Scientific Name Hoya 'Sabah'

Common Name Wax Plant, Porcelain Flower, Wax Flower, Wax Vine

Origin Originates in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam

Description This rare Hoya stands out thanks to the dark green veining across its bright, waxy leaves. With some patience, this vining plant can be trained to grow up or left to dangle free to fit your interior aesthetic. In a bright spot, with care taken not to over-water, this Hoya will reward you with its beautiful, standout foliage and maybe even clusters of fragrant star-shaped, yellow-white blooms if it's really happy!

Light Thrives in bright, indirect light, and will benefit from a splash of morning or evening sun. Make sure it gets 1-2 hours of direct sunlight in autumn and winter, throughout its dormant period.

Water Allow the top third of the soil to dry out between waters, and reduce watering in winter and in dimmer spots. Make sure you don't leave any water sitting in the foliage (or flowers) as this can cause damage.

Humidity Used to a rainforest environment, this plant likes it humid; introduce a humidity tray if possible, and hose down the leaves regularly to keep them free of dust. If the leaves start to brown and curl, this is a sign that the air is too dry.

Soil Use an anthurium mix and repot every three years in spring as the plant grows. If it's flowering, keep it pot-bound a little longer to prevent it getting shocked by the move and losing flowers.

Food Feed every four waters throughout the year. To tailor your feeding even more, look for a Nitrogen-heavy fertiliser when the foliage needs to develop more, and to encourage flowers once it's mature look for one with higher Potassium (K) content, like tomato feed.

Temperature Ideal temperature is between 15-27°C; make sure it does not get colder than 15°C in winter or for longer periods.

Pet-safe Yes, but too much nibbling won't be good for pets, small humans or the plant!

Sprouts Top Tips While this plant likes it humid, it does not like soggy soil- make sure not to over-water it. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, especially those closer to the soil, to spot this early and reduce the frequency of your waters before the roots are damaged.