A single leaf of the heart-leaf hoya (Hoya kerrii) means wholehearted devotion, while two leaves represent two hearts beating as one.
The hoya genus belongs to the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae), subfamily Asclepiadoideae; it likes shade and moisture, and its leaves are heart-shaped. It has a more common name, "sweetheart hoya." In spring and autumn it should be exposed to sunlight to absorb ultraviolet rays. The soil it is planted in does not need to be very rich in fertilizer, but the soil must be kept loose and soft. To retain moisture, some moss can be spread over the flower pot. In summer, the sunlight exposure time should not be too long. Any rotted leaves should be cut off promptly. If the root rot is severe, the planting soil must be replaced, and the flower pot should be replaced or disinfected before replanting. The new soil should be kept on the dry side and not too wet. Watering can only resume once new shoots have grown. During the replacement period, it is best not to water; just mist the leaf surfaces with a sprayer. It is best placed in a sunny and well-ventilated spot, and the best position for sunlight is direct sun for half a day in the morning or afternoon.
Heart-leaf hoya (Hoya kerrii)
Description of characteristics - It is a subshrub. The stems and branches climb up to 2 m and are yellow-gray. The petioles are thick and plump, 5 mm long, with 3-5 adaxial glands; the leaf blades are ovate to long-ovate, 5-9*4, 5-5 cm in size, thinly leathery when dry, hairless on the adaxial side, with a plump midrib on the abaxial side, a nearly heart-shaped base, and a pointed to bluntly rounded tip; there are 6-8 pairs of lateral veins. Axillary umbel-like inflorescences, hemispherical, with 30-50 flowers blooming; the peduncle is 1-1, 5 cm long. The pedicels are 2, 5-3 cm long. The sepals are 2, 5 mm in size. The corolla is white, rotate, plump, 1 cm in diameter; the lobes are bluntly triangular, 2, 5 mm in size. The outer angles of the corona are sharp. The flowering period is May.
Heart-leaf hoya (Hoya kerrii)
Heart-leaf hoya is mainly propagated by cuttings. In the growing season, select healthy, plump vine stems, cut 2-3 nodes, being careful to wipe away the white sap that flows from the wound, let them dry for about 2 days, and after the wound has dried, insert them into vermiculite, akadama soil, or sandy soil and other media containing relatively little fertility. Place them in a bright spot, and be careful to keep the medium moist; they root very easily. Leaf cuttings can also be taken; although they can root, it is very difficult for them to sprout and form a plant. It can also be propagated by layering, tissue culture, and sowing. The latter two methods are suitable for larger-scale propagation.
Heart-leaf hoya (Hoya kerrii)
The flowers of the heart-leaf hoya are elegant in color, like wax handicrafts, and its thick, fleshy leaves are like pieces of "hearts," very peculiar. It can be grown in pots and displayed on desks, shelves, windowsills, balconies and other places for appreciation. Besides being planted in potting soil, it can also be grown in other forms such as hydroponics or soilless culture. Plants grown from leaf cuttings can survive for a long time after rooting. Because its leaves are heart-shaped, it is also called "love leaf" and "sweetheart hoya," among other names. It can also be given as a gift between lovers to express their feelings, and a flower language has already formed: one leaf means "wholehearted devotion," two leaves represent "two hearts as one" and "kindred hearts," among other meanings.