Wax ivy, or hoya, is an evergreen winding liana, belonging to the family of the fins. In domestic conditions, however, the flower growers often grow a hoya fleshy - an ampel plant whose shoots grow up to 6 m long. But this is not the most remarkable thing in wax ivy. Once a year it blooms: on the plant there are brushes in the form of umbrellas, crowned with small, like wax, flowers of pink or pinkish white with a fragrant smell.
Most often the plant can be seen in office cabinets. Probably, this is due to the wax signs that exist in ivy. Long since our ancestors believed that a beautiful plant hoya, waxy ivy, brings misfortune, because it absorbs a person's positive energy. So, for example, superstition is popular, which is hoya, wax ivy, muzhegonom . This is the name of plants that allegedly contribute to parting with a loved one. In general muzhegons are all vegetating plants, hoya including. And if you do not attach importance to these signs and wish to grow a flower in your home, we will tell you how to take care of wax ivy.
Planting hoyi
The most suitable soil for wax ivy is a mixture of turf, leaf land, humus and sand, taken in equal parts. At the bottom of the pot you need to place shrapnel fragments or expanded clay for drainage . The capacity for hoya, wax ivy, should not be too spacious, otherwise the plant will increase the length of shoots, but will not bloom soon.
Care for wax ivy
Compared to some indoor plants, waxy ivy can not be called whimsical, but certain requirements for caring for it all need to be followed. Hoya is pretty photophilic, so the pot with it should be placed in a well-lit place with scattered light, best on the windowsill. The sun's rays should not be straight, so that the leaves do not get burned. She does not like waxy ivy high temperatures: in summer, preferably +16 +18 degrees, maximum +22, and in winter up to +14. The plant prefers to always stay in one place, so do not rearrange it from place to place.
When growing a wax ivy flower, it is important to perform the correct watering. When the plant is in the active growth phase, it should be watered regularly, avoiding drying the earthy coma, but moderately. In winter, watering should be reduced, allowing the soil to dry. In addition, in the summer, hoya prefers frequent spraying with warm boiled water. However, during the flowering period it is impossible to spray. If you find that the flower wilts, and its leaves shrivel, most likely, it suffered from an excess of moisture. In such a situation, transplanting into a new pot with fresh soil will help.
In the event that hoya, waxy ivy, does not bloom, notice whether the plant is getting enough light. It is also recommended to reduce the watering a little to provoke the plant to flowering. In addition, twice a week, it is necessary to feed the hoya with complex fertilizers. Many growers are advised to put a pot and sprouts of wax ivy on a daily basis for a half hour in a warm water bath.
How does wax ivy multiply?
Reproduction of wax ivy is produced by cuttings, air layers and seeds. But the first way is the most effective. When cuttings are used semi-mature shoots. In autumn or spring, cutting a stalk 6-10 cm long and with one or two internodes, it is rooted in moist sand or placed in water in a warm room. When several leaves appear on the seedlings, the hoyu can be transplanted into a small pot along with an earthen lump. For branching ivy wax should be pinch. As the seedlings grow, the support should be installed. Hoya does not like transplantation, so it is produced only as needed.