Growing the different species of hoya is one of the pleasures of gardening. Hoyas are diverse and require special care, but their beauty makes it all worth it.
Repotting hoya plants is one of the rare occasions, where you have to take many decisions to provide your plant with space to grow without changing its root-bound quality.
If you’re wondering how to repot your hoya, you’ve come to the right place. This article gives you a step-by-step guide to the process in addition to some tips and information.
8 Easy Steps to Repot Your Hoya
Repotting hoya isn’t a difficult process. However, it requires some careful work in order not to inflict damage on the roots of the plant.
To repot your hoya without affecting the roots, follow these simple steps:
1 – Make the Soil Moist
Water the plant thoroughly before repotting to ensure that the soil is moist and soft and the roots are hydrated. You may leave your hoya to soak overnight if you find the soil too dry.
2 – Prepare the New Pot
Clean the new pot with hot water and soap. Remember to rinse it and leave it to fully drain before adding the new plant.
3 – Put the Potting Mix Together
Prepare the new soil by blending the ingredients for your potting mix. You should distribute it evenly before adding water to make it moderately moist.
4 – Take the Plant Out of the Old Pot
Remove your hoya from its old pot. You should put one hand on top of the plant and slowly flip the pot upside down, shaking it gently until you free the root ball.
5 – Loosen the Root Ball
Clean the root of the old soil, loosening the root ball. Use clean scissors to get rid of any black or bad-smelling root parts.
6 – Add Soil into the New Pot
Pour the potting mix you’ve prepared into the new pot. When you fill the bottom quarter with soil, settle the root ball on top of it, lifting the stem away.
Finally, add the rest of the soil slowly around the root ball until you cover it entirely.
7 – Adjust the Soil Level
After settling the plant in the new pot, check the soil level to ensure it covers the stem. If not, you can add more soil and firm it gently.
8 – Choose the Perfect Spot
Choose the perfect spot for your hoya in its new pot. It’s recommended to put it back in its original spot or a similar place.
5 Tips to Repot Your Hoya Safely
The main point of repotting your hoya is to give it a more suitable space to thrive. Therefore, you should try to do your best to keep it safe and sound through the process.
To do so, here are some tips from first-hand experience. Follow them to repot your plant safely and efficiently.
1 – Cut Around Extremely Root-Bound Hoya Plants
If your plant is extremely root-bound, you can use pruning shears or a sterilized knife to cut about four vertical openings around the root ball.
These new slits will allow some room for new roots to grow. Don’t worry, for this won’t harm your hoya in any way.
2 – Keep It Tight
Hoyas bloom when root-bound. Therefore, you don’t need to put them in a very large pot. Increase the size of the pot by one size to give your plant room to grow while still root-bound.
3 – Use a Well-Drained Potting Mix
Remember that hoyas require drying out fast between waterings. Therefore, in addition to a pot with drainage holes, you should repot it in a well-drained potting mix.
4 – Use a Rich Potting Mix
Hoyas prefer rich soil mixes. Since some of the hoya species are epiphytic, they can tolerate rich blending mixes. After all, epiphytic plants get their nutrients from diverse sources.
You can use a blend of organic compost, orchid grow mix, potting soil, and worm castings. You may also add bark, leaf mold, charcoal, or coco coir for better drainage.
5 – Settle Before Watering
Leave your plant to settle in its new pot before watering it. Remember that while transplanting, the root balls were still moist. Therefore, you can leave it for a couple of days before watering.
Do Hoyas Like Small Pots?
Generally speaking, hoyas don’t like pots that are too big or too small. Both would affect the ability of the plant to stretch and grow.
For instance, in a super big pot, the potting mix will require a long time to dry out. This is contrary to the nature of hoyas that require fast drying between waterings.
In this case, you’re putting your plant at risk of root rot and a myriad of other problems. On the other hand, a pot that’s too small would leave no room for the hoyas to grow and propagate.
Typically, hoyas bloom when they’re root-bound, which happens if the pot isn’t too large. Therefore, it’s a good idea to carefully consider the size of your pot in order to allow your plant to thrive happily.
Do Hoya Plants Like to Be Root-Bound?
The answer to this question is simply yes. Hoyas prefer being root-bound, unlike most plants. Somehow, there is sort of a consensus between hoya growers about this matter.
In fact, being root-bound encourages hoyas to grow and bloom. With the right-sized pot and well-drained soil, you can help your plant thrive into new dimensions.
How to Choose a New Pot for Your Hoya Plant?
There are many parameters to consider when you’re picking the new container to repot your hoya. For instance, you need to consider the material, the size, and the drainage method.
1 – Size
When it comes to the size of the new pot, you don’t need to get a pot that’s a lot larger than the old one.
As a general rule, try choosing a new pot that is only one or two inches bigger than your old one. For instance, if the old pot is six-inch in diameter, you can pick a new one of eight- inches.
2 – Material
There are three types of material you can use: plastic, clay, and ceramic. You should consider the advantages and drawbacks of each to make the right decision.
For starters, plastic pots are lighter and less expensive than those made of clay or ceramic. However, clay and ceramic pots are also much sturdier and more long-lasting.
Conversely, clay or ceramic pots are too heavy to hang. Besides, in the case of extremely root-bound plants, you might have to break them while repotting to get the root out intact.
3 – Draining Methods
Draining is a super important factor to keep your hoya happy and healthy. Therefore, you should consider pots with at least one drainage hole to facilitate draining the soil between waterings.
When to Repot Hoyas
You can leave your hoya in its pot for as long as it doesn’t give you signs that it wants a larger one. Despite preferring to stay put, hoyas may need a larger pot to grow into.
6 Signs Your Hoya Needs Repotting
Hoyas can communicate their need for the extra space. Here are six indicators that it’s time to transplant your hoya into a larger pot.
- White hard roots appear on the surface of the pot.
- Your hoya requires a lot more watering than usual because the soil or potting mix dries out much faster than usual.
- Roots come out of the drainage holes.
- Your plant appears much larger with its pot.
- The plant’s growth slows down drastically or even stops altogether.
- The soil recedes and decreases in the pot.
When Is the Best Time to Repot Your Hoya?
The best time of year to repot your hoya depends on your location. You should wait for the warmth and longer days of summer or spring.
However, generally speaking, you can safely repot your hoyas between mid-March and the end of July.
All in all, you shouldn’t repot your hoya during winter because this is the time when your plant enters its dormant phase.
How Often Do You Need to Repot Your Hoya?
As you know by now, hoyas like to grow root-bound, so they won’t need repotting as often as you might think.
In fact, hoyas can survive, and rather thrive, in tight pots. Therefore, you don’t need to repot it every year. Probably, every three to five years will do unless you get one of the tell-tale signs.
Final Thoughts
Hoyas are beautiful plants that have unique features and requirements. Unlike many other houseplants, hoyas enjoy being root-bound.
They’re rather encouraged to bloom in small pots. However, sometimes, hoyas need to be repotted to make room for growth.
To achieve the balance between keeping the plant root-bound and allowing it to grow, you should learn how to repot hoya efficiently.
You won’t need to repot your hoya regularly. In fact, there are usually, some tell-tale indicators that you need to do so.
No matter why you do it, repotting your beloved hoya can be an interesting process and a great gardening experience.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.