Troubleshooting
Hoya pubicalyx problems — and how to fix them
Hoya pubicalyx (Hoya pubicalyx) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Overwatering and root rot
The most common killer. Soggy mix causes yellowing, soft leaves and black mushy roots. Always let the top few centimetres dry, use a free-draining mix, and never leave the pot sitting in water.
Won't flower
Usually too little light, or the spent flower spurs (peduncles) being snipped off. Move it somewhere brighter and never remove the bare flower stalks, as it reblooms from the same spurs year after year.
Mealybugs
White cottony clusters hide in leaf joints and on the undersides of leaves. Check regularly, wipe off with a cotton bud dipped in surgical spirit, and treat repeatedly with insecticidal soap or neem until clear.
Wrinkled, shrivelled leaves
Soft wrinkling points to underwatering or, paradoxically, root damage from overwatering that stops the roots taking up water. Check the roots and the soil moisture before deciding which way to correct it.
Prevent hoya pubicalyx problems before they start
Most hoya pubicalyx issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Hoya pubicalyx problems — FAQ
Why is my hoya pubicalyx overwatering and root rot?
The most common killer. Soggy mix causes yellowing, soft leaves and black mushy roots. Always let the top few centimetres dry, use a free-draining mix, and never leave the pot sitting in water.
Why is my hoya pubicalyx won't flower?
Usually too little light, or the spent flower spurs (peduncles) being snipped off. Move it somewhere brighter and never remove the bare flower stalks, as it reblooms from the same spurs year after year.
Why is my hoya pubicalyx mealybugs?
White cottony clusters hide in leaf joints and on the undersides of leaves. Check regularly, wipe off with a cotton bud dipped in surgical spirit, and treat repeatedly with insecticidal soap or neem until clear.
Why is my hoya pubicalyx wrinkled, shrivelled leaves?
Soft wrinkling points to underwatering or, paradoxically, root damage from overwatering that stops the roots taking up water. Check the roots and the soil moisture before deciding which way to correct it.