Hoya Rope Plant Care

All about hoya rope plant care!

The hoya carnosa compacta plant is an absolutely stunning vining plant closely related to the hoya carnosa (see my hoya carnosa care guide). It’s also known as the rope hoya, the hoya rope plant, and the Hindu rope plant.

The stems grow long, about 1-1.5 feet, twisting and turning to give them a rope-like appearance. That makes these plants gorgeous for hanging baskets as they are mature. Truly one of my favorites—I have a few!

Light

Hoya rope plants, much like more traditional hoya carnosa plants with flat leaves, like bright indirect light. When I first got my small plant, I put it in my bedroom under my two grow lights. Now I have my large hoya rope hanging in my sunroom in a very sunny west-facing window.

If you put a hoya rope plant in too much direct sun, the leaves will burn. This is typically not a huge issue with indoor plants because the light is often filtered through windows. However, if the leaves are up against a window that gets very hot, that could be problematic as well.

Lower light won’t necessarily kill the plant, but it will not grow as prolifically. And the growth it does put o

Water

The succulent-like leaves are thick and waxy, storing water for the long haul. I wait until the soil is almost dry before watering the plant. That typically means that I water once every 10 days or so depending on the time of year. In the winter, I water my succulent-like plants about once a month.

If your plant has yellowing leaves and the soil has been consistently wet, you’re likely overwatering. If the leaves are wrinkly and don’t feel as thick and firm, you’re likely underwatering.

Bottom watering

I have gone through phases where I bottom water this plant. Mostly because I was worried about some of the leaves wrinkling from top-watering. Since they have so many nooks and crannies in the leaves, it was hard to water the plant without the leaves catching a lot of it.

To bottom water, I just filled my sink with a bit of water and set the plant in it for about 15 minutes. The plant will soak up water through the drainage hole in the pot. Bottom-watering also helps to prevent fungus gnats. Fungus gnats love it when the top few inches of soil are wet—it makes the ideal conditions for laying their eggs.

Soil & potting

Plant them in a well-draining soil. I use a potting mix designed for indoor plants, but I add in a bit of coco coir or fine moss and perlite to help with drainage and aeration. 

Hoya rope plants don’t need to be repotted too often because they are slow growers that are happy being snug in their pots. So don’t put this plant in too large of a pot. It will likely drown in the soil when it retains too much water.

Drainage is a very important facet of hoya rope plant care, so make sure the pot you use has a drainage hole in it. If your pot doesn’t have a drainage hole, you can pot your plant in a black plastic nursery pot (like the kind they come in when you buy them) and set it in a nicer pot.

Temperature

The hoya rope plant does just fine in a range or normal household temperatures. It specifically enjoys temperatures that are in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit. But it can withstand higher temperatures—just monitor it to make sure it doesn’t need more water.

It goes dormant in the winter when it gets a bit cooler. That means that growth on this already-slow grower will decrease even more. When temperatures are cooler, the plant needs less water, too.

Humidity

These plants are also fine in a variety of different humidity levels. Mine does just dandy indoors with no additional humidity. However, if you can give your plant a bit of extra humidity, it will thank you!

Hoyas love humidity. You can do this by grouping it with other plants for slightly higher ambient humidity levels and adding a room humidifier. If you live somewhere humid, you can also consider moving your plant outdoors to a covered location for the spring and summer.

Fertilizer

I fertilize my hoya rope plant using Liqui-Dirt plant food that I add to my watering can. This is less a fertilizer and more of a plant nutrient supplement, I know—but I don’t want to split hairs.

I usually add this to my watering can roughly once a month in the spring and summer. I don’t use it in the fall and winter. You can also use a diluted fertilizer for indoors plants if you’d like to—this can especially help with flowering.

Propagating

You can propagate your hoya rope plant using cuttings from a single stem. Simply cut a piece of the plant that is a few inches long. Then root the cutting in water or damp well-draining soil.

Flowering

I have three hoya rope plants, and all of them have flowered. They bloom lovely little star-shaped white and pink flowers. These plants grow slowly, so flowering might take a while.

The flowers emerge in dense clusters and smell distinctly like chocolate. I have had my large hoya rope bloom many times, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason. It blooms all throughout the year.

The best way to encourage flowering is to provide enough light, don’t overwater, and be patient. You’ll likely have to take good care of your plant for a few years before it flowers. You can also consider fertilizing your plant in the spring and summer.

Keep in mind that when the plant flowers, you should NEVER remove the peduncle (the little nub the flower emerges from) from the plant. Just pick off the little “petals” as they die off. The plant will re-bloom from the same spot in the future if you leave the peduncle on. For more on hoya flowering, see my guide for How to Get a Hoya to Bloom!

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