When Does Hoya Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Its Toxicity and Placement

Hoya, also known as wax plant, cherry orchid, and shinan vine, is a perennial evergreen climbing plant of the genus Hoya in the family Apocynaceae. Its leaf veins are inconspicuous, and the leaves are almost wax-like, thick and plump, giving a feeling of fullness and abundance. So, when does hoya bloom? Is it toxic? Where is the best place to grow it?

1. When does hoya bloom?

According to data from the family Apocynaceae, hoya blooms from April to June and fruits from July to August. It prefers a hot, humid, semi-shaded environment and slightly dry soil, and in summer and autumn it must be protected from direct sun exposure. Although it can also grow in places without direct sunlight, it needs 3—4 hours of sufficient sunlight every day to bloom. It likes fertile, breathable, well-drained soil, and during the growing period it requires sufficient water but dislikes being too wet. After autumn, gradually reduce watering.

2. Is hoya toxic?

Before answering whether hoya is toxic, we should first introduce one of hoya's functions——its medicinal function. The whole hoya plant can be used as medicine, with effects such as clearing heat and resolving phlegm, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and treating inflammation. Here we introduce how hoya is used as medicine.

The simplest method for internal use is to pound it into juice and take it internally, or to decoct it in water and take the liquid; for external use, just as with internal use, it is simply pounded into juice and applied externally. So does this mean hoya is not toxic? No! As the saying goes, every medicine is three parts poison. Everyone must not, just because hoya can be pounded into juice and taken directly, go ahead and take a bite of hoya for no reason. This only shows that keeping hoya at home is completely safe, and even if the skin comes into contact with hoya it will not cause us harm, let alone the floral fragrance given off by the plant, which is of course harmless as well.

3. Where is the best place to grow hoya?

Although hoya will not harm the human body, when growing it you need to choose a suitable place, because hoya is actually not very suitable for placement in the bedroom. This is because hoya's rich floral fragrance, especially at night, can affect people's sleep quality. So it is best not to grow hoya in the bedroom.

To grow hoya, you can place it on a balcony or windowsill and other such places, so that you can both admire hoya's beautiful flowers and not have to worry about the floral fragrance affecting sleep. Besides growing it in a pot, you can also use hoya as a hanging flower, hanging it up in a suitable space, and the effect is also quite good.