White leaves star pink heart Hoya bella

Credit: Christiane M

Umbel white flowers star

Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek

Pale pink star bud flower

Credit: Steve Cyr

White velvety flower with pink star heart Hoya bella

Credit: Steve Cyr

Hoya bella, a porcelain plant in miniature

Hoya bella is an epiphytic shrub in the Apocynaceae family. Smaller than porcelain flower, this plant, native to India, Thailand and Burma, adapts very well to our interiors. Its small size does not prevent the miniature porcelain plant from offering an elegant and delicate bloom.

How to recognize Hoya bella, the miniature porcelain plant?

Hoya bella is an evergreen perennial with a drooping habit. In its natural habitat, the miniature porcelain plant measures up to one meter. In our latitudes, its slender, supple vines rarely exceed 70 centimetres.

Four-centimeter-long, two-centimeter-wide lanceolate leaves grow from branched stems. Opposite each other, they lie flat on either side of the stem. Green and leathery, they lack the fleshy, heart-shaped leaves of hoya kerrii.

Flowering occurs in the flower axils in late spring. The flat, pendulous umbel inflorescence holds between seven and nine flowers. These white or pearly-pink velvet stars are topped by a purple crown. It houses the pistil and five stamens needed to produce the fragrant nectar. In nature, its function is to attract pollinators. Indoors, it enhances the plant's beauty with a delicate fragrance.

Like other porcelain plants, Hoya bella is harmless to both animals and humans. As well as being non-toxic, it is hardy and easy to grow.

Our maintenance tips

Your Hoya bella is an easy-going plant. It won't mind if you forget to water it. But it does require patience. It may be several years before it develops new leaves or flowers.

Watering

Let the soil dry on the surface between two applications of water. Water your Miniature wax flower with non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. To avoid water stress, make sure the water is at room temperature.

If you use a saucer or planter, remove any water that stagnates at the bottom. It could rot the roots.

Spray

Your Hoya bella appreciates humidity. In addition to watering, mist its foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature. Be careful to spray only the leaves and avoid the flowers!

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Hoya bella to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Miniature wax flowers plants need repotting only when their roots begin to emerge from the pot.

In this case, choose an earthenware pot with a hole barely larger than the previous one (about 5 centimetres) : it will promote drainage.

Lay down a layer of clay balls or gravel before pouring in a substrate suitable for succulents. You can also mix a third of sand with your potting soil. Tamp regularly to eliminate air pockets and replant your Miniature wax flower.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Adding orchid fertilizer to watering water stimulates growth and flowering.

Prune

Faded flowers fall off by themselves, so it's best not to pull them out. You risk damaging the peduncles and preventing the next bloom. The same goes for umbels: leave them alone. They can accommodate new flowers.

Pinch

Pinch your Hoya bella during its growing season.

To keep your Hoya bella compact, pinch a bud. You'll create new branches.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using pruning shears or clean scissors, cut stems about ten centimeters long. Remove the leaves at the base.

Place your cutting in a glass filled with water at room temperature. Make sure you submerge the knots, which will form the roots.

Place in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to keep it clear until the roots appear.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Apocynaceae - Apocynaceae
Type	Hoya - Hoya
Species	Miniature wax flower - Hoya bella
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs Planter
Categories	Shrub Flowery Succulent Hanging plants
Tags	Beginner Flowery
Origins	South Asia Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	11a
Leaf color
Flower colors