Hoya Krimson Queen is a fantastic choice for your houseplant collections. Not only does it make your corners stand out with tricolor foliage, but it also brings your space a cute highlight with lovely pink round clusters of blossoms.
Now, scroll down to learn about Krimson Queen care, propagation, and tips for optimal growth.
What Is Hoya Krimson Queen?
Hoya Krimson Queen, also known as Hoya Tricolor and Hoya Variegata, is a variegated cultivar of the Hoya genus and the Apocynaceae family.
Originating from Asia, this tropical climber can reach about 35 – 40 inches in width and 11 – 20 inches in height.
The waxy, thick foliages are a particular part that makes the plant stand out. Adult leaves catch the eye with central green pieces surrounded by creamy to pink edges, while new leaves often come in an entire pink-white background.
Additionally, this variegated Hoya produces gorgeous round clusters of fragrant flowers, under pinkish color and star shape. However, it may take from 3 to 4 years for a Hoya to start blooming.
How to care for the Hoya Krimson Queen:
Hoya Krimson Queen Care
Soil
As the plant’s roots can quickly get rotten, Hoya soil needs to be well-drained to dry out quickly. The chunkier, lighter, and looser your soil, the better it is.
Any good packed mix or a homemade potting mix is excellent to treat the plant. To make the soil yourself, you could use organic materials such as peat moss, orchid bark, and perlite in equal parts.
Watering
Drought tolerance is a big bonus in Hoya Krimson Queen care. The plant stores water in its thick succulent foliages, so a weekly watering schedule thrice in the summer and once in the winter is sufficient.
Also, the plant can’t stand wet feet and soggy soil. So make sure you won’t drench until the ground gets dried completely, plus avoid foliage misting.
Light
Hoya light requirements resemble most houseplants, asking for artificial light or bright indirect or filtered sunlight.
The indoor plant grows well near South or West-facing windows. Besides, mature Krimson Queen needs about 2 to 3 hours of soft direct sunlight daily to achieve blooms.
Humidity
A high humidity level at around 70 – 80% will optimally support Hoya in growing and flowering.
Since the average room moisture can’t always afford this humidity condition, this will be a thing to notice in Hoya care tips. You would need to add a pebble tray or use a humidifier, particularly in dry seasons.
Temperature
Temperature from 60°F – 90°F is ideal for the plant to thrive. Huge-range temperature is also an advantage in Hoya Carnosa Variegata care.
Still, it tolerates neither freeze nor big temperature swings. So you should bring the outdoor plant inside before the first frost of the winter.
Common Problems With Hoya Krimson Queen
Root rot
Rotten roots are the result of overwatering, identified by droopy, mushy, or yellow stems. If the problem is not severe yet, try to cut off the damaged parts of the roots and stalks, then replant in new soil.
Leaf-related problems
Leaves fall off: This is a sign of too cold temperature. You should relocate it to a warmer place.
Leaves turn red and curl: Your plant may be long exposed to direct sunlight. Moving it to the filtered or indirect light sources is necessary.
Leaves curl: If your Hoya has no problem with the light, then it’s a matter of underwatering. Remember to check the ground’s dryness and water it regularly.
Pests and diseases
Powdery Mildew
Power Mildew is the result of excess water stagnating on the foliage and nodes. There will be fuzziness, yellow spots on the infected leaves.
You should discard the ill parts or kill the Mildew with cotton swabs and alcohol. Also, avoid foliage misting and overhead watering.
Mealybugs and Spider Mites
Those pests often pierce the leaves to suck sap and cause significant damage in a short period. You can kill them with a commercial solution or rubbing alcohol, or neem oil.
Propagating Hoya Krimson Queen
As a trailing plant with many vines, Krimson Queen is often reproduced by stem cuttings. The ideal season to propagate is in the spring or summer.
Step-by-step guide:
- Sterilize your cut tool with alcohol to avoid growing bacteria.
- Cut a young stem piece that goes with leaves and no bloom.
- Dip your cutting into rooting hormone to support growth (optional).
- Place your cutting on the growing platform. It may be a cup of water, a pot with potting mix, or a growing medium such as Spaghnum moss.
- Cover your baby plant with a clean plastic bag to maintain humid weather (optional) and keep the plant in proper growing condition.
- Replant it into the ground when you notice new roots growing to a couple of inches. This may take several weeks or months.
Top Tips For Growing A Healthy Hoya Krimson Queen
Fertilizer
Hoya Krimson will appreciate being fed with diluted fertilizer monthly. Feed the plant in the spring and summer, then stop during the autumn until wintertime.
Besides, you can use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to support blooming.
Repotting
It is best to repot this rare Hoya annually or every two seasons. Here are some notices:
- Don’t repot the plant in the winter or bloom.
- If possible, change the plant to new soil each time.
- Use a unique pot that is one size bigger only since a huge container may decrease flowering.
Pruning
Feel free to trim off any dead branches and leaves to support growth, but don’t do that with stems with peduncles or carrying flowers.
Also, avoid pruning when the flower buds start to swell since you will lower the number of blooms.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
Is Hoya Krimson Queen rare?
Yes. They are difficult to breed, costly to produce, and can be misshaped or have imperfect petals that fall off easily.
The Hoya Krimson Queen epithet was first used by Kellermann for a hoya he introduced around 1917. It is rare due to the difficulties of crossing it with other hoyas.
As a result of many years of work by potted plant enthusiasts, there are now about 10 different cultivars worth propagating in Sydney Australia – but they are still more expensive than most other hoyans you see on the market.
How do you care for a Hoya Krimson Queen?
Hoya plants are low maintenance plants, however they need bright filtered light.
They also need to be kept moist during the growing season and slightly less moist, but still humid in the winter.
A once a week watering is usually sufficient for most hoyas.
How often do Hoya Krimson Queen bloom?
The Hoyas can bloom as often as 2-3 times a year or as infrequently as once every few years, depending on the weather and how long it takes for conditions to become just right for this particular type of Hoya.
The blooming cycle begins with spindly stems and leaves that grow closer and closer to the soil. Once these new shoots reach within about 12 inches of the surface, they emerge from beneath their old flowering canopy onto bare ground.
This is when soft flowers begin to form amid the now-old foliage at those same heights, usually about 8-12 inches off the ground.
Conclusion
By the end of this article, you have learned some essential information about the Hoya Krimson Queen. The best things are that unique foliages and gorgeous flowers make it so lovely to put in your sweet home, plus it’s relatively easy to grow.
Any further questions related to the topic? Let us know in the comment section. Hope that you enjoyed our guide, and don’t forget to revisit us for more valuable tips on plant caring!
