Did you get a Hoya Macrophylla and are wondering how to care for it? Hoya Macrophylla care is easy, and this rare hoya is well worth the investment! Learn about how to help it thrive and how to propagate it.
Learn all about Hoya Macrophylla care & propagation!
The Hoya Macrophylla isn’t the easiest to find Hoya, but it should be high on your list of harder-to-find hoyas to add to your collection. It’s the perfect foray into less-common hoya plants, and don’t worry—Hoya Macrophylla care is easy!
This succulent-like vine is sturdy, long-living, low-maintenance, and can even bloom the famous hoya star-shaped flowers. It is the perfect vine for plant lovers of any expertise level because of how forgiving it is and how quickly it brightens up a room.
Where did I get my Hoya Macrophylla?
I have had Hoya Macrophylla on my wish list for a while, so I jumped at the chance to get this slightly distressed beauty when I saw it on clearance at a local nursery. You can see the yellowing leaves in the pic below.
And this is even after I had picked a bunch of rotting leaves off to see if it was worth trying to save. (Honestly, I should have kept them on because it looked really sad and I probably could have docked another few bucks from it haha.)
So this one below was listed at $49.99. I ended up getting it for $29.99, which was a steal of a deal considering I KNEW I could salvage most of this. I just had to see the root system. And it was great! I ended up salvaging a beautiful mother plant and two small babies to pass on.
Where is Hoya Macrophylla from?
The Hoya Macrophylla originates from Australasia, a region that encompasses Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and a few other islands. (The term Australasia was used to describe any land that existed south of Asia).
Unfortunately due to deforestation, Hoya varieties have significantly decreased in this area. The Hoya Macrophylla is an epiphyte, which means it climbs on top of other plants, absorbing nutrients from the air and plants it grows on.
Mature plants will flower, especially in nature. Their star-shaped flowers are designed to attract nocturnal animals to pollinate. Heads up…the flowers smell a little like B.O., but they sure look pretty!
Hoya Macrophylla “variegata Albomarginata” is the variety I have. Is it somewhat rare, yes—and it has large green, veiny leaves with creamy white borders. The leaves get quite large, too—much larger than some other hoya common varieties.
How much light does a Hoya Macrophylla need?
You will want to give your Hoya Macrophylla bright, indirect light. Ideally a few feet away from an east- or north-facing window, that way it’ll receive the right amount of bright sunlight it needs for the day. Long periods of direct sunlight will burn the leaves and could even kill the plant!
If your windows get too much light, try putting up a thin curtain to make the sunlight less harsh. On the other hand, your Hoya’s stems will become leggy and leaves might drop if it’s not getting enough light. If that’s the case, consider changing its location or adding a grow light.
Hoya Macrophylla water needs
As a plant lover, you always want to try and mimic the natural environment of your plants. The region the Macrophylla is from sees heavy rains every once in a while. So what does that mean for the Hoya Macrophylla plant’s watering requirements?
Let the soil dry out completely before watering deeply. Thoroughly soak the soil with water then allow it all to drain out through the bottom, then leave it alone for a few weeks. Do not overwater. Its shallow roots rot easily, and the plant will die.
The yellowing and browning mushy leaves on my rehab Macro I got from a local nursery were almost certainly a result of overwatering. In fact, the soil was pretty wet when I got it. I deconstructed the plant and let it dry a bit before planting again.
What is the best soil?
As an epiphyte, the Hoya Macrophylla’s roots like to have plenty of room to breathe. Macrophylla prefers loose, light, well-draining soil. Proper drainage and aeration is the priority for picking a soil mix. You can always start with a regular potting mix then add perlite to improve aeration.
Tip: Adding crushed eggshells will increase the alkalinity and calcium in the soil, a big plus for the Hoya Macrophylla! I like to grab a high-quality indoor potting soil and add coco coir and extra perlite to help with aeration and drainage.
Temperature & humidity needs
These tropical vines love the heat. They grow best on the higher end of 65–80°F. If you live in a hot, humid climate, this Hoya will grow wonderfully outdoors. That being said, they are not tolerant of frost or cold.
Regardless of whether you are growing your plant indoors or outdoors, you will want to keep it above 60°F at all times. Once again, mimicking the Hoya Macrophylla’s natural environment means simulating a lot of humidity. At the very least, try to keep the humidity level above 40-50%.
If you live in a particularly dry climate, mist the area around the plant in the mornings, but don’t spray the leaves directly because it could cause fungus growth. An easier method is to place your plant on a pebble tray with water, or near other plants that naturally increase the humidity.
Hoya Macrophylla propagation
After having your macro for a while, soon enough you’re going to want more, either for yourself or to give away. Luckily, Hoyas are very simple to propagate using the stem cutting method. Choose a healthy stem with at least two nodes and one or two leaves.
A node is the area where a leaf meets the stem. This is where new roots will grow from. You can dip the end in rooting hormone, but it will root just fine without it. Place the stem cutting node-end down in fresh, loose soil.
Cover your little pot with a plastic bag to keep humidity levels high, and keep it in a warm place. A DIY clear plastic propagation box is also a good option. In about three weeks time you’ll notice roots, at which point you will have a new Hoya Macrophylla.
I also love propagating Hoyas in moss and perlite—that link will take you to my full guide for this propagation method. I like being able to monitor root development in the moss, which you can’t do if the cutting is just in soil. Your call, though!
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Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
I bought a macrophylla almost a year ago. It hasn’t grown at all. It came in leca and I’m not use to this medium. Do you think I should repot it?
Thank you,
RG
LECA requires adding concentrated liquid nutrients to the water, so if you’ve just been replenishing the water, I’d either look into what nutrients you should add (I don’t grow in water or LECA long-term), or switch to a chunky well-draining soil. Good luck!