Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ a.k.a. Hindu rope plant is probably the best plant to get acquainted with, especially if you are a novice in the world of ornamental houseplants. This interesting variety belongs to the Hoya family of plants which contains some of the most adorable and easy-going succulents that also happen to be our favourite ornamentals. Some examples of popular ornamental houseplants from the Hoya family include Hoya Kerrii , Hoya Carnosa (the parent plant of the Hindu rope plant), Hoya Kentiana, Hoya Australis, etc.
Native to various regions of East Asia and Australia, the Hindu rope plant does not have any unusual expectations or needs regarding its caring routine. All the plant asks for is proper lighting, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil. The only time when you will have to spend more time with your Hindu rope plant will be during its active growth season when it is recommended to water regularly and fertilize as needed. But the caring routine of Hoya Carnosa is easy, so you don’t need to worry.
Want to learn more about this great succulent? Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about the Hindu rope plant a.k.a. Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ and to become an expert grower!
Quick Facts
Botanical Name | Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ |
Common Name | Hindu rope plant, Krinkle kurl plant, Porcelain flower, Wax plant |
Plant Type | Succulent vine |
Mature Size | up to 5 meters (15 feet) long |
Sun Exposure | Full sun |
Soil Type | Bright indirect light, partial shade |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral, Alkaline |
Bloom Time | Spring, summer |
Flower Color | Pink |
Hardiness Zones | 10-12 (USDA) |
Native Area | Eastern Asia and Australia |
About Hindu Rope Plant
- Other common names for the Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ variety include Porcelain flower, Wax plant, Rope Hoya, and Krinkle Kurl.
- The Hindu rope plant looks absolutely fabulous as ornamental in eye-catching containers, hanging baskets, elevated shelf ledges, a succulent garden, and any other place that needs some sprucing up.
- The flower clusters of the Hindu rope plant are rich in nectar. This feature makes the succulent very attractive to butterflies. So, if you live in a warm climate and you are able to grow this beauty outside, you will be visited by beneficial pollinators when this plant blooms.
- Although this plant is already as pretty as a picture on its own, you can also pair it with plants that have similar requirements. Ferns, Hoyas, Aglaonemas, and other species of succulents make perfect companions for the Hindu rope plant.
- Some people train the Hindu rope plant to grow into different shapes that bring more ornamental value. The most popular arrangement would be the circular one that mimics an exquisite, deep green natural crown.
- If you notice that a few leaves of your Hindu rope plant turn yellow, you should not panic. Most often, this happens naturally in the life of a plant, as the foliage withers and dies to make room for new, fresh leaves to emerge.
- Although Hoya carnosa is not a sensitive plant, some issues might occur while growing and caring for it, especially when you are unable to mimic its native habitat. Yellow leaves may show up when this succulent deals with a fungal disease, mostly a cause of over-watering. A wilting plant, on the other hand, can indicate that it is too big for its current pot.
- Hoyas are interesting plants that have a quirky personality at times and might seem as if they refuse to grow. When a Hoya is not very happy with its surrounding environment, it might stagnate and stop producing new leaves. Dormancy, acclimation time, not enough light, poor drainage, improper watering, dry air, an oversized container, fluctuating temperatures, and overfeeding are issues that can prevent your plant from developing properly.
- If you have trouble convincing your plant to grow, try to change different aspects of its surrounding environment. Start with its soil and container and if you notice any issues, fix them and give your plant some time to readjust.
- Being a Hoya cultivar, you will be happy to learn that the Hindu rope plant is not toxic if ingested or touched. It is, therefore, a safe houseplant for indoor settings with curious kids or pets.
Hindu Rope Plant Features: An Overview
- An important member of the Hoya genus, the Hindu rope plant shares some features with its brothers and sisters. This genus consists of over 500 species of tropical species and many of them are well-known ornamental plants worldwide.
- In its natural habitat, the Hindu rope plant is an epiphytic species. This means that it is more of an airy specimen that can grow on the branches of other nearby plants.
- The Hindu rope plant is a perennial, semi-succulent, vine-like variety. When it grows in an ideal environment, once it reaches maturity, its vines can grow up to 5 meters (15 feet) long. The plant has a slow, pendulous, and trailing growth habit.
- Prized for its luxurious foliage, the Hindu rope plant features numerous lush, waxy, succulent, twisted, curly, slightly hairy, and dark green leaves. The foliage shows up on thick, wood-ish stems. There are even cultivars with variegated leaves.
- The leaves are spectacular, but the Hindu rope plant has more to offer as it will enchant you with its delicate pink blossoms from early spring through the summer. The blooms of the Hindu rope plant will usually last up to several weeks after blooming.
- The flowers of Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ are tiny, fragrant, star-shaped, and exhibit pinkish-white shades. They form superb ball-shaped clusters.
Growing Hindu Rope Plant
Like most succulent species, the Hindu rope plant requires little to no effort on your part to thrive. A bit of attention here and there is everything this succulent asks for, rewarding you daily with its eternal beauty, attractive succulent foliage, trailing vines, and delicate flowers.
If you already have some experience with succulents, growing and caring for the Hindu rope plant will be easy. If not, you don’t need to worry as you can easily become a master of meeting this plant’s needs.
To show the best growth and blooming, this plant will require lots of bright and indirect light all year round. Make sure you place your Hindu rope plant in a spot where it can be out of direct afternoon sunlight. Too much bright light can affect the foliage of the plant. Hoya carnosa is quite sensitive to direct sunlight, and if exposed, its foliage can turn yellow and develop sunburns.
In terms of hardiness, the Hindu rope plant can survive outdoors only in USDA zones 10, 11, and 12. Since this succulent is generally grown as a houseplant, its sensitivity to cold temperatures should not bother you at all.
- Easy to grow and maintain
- Soil: Lightweight, well-aerated, fast-draining growing medium
- Watering: Water when the soil is almost dry during growth phase, infrequently during winter
- Light: bright indirect sunlight is best
- Immidiate shipping
- Air-purifying qualities to improve indoor air quality
- Stunning variegated leaves with green and creamy white patterns
- Compact and trailing nature, suitable for hanging baskets and tabletop displays
- Low-maintenance plant, perfect for beginners and busy plant lovers
- Distinctive twisted foliage, earning it the nickname "Hindu Rope Plant"
- Thick Green Foliage
- Trailing Plant
- Pet Friendly
- Live Arrival Guaranteed!
- Low maintanance & easy to care
Last update on 2024-10-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you live in a place with harsh winter months, you can successfully grow Hindu rope plant indoors. The Hindu rope plant will benefit from constantly warm temperatures that do not drop below 50 °F (10 °C). When the weather begins to get colder, it would be wise to protect your succulent from sudden temperature shifts.
Humidity is an important factor in this plant’s caring routine, especially during the overwintering process. Humidity levels that are too low may cause the succulent to lose its glossy, waxy overall appearance. And we do not want that! So, if the air around your Hindu rope plant is too dry, you can use a humidifier to create a perfect environment for your Hoya carnosa.
The Hindu rope plant is not the type of plant to be easily affected by pest infestations unless there is something wrong with its environment. A stressed succulent plant can be an irresistible attraction to intruders like aphids, scale, or mealybugs. When you notice any suspect presence on your Hindu rope plant, the use of horticultural oil, typically neem oil, can help greatly. Likewise, you might want to improve the general care you provide your plant with.
If you would like your Hindu rope plant to surprise you with flowers, a few parts of its caring routine are mandatory. First, try to provide your succulent with at least six hours of indirect light daily. To ensure that your plant carries out its natural growth habits, you should avoid excessive moisture and excessive feeding. Place your Hindu rope plant near on an east- or west-facing window sill to provide it with the ideal 2-4 hours of direct sunlight.
Planting Hindu Rope Plant
The Hindu rope plant will have a fantastic time in your home or garden if you manage to find the perfect soil to grow it in. You should know from the start that heavy soil will not satisfy the needs of this succulent. Also, soggy conditions can easily lead to root rot and the eventual death of your Hindu rope plant.
To avoid this, we recommend you plant your succulent in a substrate that drains fast and comes along with good aeration. For extra drainage, you can add a layer of perlite or orchid bark to the growing medium.
Since you are here, we will simply assume that you absolutely love the shiny foliage and cute flowers this succulent produces. If so, you will have to prepare to fertilise your plant during its active growing period. The ideal fertilizer for Hoya plants is rich in potassium. Feed your Hindu rope plant with a light dose of this product once every couple of months from spring to early autumn.
Hoya plants are usually considered slow-growers and this can be a good thing if you don’t want to worry about changing the container every year. But of all the Hoya varieties, the Hindu rope plant is not the slowest grower, so you will get to enjoy its trailing vines sooner rather than later. Another great thing about these plants is the fact that they prefer pot-bound conditions.
At first, the only thing you should have in mind would be to find a small pot that features sufficient drainage holes at the bottom. This container will prevent waterlogging and, thus, root rot. When it comes to repotting, you will know that your succulent needs it when the growing medium dries out too fast after you water the plant.
Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ is a succulent, so you might be tempted to think that it will not require pruning to keep its health at good levels. However, the Hindu rope plant will appreciate a nice trimming once in a while. Make sure you cut back any dead growth you can find and also those stems that look somewhat leggy. During this process, you must avoid getting rid of the peduncles of your plant because this will inhibit its blooming.
Watering Hindu Rope Plant
The Hindu rope plant bewitches us with its succulent leaves that are gorgeous and can also store generous amounts of water. This means that your plant will not demand your constant attention watering-wise. It can even withstand long periods of drought without putting its health and life in danger.
Great news for beginners or forgetful gardeners, right? Now let’s see how much water this succulent truly wants to remain in shape!
During the active growth season of your Hindu rope plant, usually in spring and summer, you should water your plant regularly for optimal results. You can water this succulent whenever the top few inches (cm) of the soil have dried out completely. The best watering method for the Hindu rope plant is to soak its soil, let the water run out through the drainage holes of its pot, remove any excess water, and then put the plant back on its tray.
When the Hindu rope plant goes dormant, you must refrain from spoiling it with drinks, as it will not have the same watering needs in winter. You can water your succulent once a month or so, but humidity is more important during its dormant period. It is better to mist this succulent occasionally than using the “soak and dry” technique.
Propagating Hindu Rope Plant
This is the most exciting part of the life of a gardener, especially if you like to experience new things and also occupy your mind with a peaceful activity in your free time. Propagating your Hindu rope plant will bring you lots of rewards, the most important one being, of course, more adorable succulents for your collection. And the best part is that you can do it in the blink of an eye and with no prior gardening experience!
The most common method of propagating a Hindu rope plant is through stem cuttings. For this process, choose those stems that look the healthiest and cut about 4 inches (10 cm) off them with a clean knife. Each stem cutting should contain at least two nodes, as those are the spots where roots will show up. Remove the lower leaves from the stems, then let the cuttings dry until the next day.
Once the night passes and you are ready for garden work, prepare the propagation medium for your future Hindu rope plants. You can root the cuttings in water or directly in soil or, why not, both.
For the first method mentioned above, you must place each stem cutting in its glass container filled with fresh water. Change the water once every few days and wait for the magic to occur. You can then transplant each cutting in a pot filled with well-draining potting mix when the roots have around 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length.
If you want to root the cuttings directly in the soil, you can skip all the water-rooting steps mentioned above and plant the cuttings in pots from the start. Each cutting should have its own pot and the soil should be the one you already use for the mother Hindu rope plant. After you plant the cuttings, move the pots to an indirect-lit spot and keep their growing medium constantly damp.
In Conclusion
A companion with lots of valuable ornamental uses and a low-maintenance style, Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ a.k.a. the Hindu rope plant is a perfect ornamental succulent to grow if you don’t have a lot of experience in the gardening world. If you love succulents and this one has piqued your interest, you don’t have to think twice before adding this plant to your collection. Growing Hoya plants is a rewarding experience as these plants do not require a lot of effort on your part.
Hoya carnosa will surprise you with its attractive foliage and pretty blooms that will fill your garden or balcony with butterflies! With proper care, this plant will live for at least 10 years by your side. And another great thing about the Hindu rope plant is the fact that it is non-toxic so it is perfectly safe to grow around your furry companions.
Are you growing Hoya plants? Share your experience in the comments section!
Hoya Carnosa FAQS
How do you care for a Hoya Carnosa?
Here are the basic care guidelines for Hoya Carnosa:
- Light: Provide bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
- Watering: Water thoroughly, allowing the top couple of inches of soil to dry out between waterings. They prefer to be on the drier side than to be overwatered.
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix. A cactus or succulent mix can work well.
- Temperature: They thrive in average room temperatures between 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C).
- Humidity: Hoyas prefer higher humidity but will tolerate average home humidity.
- Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. Reduce feeding in winter.
- Pruning: Minimal pruning is required. However, avoid cutting off the long tendrils as they are where flowers develop.
Is Hoya Carnosa easy to care for?
Yes, Hoya Carnosa is considered easy to care for, especially for those familiar with succulent-like plants. As long as it’s not overwatered and gets the right amount of light, it’s a relatively low-maintenance plant.
Do hoyas like to climb or hang?
Hoyas are natural climbers and will use their tendrils to attach to supports or nearby structures. In homes, they’re often grown as hanging plants due to their vining nature and attractive cascading appearance. They can also be trained to grow on a trellis or support if you prefer them to climb.
How often do Hoya Carnosa bloom?
Under ideal conditions, Hoya Carnosa can bloom annually, usually during the warmer months. However, several factors can influence their blooming:
- Maturity: Younger plants might not bloom. They often need to reach a certain level of maturity before producing flowers.
- Light: Adequate bright, indirect light is crucial for blooming.
- Pruning: Avoid cutting off the long, thin tendrils/spurs, as these are where flower clusters develop. Once a spur has flowered, it can produce flowers again in subsequent years.
- Stress: Sometimes, a bit of environmental stress (like slightly cooler temperatures) can induce blooming.
- Fertilization: A balanced fertilizer can support overall health and promote flowering.