Hoya thomsonii - the species name honors Scottish botanist Thomas Thomson (1817–1878). Thick, ovate, pubescent (covered in fine, dense hairs) foliage, fragrant clusters of white to cream star shaped flowers are also covered in tiny hairs, contributing to the overall fuzzy appearance. It is a slow grower with a climbing habit but also looks great cascading from a hanging basket or placed on a high shelf. This species is native to the Himalayan region and Southeast Asia, including Tibet, Northern India, China and Thailand, where the fuzzy leaves help the plant retain moisture and offer protection from intense light in high altitude forests. The foliage can develop random silver splashes. This species thrives at around 60% humidity but can be slowly acclimated to tolerate lower levels compared to many other Hoya making it an excellent choice for your indoor space.
Hoyas are mostly epiphytic creeping, twining or vining plants that have a vast array of different leaf shapes, sizes, textures & colors! If provided with the desired conditions Hoyas can bloom, their flowers varying widely species-to-species with many different colors, sizes & even scents! Many Hoya develop purple spots, streaks or patches on the leaves as a response to light exposure. This is commonly referred to as sun stress, is completely natural and normal - sometimes the entire leaf can turn various shades of purple/red. This is not disease and is actually a sign that the plant is healthy.
~Do Not let Hoya sit in excess water. As epiphytes, in the wild they would be growing on tree trunks or branches in the forest understory where they would get most of their water just from dew or moisture in the air.
~Hoya are considerably hardy & tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, but for the best growth it is recommended to provide higher levels of humidity.
~Do Not remove the peduncles [flower stalks] after your Hoya has finished flowering. Hoya are able to rebloom again & again from the same peduncle!
~Feed regularly during the growing season with a low nitrogen fertilizer containing sufficient amounts of phosphorous and potassium.
