How To Care For And Grow Hoya Kentiana

Hoya Kentiana [HOY-a kent-ee-AY-nuh], aka wax plant, is well-loved by gardeners. It has beautiful leaves and a low-maintenance nature.

This plant is native to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian climates.

Foliage of Hoya Kentiana plantsPin

Hoya Kentiana is part of the milkweed family. This flowering Hoya plant is known for its sturdy, smooth, evergreen leaves that burst forth from their pot.

The Kentiana plant doesn’t bloom often, typically in late spring or early summer. But the delicate, fragrant blossoms are well worth the wait.


Hoya Kentiana is a perennial. Like many Hoya varieties, it does well outdoors in the right climate and also makes an excellent house plant. Once you choose a location and pot for this plant, try not to move it.

Hoya Kentiana like other Hoyas goes by:

  • Wax plant
  • Waxflower
  • Porcelain Flower

Hoya Kentiana Care

If you’re interested in this plant for its gorgeous flowers, you may need to wait a few years for the plant to mature.

In combination with the right amount of indirect light, water, and temperature, they will enjoy vine-like growth from year to year.

Size And Growth

Like other vine plants, this Hoya can grow between 12′ – 20′ feet in length with proper care. Prune to maintain a more suitable size, if desired.

If you grow your Hoya outside, you will achieve the best growth in humid environments. If you grow your Hoya inside, make sure it has access to strong morning or evening sunlight through a window.

This plant’s hardiness zone is 10a-11, meaning the lowest cold temperature it can tolerate is between 30° – 35° degrees Fahrenheit.

Flowering And Fragrance

Hoya Kentiana is well-known for its stunning star-shaped flowers, which bloom in clusters. As with other Hoya plants, the flowers have a pleasant butterscotch aroma.

The pedicels are usually a creamy pink, and the flowers are a rich wine red with a softer yellow center.

If the plant experiences stress during a bloom, there’s a chance the plant will drop all its flowers.



Light And Temperature

Hoya Kentiana thrives in areas offering lots of indirect bright light. Place this plant in front of or near an east or south-facing windows.

If your Hoya is an outdoor plant in a hot and humid environment year-round, hang it in a pot in the shade.

This plant does best in temperatures between 65° – 80° degrees Fahrenheit.  At this temperature range, it is more likely to flower during late spring or early summer.

Watering And Feeding

Hoya Kentiana prefers for its soil to dry a bit between waterings. How much water it needs depends on the growth cycle.

During its growing season, its time to water when your finger pushed into the soil comes out dry. Use a watering container with a narrow spout to get between all the growth and evenly moist soil. Avoid waterlogged soil.

Water until you see the water start to drain through the drainage holes in your pot. You’ll need a pot with excellent drainage to maximize your Hoya’s health.

When the plant’s growth slows during the winter, you will need to water less as the soil will take longer to dry.

The fertilizer is most effective during spring or summer. Once a month the day after you water, fertilize using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half-strength.

Never fertilize your Hoya if the soil is dry. A fertilizer burn can damage the plant’s roots. Once growth slows, hold off on fertilizing until the plant’s next growth cycle.

Soil And Transplanting

The ideal soil for your Hoya Kentiana is a well-drained peat-based potting mix. Use a combination of:

  • One part perlite
  • One part peat moss

… to help your plant avoid root rot.

Only repot your Hoya if necessary. They prefer to stay a little root-bound and firmly rooted. For this same reason, avoid moving the plant around your home too much.

Grooming And Maintenance

Grooming and maintaining your Hoya Kentiana is simple.

  • Use hand pruners (Felco #2) to cut off any dead, damaged, or wilted vines or leaves.
  • Remove any leaves with dusty or chalky looking vines or leaves, as these are signs of disease.
  • Avoid trimming off any spent blooms as more flowers will blossom.

Propagating Hoya Kentiana

Propagate this plant by using stem cuttings. Choose a non-flowering stem with at least two nodes and some leaves.

Read our article on: How To Propagate Hoya

Pot with some quality soil mix, then make sure the plant can access a hot and humid environment.

New shoots should develop after about three to four weeks. This is an excellent time to transplant into a regular pot.

Question: Are Hoyas Toxic?

Hoya Kentiana Pests Or Diseases

One pest Hoya Kentiana faces are spider mites. You can remove them with a vigorous steam wash followed by spraying neem oil (a feeding deterrent).

Another pest to watch out for is thrips. Because they can fly, you may have to treat your Hoya Kentiana plant several times.