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Overview
Hoya australis is a moderately vigorous climber and hails from tropical and sub-tropical areas of Australia but is easy to grow anywhere in Australia in a hanging basket that you can bring inside if winter gets too chilly.
Leaves are succulent, glossy and almost round in shape.
Flowers occur in spring-summer in clusters of up to forty on each pedicle. They are very fragrant, waxy white with red markings in the center.
This species is popular in cultivation and adapts to containers or hanging baskets.
They are a bit straggly in appearance but you really grow them for their fragrance - not their foliage look.
Soil: Well drained mix is vital - with plenty of perlite, pumice or orchid bark as they need plenty of oxygen around their roots. - They can actually grow epiphytically too.
These plants like to be a bit root-bound so don't pot them up to too large a container.
Ensure they get bright, dappled light but not too much direct sun and especially not the scorching afternoon sun.
Maintenance: Needs protection from frost and blazing sun.
Do not over water - they have succulent leaves that can hold up to 10 days worth of moisture. They will also suffer from root rot if over watered.
Best method of watering is to dunk the pot in a bucket of water, leave for 5 mins they let thoroughly drain. This is also the best way to fertilise them as they get a chance (in their free draining soil) to drink up the fertiliser.
Reduce watering in winter.
N.B. the leaves will tell you they are thirsty by going crinkly - they will smooth out directly after having a drink.
They like humidity - so if you have air conditioning indoors then give it a mist spray every few days or so.
Fertilise monthly in spring as new growth starts with a balanced formulation fertiliser - N15-P15-K15 or a blooming fertilizer like a N7-P9-K5
Diseases: Mealy bugs can be a problem - so keep dead leaves cleared away as they hide under them. Best way to kill mealy bugs is a cotton bud soaked in meths - touch the bugs with this and they will soon die.
Whiteflies can also be a problem - spray with PestOil
Toxicity: Some Hoyas are mildly toxic but generally at a low level.
It is mainly due to the milky, latex sap that can cause skin irritation in some cases, though some species have seeds that contain raphides which can cause mild stomach upset.
Other Species: The Asclepiadaceae plant family (now known as Asclepiadoideae) is now considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae.
Comments: Sap is milky and poisonous.
Author: Bob Saunders.