Hoya Chelsea Profile

Hoya Chelsea is a trailing wax plant with attractive cascading green leaves. Hoya Chelsea leaves are beautifully shaded green, thick, wrinkled and heart-shaped. Hoya Chelsea is perfect for hanging in a basket or sitting on a shelf. Hoya Chelsea should be at the top of any Hoya collector's wish list.

Hoya Chelsea Picture

Hoya Chelsea Info

Scientific Name	Hoya carnosa
Common Name	Hoya Chelsea
Category:	Flowering Houseplant
Available Colors:	Shades of pink, white, red, and bicolor
Bloom Time:	All year
Height Range:	6-15" (15-38cm)
Space Range:	12-15" (30-38cm)
Lowest Temperature:	60° to 80°F (16° to 27°C)

Hoya Chelsea Native Habits

Hoya Chelsea is distinguished by its waxy, puckered, glossy leaves and sweet scent. The plant so similarly resembles wax that it is often mistaken as fake. This is encouraged by the plant’s distinctive, flesh-colored flowers that also have a waxy appearance.
Hoya Chelsea plants can grow quite long—up to 12 feet, in fact. Though you likely won’t achieve that as a potted plant indoors. They can grow long and trailing from a hanging basket, or you can train them to vine up a trellis. I have mine in a hanging basket, and it’s lovely.
The leaves on the hoya carnosa chelsea do not unfurl at full size, either. So don’t panic if the new growth is very small. Leaves sprout from the stems and remain small and lighter in color for a while, eventually growing to their full size and color.

Hoya Chelsea Distribution

The Hoya family has been cultivated for over 200 years, which has prompted the creation of many different variants. The Hoya Carnosa Chelsea, much like many species in its family, originate from Eastern Asia and Australia. As Hoyas have become popular among plant lovers, it has made its way across the world. The Hoya Chelsea is now found naturally growing in the wilds of Queensland, China, East India, Taiwan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Fiji Islands, and the Japanese islands of Ryukyu and Kyushu.

How to Grow & Care for Hoya Chelsea

How to Grow Hoya Chelsea

Hoya Chelsea Propagation with Stem Cuttings
The easiest way to breed hoya chelsea is through stem cuttings. The best time to do this is in spring or early summer at the latest. Because Hoya Chelsea is growing at this point, it takes root faster and will start growing faster.
Here's how to breed the Hoya Chelsea from stem cuttings.
Take a 4 - to 6-inch stem. Ideally, you want to choose a healthy-looking stem with at least two or three leaves.
Using a sterile cutting tool, cut the stem just below the leaf nodes.
Remove the lower leaves as they will be submerged in water or planted under the soil.
You can also dip the cutting end in rooting hormones to help speed up the process.
Cut the stems into a small container of fresh potting mixture.
Water the soil and keep it moist.
Place the new Hoya Chelsea somewhere warm, in bright indirect sunlight.
You can cover the plants with plastic bags to increase the humidity. This will help the new Hoya Chelsea take root and grow faster in the initial phase.
In about 3 to 4 weeks, the plant will take root, although you can only test it by gently pulling on your Hoya Chelsea. Resistance is a sign that roots are taking root.
Another option is to breed in water. This will allow you to observe the root growth as you will see them through the jar.

How to Care for Hoya Chelsea

• Light Care

Hoya Chelsea grows best in bright indirect light. Hoya Chelsea likes plenty of sunshine and lets it blossom more. However, avoid direct sunlight as this can burn the Hoya Chelsea leaves and change their colour. A good spot inside is near the east-facing window, where it receives the morning sun. The Hoya Chelsea can tolerate direct morning sunlight. But even a few hours of afternoon sun was too much for it.

• Soil Care

Since the Hoya Chelsea likes less water, it is important to avoid soggy soil or mixtures that retain excessive moisture. A good mixture with good drainage is ideal for Hoya Chelsea. Hoya Chelsea also prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 6.1 to 7.3). Also, light, airy soil will allow its roots to get plenty of oxygen. The good news is that there are many different ways to achieve this soil.

• Water Care

Hoya Chelsea prefers dry soil conditions to many other houseplants. Hoya Chelsea doesn't need a lot of water. In fact, it is drought-tolerant because its fleshy leaves store water and keep it hydrated during periods of drought. On average, you can water every 7 to 12 days, depending on the intensity of sunlight and temperature.

• Temperature and Humidity Care

Hoya Chelsea likes warm conditions. The Hoya Chelsea is used to the climate as it is native to China and India. The weather in both is generally mild to warm (although some parts of China are very cold). As a result, Hoya Chelsea is hardy to USDA zones 9B through 11. Ideal humidity for the Hoya Carnosa Chelsea is 60% or higher. Fortunately, the Hoya Chelsea also performed well in terms of average household humidity. So, it's no problem between 30 and 40 percent.

• Fertilizer Care

For optimal growth, feed your Hoya Chelsea with water soluble fertilizer diluted to half every month during spring and summer. The Hoya Chelsea is a lightweight breeder, so doesn't need a lot of plant food. In fact, be careful not to overfeed as it can damage the Hoya Chelsea roots. You'll also notice that the leaves become wrinkled and dry.

• Pruning Care

When your Hoya Chelsea blooms, leave the peduncle as it may bloom. Removing the stems forces the Hoya Chelsea to produce new stems, which delays flowering and wastes energy.

Hoya Chelsea Uses

Looks great grown in containers and hanging baskets. Ideal for growing in a container and training to a small trellis.

Hoya Chelsea Varieties

Hoya Archboldiana: Cup-shaped creamy flowers with a maroon corona
Hoya Compacta 'Indian Rope': Pale pink flowers and curly leaves; pretty even when the plant isn’t blooming
Hoya Cumingiata: Yellow flowers with red corona; fragrant
Hoya Kerrii Variegata 'Sweetheart Plant': Heart-shaped foliage with white margins; yellow and orange flowers
Hoya Onychoides: Purple flowers with an exaggerated star shape

Hoya Chelsea Common Pests/Diseases

Hoya Chelsea doesn't have a lot of pest and disease problems. However, because of its idiosyncrasies and preferences, the Hoya Chelsea may be susceptible to them. When the Hoya Chelsea blooms, it emits a sweet smell that pets and bugs seem to love. Also, the Hoya Chelsea is prone to overwatering and overfeeding. Both conditions make it more susceptible to pests and diseases. In addition, the preference for high humidity makes moisture a constant threat. Therefore, proper care and regular check-ups are very important. This will prevent these headaches from happening. You can catch them early to prevent them from developing into pests, which are not only harder to treat, but also more dangerous to plants.

Potting and Repotting Hoya Chelsea

Hoyas like the security of a snug pot and plants that are a bit root-bound will flower more prolifically than those that are swimming around in a giant pot. Hoyas don't like wet feet or heavy soil, and as many grow as epiphytes in nature (similar to bromeliads and orchids). Mixing your regular potting soil with orchid potting mix in a 1-1 ratio will provide an ideal growing medium for your hoya plant. Also, when repotting, use pasteurized soil or growing medium in either new pots or those that have been washed in a solution of chlorine bleach and water.

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Hoya Chelsea Care & Propagation Guide