Hoya Krimson Queen Careguide

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Hoya

Botanical Name: Hoya Carnosa “Krimson Queen”

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

If you love pothos and succulents, the Hoya Krimson Queen will steal your heart. Their waxy succulent-like leaves help them store water, and their ropy, trailing vines will appeal to those of you who love pothos. If you look closely at their variegated leaves, you’ll notice a slight pink tint that’s brought out by the sun. If you can’t stop thinking about the Hoya Krimson Queen, keep reading to prepare yourself to bring one home!

Light

Hoya Krimson Queen’s love to soak up sunshine! While they don’t like direct sunlight, they do very well a few feet from a window that receives it. They are very variegated, and the more variegated leaves do not absorb light, so bright indirect light will be your Krimson Queen’s best friend! If you let your Krimson Queen hang out outside, be sure they’re receiving filtered sunlight.

Water

You never want to over water your Krimson Queen because it is much more difficult to recover from. It’s always best to stay on the dry side and water more frequently to keep the soil moist than to constantly water your Krimson Queen. A good rule of thumb is the let the top two inches of soil dry.

Climate

Krimson Queen’s love your average household conditions, think 60°-80°F. They don’t particularly need added humidity, but they do love an added boost every now and then. They are not frost or cold tolerant, so keep them out of those areas that get drafty!

Soil

You should choose a nice chunky or lightweight soil that will provide your Krimson Queen with excellent drainage because the roots do not like to sit in wet soil. If your potting mix isn’t chunky or airy enough, add orchid bark and chunky perlite to boost drainage!

Pests & Diseases

Unfortunately you do need to be on the look out for mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and aphids with your Krimson Queen because they tend to invite pests. Keeping the soil on the moist side invites mealybugs, and plants that are not happy in their environment will be very tempting for other kinds of pests.

Tips

• Re-pot your Krimson Queen every spring or every other spring. Wait until your plant isn’t flowering!

• When trying to establish cuttings in moss, place a sandwich bag over it to create a mini-environment for them!

• If you can’t give your Krimson Queen the indirect light it wants, just use a sheer curtain to filter direct sunlight!

Signs your plant is unhappy

• Root and stem rot: overwatered

• Noticeable increase in bacteria and pests: your plant is stressed!

• Soft, limp wilted leaves: overwatered

• Soft, dry wilted leaves: underwatered

• Yellow leaves: stress from surrounding environment.

Propagation

You have a few different options to root Krimson Queen cuttings. You can choose sphagnum moss, water, or a well-draining potting mix as your medium. Start by cuttings below the node because this is where your roots will grow from! Each cutting should have a few leaves, and be an inch or two long. Place them into your medium of choice.

Sphagnum moss: Pre-soak the moss and squeeze out any excess water before placing it into a small cup, nursery pot, or pot. Add your cutting. Place it in a warm, humid area. Keep the soil moist until you can gently tug the stem and can feel the roots are established.

Water: Just place the cutting in a small glass of water. To keep the leaves from falling into the water, place tooth picks across the top before placing your cutting between them and into the water. Keep it in a warm, bright area and wait for roots to grow before transporting the cutting to a well-draining potting mix.

Potting mix: Pre-wet your potting mix before placing your cutting in the center. Keep in a warm, humid area that gets plenty of light. Gently tug on the stem to make sure your cutting has rooted before moving it somewhere else.

Fun Facts

• They’re native to Thailand, India China, and other East Asian Countries.

• They are perennials and are ephiphytic.

• A mature Krimson Queen can produce clusters of Star-shaped flowers!

• They are nontoxic to pets!

Hardiness Zones

Hoya Krimson Queen are pretty hardy, but you shouldn’t just put them outside without making sure they can survive in your area’s climate. You should always check hardiness zones before letting your plant become and indoor/outdoor plant, and be prepared to overwinter them once temperatures begin to drop.

The Hardiness Zones for Hoya Krimson Queen are 10-12. If you live in Tennessee, here is a hardness map to check your areas hardiness zones!