Hoya Compacta drooping
Quick answer
If your Hoya Compacta is drooping, the most likely cause is: Hoya carnosa 'Compacta' (the 'Indian rope plant' form of Hoya carnosa) drops leaves or develops blackened, drooping foliage when the compost stays waterlogged or when the plant is exposed to excessive winter cold, since the thick, succulent leaves cannot sustain turgor under root suffocation or chill stress.
Start here:
- 1. Check that the compost is not waterlogged and water more sparingly, then move the plant to a warmer spot if it has been exposed to excessive cold in winter.
- 2. Remove the plant from its pot and wrap the root ball with newspaper or paper towels, replacing them until they soak up the excess moisture, then repot into fresh compost and keep the plant out of direct sun.
Why Hoya Compacta is drooping
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta'
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta' (the 'Indian rope plant' form of Hoya carnosa) drops leaves or develops blackened, drooping foliage when the compost stays waterlogged or when the plant is exposed to excessive winter cold, since the thick, succulent leaves cannot sustain turgor under root suffocation or chill stress.
How to help Hoya Compacta that is drooping
- 1
Check that the compost is not waterlogged and water more sparingly, then move the plant to a warmer spot if it has been exposed to excessive cold in winter.
- 2
Remove the plant from its pot and wrap the root ball with newspaper or paper towels, replacing them until they soak up the excess moisture, then repot into fresh compost and keep the plant out of direct sun.
- 3
Trim any soft, dark roots back to firm, white tissue, treat the cuts with a fungicide, and repot into a clean pot with a free-draining epiphytic mix before the droop progresses to crown and stem rot.
Keep this Hoya Compacta from ending up drooping again
Grow Hoya carnosa 'Compacta' in a free-draining epiphytic mix, water only when the top of the compost has dried, and keep the plant above 10 degrees C in winter away from cold draughts so the compost never stays waterlogged.