Hoya Heart (Hoya kerrii): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert

The Hoya Kerrii can be a unique addition to your bedroom bookcase or windowsill planter. It is a beautiful plant known for its iconic leaves. A member of the Hoya genus, Hoya Kerrii are a form of tropical succulent vines with heart-shaped leaves that can grow to the size of your palm. Overall, a Hoya Kerrii can grow to be over 13 feet long!

Of course, most people tend to focus on their beautiful leaves, which have earned them the nickname of the ‘lucky heart’ plant. This is why they are often given to romantic partners on Valentine’s Day or as anniversary gifts to couples. If you have a plant lover in your life, this may be just the gift for them!

Hoya Kerrii makes excellent plants for both experts and novice gardeners alike. They are usually hardy but can grow even better with the right care. Most Hoya Kerrii is sold as planted leaves. It appears as a buried half-heart and may stay like that for its entire lifespan. However, they can reach their full potential and develop into a sprawling vine if they are cared for appropriately.

What to Expect From Your Hoya Kerrii?

As mentioned, you will most likely receive your Hoya Kerrii as a single leaf planted in a small pot. The leaf would likely be planted with the tip buried and the top half of the ‘heart’ resting right above the soil. Some may prefer this appearance as it is small and easily fits into its surroundings. However, Hoya Kerrii is meant to be vines. They can reach lengths of over 13 feet if they are cared for appropriately.

As with any vine, you should be prepared to home your Hoyas in an area where its vines have enough room to spread and grow. You may also eventually add a vine frame to the pot to allow the vines to grow upward and access more space vertically. However, if you’ve just gotten it, don’t worry too much, as Hoya Kerrii are slow growers. It will give you ample time to adapt to their size and presence. Some are variegated and have white colorings bordering the edge of their otherwise green leaves.

Hoya Kerrii is also a flowering plant. Once they reach adulthood, you should be able to enjoy small bundles of flowers. Typically, it flowers appear in bundles known as inflorescences with approximately 25 blooms. These flowers will last for about a week before wilting and tend to have a light fragrance.

Optimum Climate and Weather

Hoya Kerrii is native to South Asia and is considered tropical plants. If you live in a colder climate, such as North America or Europe, you must take special precautions to ensure your plant doesn’t get too cold in the winter. If the plant becomes too cold for an extended period of time and its new growth can slow, and it can potentially die. Keep your Hoya Kerrii between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The atmosphere also becomes quite dry in some colder climates and hotter desert climates. As a tropical plant, it needs enough moisture in the air to help promote healthy functioning. If your atmosphere is too dry, you may also want to consider a humidifier, as the optimum humidity for the Hoya Kerrii is around 40%.

The optimum climate and weather are important, as most people associate succulent plants with deserts.

The Best Watering and Sunning Routine

When it comes to watering, you should always observe the soil in your pot. Only water your Hoya Kerrii when the soil has become completely dry. This is essential because they are prone to issues such as root rot. Root rot occurs when a plant is overwatered and unable to absorb all of the water surrounding its roots. It causes fungi to grow and begin destroying the plant’s root system.

Although they are tropical plants, watering should be done sparsely and only when you are certain the soil is dry from your previous watering. Typically, watering will occur every 7 to 10 days. It depends on the size of your pot, soil composition, and environmental evaporation rate. You may also monitor the plumpness of its leaves to decide if it needs water or not. The smaller and dryer the leaves, the more dehydrated the Hoya Kerrii.

Your Hoya Heart or Sweetheart plant should also be kept in direct sunlight for most of the day, at least several hours. If you cannot place them in a sunny enough environment, or you live in a climate where you receive a limited amount of sunlight at certain times of the year, consider using artificial lights such as grow lights.

Common Issues to Avoid

Hoya Kerrii plants are known for being very low maintenance, so the only issues you should be concerned about are typical issues of plant ownership. Follow a regular watering schedule, being careful not to overwater to prevent root rot. If your plant begins to become super soft, turn yellow, or smell, it likely has root rot, and you need to reduce your watering immediately.

Long-Term Care

Hoya plants typically lives for several years, so you should be prepared to care for them for an extended period of time. Although the soil you receive will likely be fine, you should use well-draining soil when you repot them in the future. This will typically be potting soil, sand, and other components. However, you should only report them every few years, as they tend to prefer to be slightly root-bound. You may also add monthly doses of liquid fertilizer to promote growth.

If you manage to grow your Hoya Kerrii into a full-fledged vine, you may also have the opportunity to propagate and make more plants! This can be a fun experience and a great way to share your lovely plant with your friends and family. To do this, simply cut a leaf with nodes. Leave the leaf in direct sunlight for several weeks in some water, changing the water every week. Once roots begin to sprout, pot your new Hoya Kerrii plant. Then, start caring for it as you did with your initial plant!

If you are interested in reading more about different kinds of plants, check out Umbrella Plant, Hypoestes Plant, Dracaena Corn Plant, Arrowhead Plant, and Coral Bead Plant.

Elyssa Goins

Elyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four.  She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants.  For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you.