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TL;DR
This is a method page for growing a hoya mounted instead of potted. Tie the vine to a cork slab over a thin sphagnum pad, give bright indirect light, and water every 1-3 days. A mount dries far faster than a pot, though a hoya's succulent leaves buy you more slack than a fern's fronds do. Never cut off the bare flower peduncles; they rebloom for years. Pet-safe. For standard potted care see /plants/indoor/hoya-carnosa.
Key facts
- Hoyas are genuine epiphytes that grip bark with adventitious roots, so mounting matches their natural habit better than a pot does.
- A mounted plant dries several times faster than a potted one, meaning watering every 1-3 days rather than weekly. Though waxy leaves make hoyas the most forgiving common mounted plant.
- Use only a thin sphagnum pad. A thick wet pad is the fastest way to rot a hoya stem.
- Flowers form on permanent short spurs called peduncles that rebloom for years; cutting them off destroys future flowering.
- Hoyas are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
No pot
cork-mounted culture
1-3 days
typical watering interval
Non-toxic
to cats & dogs
$20-60
typical US mounted price
Care requirements#
| Growing method | Mounted: vine tied to a slab over a thin sphagnum pad, no pot and no potting soil |
| Mounting substrate | Cork bark is ideal; tree fern slab or hardwood also work. Rough bark gives adventitious roots something to grip |
| Moss pad | Thin only. A light layer under the stem. Hoyas rot in a thick, permanently wet pad |
| Wire vs glue | Soft cord, plant velcro or fishing line across the stem between nodes. Adhesive may anchor moss to the board but must never touch a node or root |
| Light needs | Bright indirect light with an hour or two of gentle direct sun; good light is what drives flowering |
| Watering method | Drench the mount thoroughly so the thin pad and roots are wet, then let it dry back properly |
| Soak-vs-mist schedule | Every 1-3 days on a mount, versus roughly weekly in a pot. Waxy leaves tolerate a missed day better than most mounted plants |
| How to judge thirst | Check the leaves as well as the pad. Slight leaf softness means water now, and a hard dry pad with firm leaves means it can wait a day |
| Air circulation | Good airflow suits them and helps the thin pad dry between waterings |
| Humidity | 50-70% is ideal for mounted culture; hoyas cope with less than a mounted fern would |
| Temperature range | 18-29°C (65-85°F); keep above 12°C in winter |
| Fertilizer | Quarter-strength balanced feed applied to the pad every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer; a higher-potassium feed encourages blooms |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans |
Growth & propagation#
| Mature size | Vines run a metre or more across and beyond the mount |
| Growth rate | Moderate, with long leafless searching tendrils that later leaf out, do not cut these |
| Flowering | Umbels of waxy star flowers on permanent peduncles, usually on plants that are slightly stressed and well-lit |
| Propagation methods | Stem cuttings with two or more nodes, tied straight onto a new damp pad |
| Propagation difficulty | Easy: nodes root into sphagnum in a few weeks |
| Remounting schedule | Every 2-3 years as the moss decomposes; disturb the plant as little as possible |
Common problems & troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stem blackens at the moss line | Too much moss holding water against the stem | Remount with a much thinner pad and let the mount dry properly between waterings |
| Leaves wrinkle and go soft | The mount has been dry too long. The leaves are the water reserve being drawn down | Drench the mount; leaves usually plump back within a day or two, then water every 1-3 days |
| Healthy vine that never flowers | Too little light, or the peduncles were cut off after a previous bloom | Increase light and never cut the short bare flower spurs. They rebloom from the same point for years |
| Long bare vine with no leaves | Normal searching growth looking for a surface to attach to | Guide it along the mount and pin it to the pad; it will leaf out once it finds contact |
| Buds form then drop before opening | The mount dried out completely, or the plant was moved during budding | Keep watering steady through budding and leave the mount in position |
Coming soon
Learn more →
Mounted plants dry on their own schedule
Sodate tracks how fast your slab dries in your room so a mounted hoya gets watered on evidence, not habit.
Seasonal care#
Spring
Growth restarts; remount if the moss has broken down and resume feeding the pad.Summer
Peak growth and flowering. Water every day or two in heat and give the brightest indirect light available.Autumn
Taper feeding; leave spent peduncles in place for next year's blooms.Winter
Stretch watering as growth stops, keep the plant above 12°C, and keep the mount away from radiators.Varieties & cultivars#
| Variety | Distinguishing trait | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hoya carnosa | Thick waxy leaves, very tolerant | The best hoya to mount first |
| Hoya kerrii | Thick heart-shaped leaves | Mounts well; the single-leaf 'Valentine' cuttings never grow into vines |
| Hoya linearis | Trailing needle-like fuzzy leaves | Prefers a hanging mount and cooler, more humid air |
| Hoya curtisii | Tiny speckled leaves, creeping habit | Ideal for small cork mounts as it hugs the surface |
Buying checklist#
- Stem is tied rather than glued at the nodes
- Sphagnum pad is thin, not a thick sodden wad
- Leaves are firm and waxy with no shrivelling
- Any short bare peduncles are still attached. A seller who trimmed them removed future flowers
Pricing by region#
| Region | Price range | Typical unit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | $20 – $60 | mounted plant | Plant shop + maker-mounted online |
| UK | $22 – $68 | mounted plant | Specialist plant shop |
| India | $7 – $25 | mounted plant | Urban nursery retail |
| Australia | $25 – $70 | mounted plant | Nursery + specialist retail |
| Canada | $25 – $70 | mounted plant | Plant shop + online |
What drives the price: Species rarity (common carnosa vs. collector hoyas)VariegationMounting labour and cork qualityBuying a potted plant and mounting it yourself costs far less
USD figures are approximate conversions for comparison; switch the dropdown to see each region's actual local-currency listing price.
Often confused with#
Dischidia: A close epiphytic relative mounted identically, with much smaller leaves and, in some species, hollow pouch leaves that house ants.
Ceropegia woodii (string of hearts): Similar trailing succulent look, but it grows from underground tubers and is not a bark-gripping epiphyte, so it does not mount well.
Where it's actually grown#
Hoyas are grown from cuttings by nurseries in Thailand, the Netherlands, Florida and the Philippines as potted stock; mounted plants are nearly always potted nursery plants remounted by small makers or hobbyists.
Import & biosecurity restrictions#
| Region | Note |
|---|---|
| Australia | Live plant imports restricted under biosecurity law; hoyas are widely available domestically. |
| US | No restriction on domestic sale; hoyas are standard nursery stock. |
| UK | Imports need phytosanitary paperwork; widely sold in garden centres domestically. |
| India | No restriction; mounted hoyas do well in humid coastal cities. |
| Canada | CFIA permits required for commercial imports; potted stock is common at retail. |
Similar plants
Did you know?
Hoya flowers secrete real, drinkable nectar in such quantity that a blooming plant will drip sticky droplets onto the floor below. On a mounted plant the drips land on the wall instead, which is why experienced growers hang a blooming hoya mount over something washable.
Frequently asked questions
Can you grow a hoya mounted instead of in a pot?
Yes, and it closely matches their natural habit. Hoyas are true epiphytes that grip tree bark with adventitious roots. Use cork with only a thin sphagnum pad.
How often do you water a mounted hoya?
Every 1-3 days, because a mount dries several times faster than a pot. Waxy hoya leaves store water, so they forgive a missed day better than most mounted plants.
Should I use glue or ties to mount a hoya?
Tie with soft cord, plant velcro or fishing line across the stem between nodes. Adhesive should never contact a node or root.
Is a mounted hoya safe for cats and dogs?
Yes, hoyas are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Where can I read normal potted hoya care?
The standard potted guide, including mix and repotting, is at /plants/indoor/hoya-carnosa.
