overwatering and Hoya
Quick answer
If overwatering is what's going on with your Hoya, the most likely cause is: When a Hoya is watered too often or sits in soggy, poorly drained soil, the semi-succulent roots suffocate, the potting medium goes anaerobic, and the leaves respond by forming tiny brown bumps of cork tissue or by yellowing as the roots fail to deliver water and nutrients. Overwatering is described as the leading killer of container plants because the same conditions that drown the roots also let fungi invade and rot the root system from the inside out.
Start here:
- 1. Reduce watering frequency and allow the top of the potting medium to dry out between waterings, so the Hoya roots get the dry cycle they evolved for as epiphytic vines clinging to tree trunks in the wild.
- 2. Repot the Hoya into a well-drained epiphytic mix, raise light and air movement so the leaves transpire faster, and trim any mushy or discolored roots before returning the plant to a breathable pot with drainage holes.
Why overwatering happens to Hoya
Hoya spp.
When a Hoya is watered too often or sits in soggy, poorly drained soil, the semi-succulent roots suffocate, the potting medium goes anaerobic, and the leaves respond by forming tiny brown bumps of cork tissue or by yellowing as the roots fail to deliver water and nutrients. Overwatering is described as the leading killer of container plants because the same conditions that drown the roots also let fungi invade and rot the root system from the inside out.
How to correct overwatering on Hoya
- 1
Reduce watering frequency and allow the top of the potting medium to dry out between waterings, so the Hoya roots get the dry cycle they evolved for as epiphytic vines clinging to tree trunks in the wild.
- 2
Repot the Hoya into a well-drained epiphytic mix, raise light and air movement so the leaves transpire faster, and trim any mushy or discolored roots before returning the plant to a breathable pot with drainage holes.
Keep overwatering from repeating on this Hoya
Match watering to the Hoya's natural epiphytic habit: let the potting medium dry before rewatering, use pots with drainage holes, and never let the plant stand in saucers of water; the waxy semi-succulent leaves store moisture, so the Hoya tolerates drought far better than soggy soil.