How to Care for and Propagate Hoya Kerrii (the Sweetheart Hoya!) (2024)

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Hoya Kerrii, also known as the Sweetheart Hoya or Sweetheart Plant, is a species of the genus Hoya that you often see marketed around Valentine’s Day because of its heart-shaped leaves.

In addition to its pretty foliage, this epiphytic semi-succulent is also very easy to care for. In this post, I’ll review Hoya Kerrii care, propagation, and more!

Can a Hoya kerrii grow from a single leaf?

The chances of growing a full Hoya Kerrii plant from a single leaf are extremely slim to none. Why? Because there is no node, and new growth comes from nodes.

The only way it will grow more is if there is a little bit of node that happens to still be attached to where the leaf was taken off the main stem, but this is normally not the case.

This plant is actually a climbing vine, it is not one single leaf that looks like a heart. The reason they are sold as single leaves is because, frankly, they look adorable that way.

They are a lot more marketable when they look like a cute little heart growing out of a pot.

There is nothing wrong with owning a single-leaf Hoya Kerrii. You can care for it and it will stay alive, just don’t expect to be able to grow or propagate it into a full plant.

How to Care for and Propagate Hoya Kerrii (the Sweetheart Hoya!) (2)

Does my Hoya kerrii have a node?

If your Hoya Kerrii is a single leaf, then no, it does not have a node. This is why it won’t continue to grow as a single leaf—because nodes are where new growth (leaves and roots) grow from.

If you have a full plant, that’s another story! You will have nodes because nodes grow along vines/stems.

Where can I buy a Hoya Kerrii?

Because of how long they take to grow, it’s hard to find anything other than short vines or those single heart-shaped leaves. However, you can find plenty of Hoya Kerrii options on Etsy.

Check out this Hoya Kerrii from one of my favorite Etsy shops!

Just remember, if you only purchase a leaf, it will most likely stay that way forever.

How to care for Hoya Kerrii

The very basic care requirements are:

Bright, indirect light
Allow it to dry out between waterings
Use a loose and well-draining potting mix

Read on for a full care and propagation guide!

Does Hoya Kerrii need full sun?

Hoyas like bright, indirect light. Do not put them in full sun (direct light) or their foliage might burn. The sun’s rays should NOT be shining directly on the plant.

Watering

As a semi-succulent, allow your Hoya Kerrii to dry out in between waterings. They store water in their leaves and don’t need water often. However, try not to wait for the leaves to wrinkle either. This means it is VERY dry.

Always stick your finger down into the potting mix to determine how dry your plant is and if it really needs to be watered.

This will help avoid root rot, which is easier to cause on plants that like to dry out since we are often eager to water them!

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Humidity

Hoyas thrive in humid environments. This part often confuses people. Yes, they are semi-succulent, but they aren’t native to dry deserts.

Rather, Hoya Kerrii is found in tropical areas (parts of Asia) and therefore will do very well with increased humidity.

There are a few ways to accomplish this, but I personally find using a humidifier to be the best method. It’s low maintenance and very effective.

I really like thishumidifierbecause it can last up to 96 hours, keeping my plants happy for a long time!

Potting Mix

As epiphytic and semi-succulent plants, Hoyas shouldn’t be tightly packed into the potting mix.

Its epiphytic nature—meaning it grows on the surface of another plant (a tree), not out of the ground—indicates the roots need good airflow, while its succulent nature indicates it needs a well-draining mix.

A loose and well-draining indoor plant potting mix with orchid bark or perlite added in will work well.

You can get a beautiful Hoya like this here!

Fertilizing

Hoya Kerrii is a slow grower and doesn’t need much fertilizer. However, you can use a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength, once a month during the growing season (spring and summer).

Be careful not to over fertilize this plant or you could do more bad than good.

Repotting

Hoyas don’t need to be repotted more than every few years. They like to be somewhat root bound, and regardless of that, they are slow growers anyway.

If the mix has become very compacted, the roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot, or if the mix is drying out very fast after watering, those are good indicators that it’s time to repot.

It’s best to repot in the growing season (spring and summer) when possible, and use a pot that’s the next size up from its current pot with good drainage.

Also, try not to repot if your Hoya is in bloom.

I really love terra cotta pots because they dry out quicker putting your plant at less risk of root rot!

Climbing and Support

While you can grow them just as well in pots or hanging baskets, Hoya Kerrii is naturally a climbing plant.

You can train your Hoya to grow up something like a bamboo trellis. You’ll just have to use some string or gentle twist ties as they learn to climb it.

Pruning

I don’t typically prune my Hoyas since they grow so slowly, but this is just my personal preference. You can trim back any unruly vines if you like to help control the look of your plant.

Use a pair of clean scissors to cut the vine back to above a node. Just don’t trim the parts that flower because they bloom from the same place every time and that can prevent future blooming.

Flowering

Speaking of blooms, Hoya Kerrii grows beautiful flowers that look like little bursts of pink and white stars. It is not so easy to force a Hoya to bloom. You might find that it comes randomly or not at all.

However, some ways to help it along include:

Age. The plant must be at least a few years old first.
Plenty of bright, indirect light.
A humid environment.
Allowing it to be rootbound.
Using a fertilizer high in phosphorus.
- Fertilizers have three numbers that make up their N-P-K ratio (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). Using a fertilizer with a higher middle number can help with getting your Hoya to bloom because phosphorus can encourage blooms.
Once your Hoya does bloom don’t remove the old flowers because they’ll bloom from the same place each time.

Hoya Kerrii propagation

Like other Hoyas, Hoya Kerrii is easy to propagate. Remember, you have to have a vine to do this, not just a single leaf.

Water propagation

Use a pair of clean scissors to cut off a piece of vine that includes at least one node and a few leaves. (Nodes are where leaves and roots grow out of the stem.)

Put the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water so that at least one node is under the water, since that is where new roots will sprout from. Make sure the leaves aren’t submerged, though!

Put that jar in an area with bright, indirect light.

Top off the water as needed and replace it completely when it gets grimy, once a week or so.

When the roots are two to three inches long, you can move the cutting to its permanent pot. This will probably be at least a couple of weeks, if not months, so be patient!

Potting mix propagation

Propagating Hoya Kerrii in potting mix follows the same general process as water propagation.

Use a pair of clean scissors to cut off a piece of vine that includes at least one node and a few leaves. (Remember, the nodes are where leaves and roots grow out of the stem.)

Put the cutting in a small pot of moistened potting mix so that at least one node is buried, since the node is where new roots will sprout from. Make sure the leaves aren’t buried, though.

Place the pot in an area with bright, indirect light.

Keep the mix moist as the roots develop. You can also put a clear plastic bag over the top of the cutting to raise humidity levels and help the cutting along.

In a few weeks to months, your root system should have developed and you can treat it like a normal plant.
- Tip: Since you can’t see the roots here like you’d be able to in water, you can test this by giving your cutting a very gentle tug and checking if there is any resistance. If so, you have roots!

Hoya Kerrii Problems and Pests

Overwatering

It’s a common problem for Hoyas since they like to dry out in between waterings. If you have some yellow leaves, the cause is most likely overwatering.

Root Rot

Another common issue simply because consistent overwatering can lead to root rot. Read my post on root rot for help!

Pests

Out of all household pests, Hoyas are most commonly vulnerable to mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites.

Check regularly underneath leaves and in crevices for pests. Make it a part of your care routine so that you’ll be sure to catch the problem early if there is one.

I really like this insecticidal soap as well as Bonide Systemic Insect Control for help with pest control, which both work on a range of pests. Always read the instructions on the label first and use caution if you have pets.

Additional Information

How fast does Hoya Kerrii grow?

While they are relatively low-fuss plants, Hoyas are NOT known for being fast growers. I have read that Hoya Kerrii can grow over 10 feet, but this is in absolutely perfect conditions and will take many years to accomplish.

You’re more likely to find a Hoya Kerrii that is one to two feet long. And remember, if you only have a leaf, it probably will not grow at all.

Is Hoya Kerrii easy to care for?

Yes, despite its slow growth rate, the Hoya Kerrii is easy to care for.

The one area you’ll have to be careful about is overwatering since they prefer to dry out between waterings. However, the Sweetheart Hoya is a great plant for those who want to try their hand at hoyas!

Is Hoya Kerrii toxic to pets?

Hoya Kerrii is non-toxic to cats and dogs, but keep in mind it’s best practice to keep all plants out of your furry friends’ reach regardless.

Convinced this is the houseplant for you? Get this Hoya Kerrii from one of my favorite Etsy shops!

Hoya Kerrii Care Summary

Provide it with bright, indirect light
Allow it to dry out between waterings
Provide with additional humidity
Use a loose and well-draining potting mix
Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength, once a month during the growing season (spring and summer)
Repot every few years when it becomes very rootbound