Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' is a fast-growing plant that produces beautiful ball-shaped clusters of small flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance that can fill an entire room.
Scientific Name
Hoya carnosa 'Snowball'
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Marsdenieae
Genus: Hoya
Origin
Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' is a cultivar of Hoya carnosa.
Description
Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' is a twining plant with long stems bearing thick, shining, dark green leaves with silver speckles. The stems can grow up to 20 feet (6 m) in length. The leaves are ovate to elliptic and can measure up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) in length and 1.6 inches (4 cm) in width.
During summer, the plant produces large, ball-shaped clusters of 8 to 25 star-shaped flowers strongly scented with a honey-like fragrance. The flowers have a white to pinkish corolla and a white corona with a red center. They last up to 7 days and can reach up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Hoya carnosa 'Snowball'
Light: Even if this plant can tolerate lower light levels, it may become weak and leggy if the light is too low, producing fewer leaves and flowers. Therefore, keeping it indoors in bright, indirect sunlight is best.
Soil: Well-draining soil that provides excellent aeration and does not hold too much water is most important for growing a healthy plant.
Temperature: Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' thrives in hot and humid climates, so keep it away from drafty windows and doorways during the colder months. It grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 11a to 11b, with average minimum winter temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 °F (4.4 to 10 °C).
Watering: As this plant is sensitive to overwatering, soak the soil thoroughly during the spring and summer, but allow it to dry out before watering again. Otherwise, you will increase the risk of root rot, and your plant will not be happy. It is relatively dormant during the fall and winter and needs only moderate watering.
Fertilizing: While Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' is not a particularly heavy feeder, it can benefit from high-potassium fertilizer at half strength every two weeks during the growing season.
Repotting: As an epiphyte, this plant has shallow root systems and does need a deep container. It also does not require frequent repotting. It prefers to be slightly rootbound, so repot it in spring only if it outgrows its container.
Propagation: Although layering is the easiest way to propagate Hoya carnosa 'Snowball', using stem cuttings is the most popular method. Using leaf cuttings can be more challenging, while starting it from seeds is the simplest but the most time-consuming method. For best results, take cuttings only when the plant is actively growing and sow the seeds in spring and summer.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hoya.
Toxicity of Hoya carnosa 'Snowball'
Hoya carnosa 'Snowball' is considered non-toxic, so having it around kids and pets is safe.
Links
- Back to genus Hoya
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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