At this point, you can use rooting hormones or cinnamon power to enhance rooting and prevent bacterial and fungal growth. But the step is entirely optional.
Selection of Healthy Stem of Hoya Mathilde for Stem Propagation (Source: Reddit) - Now, you can propagate the cuttings either in water or soil.
- Insert the cuttings in the soil such that one node is inside the soil. Water the plant thoroughly and leave it in a brightly lit space.
- For water propagation, take a clean jar filled with water. Dip the cuttings in the water and watch the roots sprout.
- Also, ensure to change the water in 4-5 days.
2. Propagating Hoya Mithalde Via Air-Layering
Although not as effective and familiar as the stem cuttings method, the air-layering method is more native to the Hoya plant.
You should choose a pest-free and disease-free Hoya Mathilde.
They produce aerial roots quickly. Near the top of a long shoot, a node emerges from the leaves.
Here are the steps to follow for the air-layering propagation of Hoya Mathilde.
- Fill a fresh container halfway with moist moss and carefully lower the dangling stem with nodes into it.
- To avoid shattering the stem, make sure you pin it firmly into the moss.
- Also, make sure to cover the nodes well so that the roots can properly grow from here.
- Sprinkle some water on the moss on a regular basis, and continue to look after the mother plant.
- New roots will begin to grow at the buried node if you can make the end of the stem with leaves free.
- Take the layering from the mother plant and plant it separately, rooting the offspring.
This strategy has the advantage of allowing Hoya Mathilde to bloom the next year.
Also, you can watch the video below to have visual aids on how to propagate Hoya Mathile,
Common Problems in Hoya Mathilde
Although pests and diseases do not affect the plant severely, Hoya Mathilde is still susceptible to them.
Naturally, the plant benefits from high humidity; you must be cautious since too much moisture in the air might increase the risk of pests and fungal infections.
Therefore, always be on alert as you may need to address issues immediately before they can cause further damage to your plant.
1. Common Pests
Although Hoya Mathilde is a robust, pest-resistant plant, if it is left in poor growing conditions, it may lead to various pest issues.
You’ll be able to solve any problems quickly, efficiently, and effectively because there aren’t many insects that harm Hoya plants.
Most pests that attack the Mathilde plant cannot survive in an indoor setting.
Mealybugs, Thrips, Spider mites, and Nematodes are common pests that are seen in Hoya Mathilde
Below are some lists of common pests, the signs and symptoms caused by those pests, and some methods for avoiding and curing them.
| Name of Pests | Signs of Trouble |
|---|---|
| Spider mites | Leaf wilting and dropping with a yellowish halo is one of the most noticeable symptoms. There is the look of freckled leaves. |
| Thrips | Thrips might be seen in the form of thrips feces, injured plant components, or black patches. |
| Nematode | By nature, nematodes burrow and consume fleshy roots, causing root rot. The plant shrinks and becomes less potent due to this slowed growth rate. |
| Mealybugs | Mealybugs appear on plant leaves as small, flat, oval white dots. They leave a white cotton-like substance on the leaves and have a powdered or fuzzy appearance. |
Solutions
- At first, always try handpicking the pests if there are fewer pests.
- You can use clean or soap water to spray the pests.
- Take a cotton ball, dip it in 98% Isopropyl alcohol, and run it along the affected parts to kill the pests.
- In the case of a severe infestation, pyrethrin spray can help control the pests.
- Next, you can apply Neem oil or any other horticultural oil.
- Wash away mealybugs with a forceful stream of water. To avoid over-watering the Hoya plants, cover the soil with plastic.
- You can use yellow sticky traps to ward off flying pests.
Preventive Measures
- Strictly avoid overhead watering.
- Also, don’t allow the plants to have excess humidity.
- At least every two months or three, give your plant a good wash with clean water to get rid of any pests.
- Use pest-free propagation materials and a pest-free soil mix.
- Inspect the plant before buying them.
- Avoid grouping Hoya with other infected plants.
- Wipe off the leaves with soap water once every week.
2. Common Diseases
In general, if you take adequate care of your Hoya Mathilde, you will be able to avoid infections. When the plant is neglected and weak, it becomes susceptible to diseases.
You need to maintain your plant at a normal moisture level if you don’t want any diseases.
However, even if you keep your Hoya Mathilde in good possible condition, it could still become infected with bacteria or fungus.
The commonly occurring diseases in Hoya Mathilde are bacterial blight, root rot, and bacterial wilt.
The causes of diseases are listed below, and precautions you can take to avoid them.
1. Rhizoctonia (Root Rot)
Root rot caused by Rhizoctonia damages the roots and lowers the stems of Hoya Mathilde. They can infiltrate and propagate through the upper leaf canopy.
Due to this, the plant is incapable of supporting its own weight.
Also, try thermally treating the tropical soil before adding it to the potting mix.
To avoid this disease, keep potting mixes away from soil surfaces, where the fungus can thrive.
2. Bacterial Blight
Bacterial blight diseases caused by Xanthomonas oryzae infect Hoya Mathilde by infiltrating the pores along the leaf edges or wounds left after flower plucking.
Yellowish water-soaked clusters along the leaf margins are the first evident signs of bacterial blight. This progresses to the disease’s characteristic dead V-shaped lesions.
As bacteria can swim across damp surfaces, so it is essential to keep the foliage dry.
To reduce humidity and heat, increase air circulation and ventilation around the plant.
You must dispose of the contaminated part of the plants as soon as you observe initial symptoms.
3. Bacterial Wilt
When your Hoya is infected by Bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila), its leaves will show signs by turning yellow and wilting, even if the soil moisture is adequate.
To get rid of bacterial wilt, you’ll need to disinfect the plant thoroughly.
Fungicides do not cure your plant of bacterial wilt.
Instead, they help to eliminate the infection, and those containing phosphorous acid are also highly effective.
Solutions
- If the plant has root rot, re-potting is the best treatment.
- To treat both fungal and bacterial infections, use fungicides containing copper or Benomyl.
- As soon as you notice the first signs, remove the affected section or isolate the sick plant.
- Increase air circulation around your infected Hoya Mathilde by loosening the soil mix.
- Use a fungicide containing chlorothalonil which has high potency against this disease.
- Also, Agrimycin is considered one of the effective agents in eradicating bacterial problems.
Preventive Measures
- Use clean, fresh well-draining potting mix.
- Do not overhead water and mist the leaves at night.
- Isolate infested plants from other healthy plants.
- Spray your Hoya with fungicide twice a year.
- As an effective preventative step, inspect for fungal and bacterial indications once a week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hoya Mathilde
What to Do if My Hoya Mathilde is Dropping Leaves Even if the Growth is Normal?
It’s most likely an indication of water stress if your Hoya Mathilde is aggressively growing but dropping new leaves before they’ve fully grown.
If you have soaked the plant recently or been watering the Hoya too infrequently, then this may occur.
To solve the problem, try to reduce the huge changes in the plant’s environment by maintaining a proper watering routine.
Will my Hoya Mathilde bloom in the same way that my Hoya Serpens flowers do?
Since, Hoya Mathilde is a hybrid from Hoya Carnosa and Hoya Serpens, it does not bloom quite the same.
For Hoya Serpens, the flat, pubescent, light pink, or white blooms can produce up to 16 blossoms per umbel.
However, in the case of Hoya Mathilde, it blooms in the spring, and each umbel can produce up to 24 flowers.
Can Hoya Mathilde Start to Grow Again After Dormancy?
Hoya plants have a reputation for being moody in terms of growth.
The plant goes into partial dormancy, halting growth for weeks or months if any unwanted environmental change occurs.
But, the plant will naturally start to grow again when it gets enough time for the plant to acclimate to its new environment.
Conclusion
In Hoya Mathilde, you’ll get a lovely cascade of excellent features that you can use to beautify any room.
Also, simple and easy to maintain, this Mathilde plant will not consume much of your energy, time, and space.
Just make sure to keep in mind the guiding ideas while treating your plant with love and care.
Happy gardening!!
