Hoya Rebecca

Hoya Rebecca Plant, Grow & Care Guide 2023

If there’s one plant that many gardeners love to include in their collection, it would definitely be the Hoya Rebecca. Also called the Wax Plant, Rebecca trails its green leaves long while it grows a cluster of small white flowers. 

If you’re looking for a plant that will add a pop of color to your garden and keep you on your toes, the Hoya Rebecca might just be the perfect addition.

One other reason why people love the Rebecca is because it has red underleaves that keep hidden. It’s always a surprise to see these red hues, especially as they glisten in the summer sun. Do you want to grow a Rebecca in your home? Read more for tips on how to take care of it.

What is the Hoya Rebecca plant? 

The Rebecca plant is often confused with the Hoya Sunrise. The simplest way to differentiate the two, however, is through the color of its leaves. While both have green foliage, the Sunrise has a deeper shade than that of the Rebecca. 

The Wax Plant Rebecca is a beautiful plant that can be grown small. Yet despite its size, it can trail up a trellis and create a dramatic effect to any home. 

Apart from the evergreen leaves, the plant has small cluster flowers that produce a strong yet sweet fragrance when they are in bloom. It is an epiphytic plant, which means it can grow upon another plant or an object for physical support. You can also plant this in a hanging bottle since it is recognized as an air plant.

If you’ve ever wanted to grow flowers in your backyard, the Rebecca plant is one option that you should get. 

Origin and Classification 

This climbing plant originates from the Philippines. Its ‘Hoya’ name comes from the Indian language, meaning ‘disease’ and ‘cure’. Hoya plants are known for their medicinal properties.

The plant is also a cross between the Hoya Lacunosa “Langkawi Island” and the Hoya Obscura, of which its leaves are inherited from.  

Features

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The Rebecca plant is an epiphytic plant native to Southeast Asia. In the wild, the plant climbs just about everywhere it can. But homeowners can also prune the plant and grow it in a hanging basket where its dark green leaves can trail to the ground. 

1.) Height

Despite only being able to spread 50cm, the Rebecca’s leaves can grow between 6 and 8 feet in height. Its flowers, meanwhile, are small and grow in clusters. 

If you have a trellis at home, you can plant the Rebecca on this part of your home and it will climb to cover the area in no time. 

2.) Flowers & Leaves 

Apart from its trailing leaves, the Rebecca is most admired for its small, round flowers. Despite their size, they grow in clusters of 10 to 25 small flowers. 

They have hues of light pink and a yellow center. The flowers produce a fragrance that gets mild during daytime and get stronger at night. These usually bloom in the warm season. They also tend to bloom for 2 to 3 weeks.

The plant’s flowers start to bloom when they become mature. They will also need lots of bright, indirect light. Once your plant is flowering, avoid moving it since it can cause a disruption in the blooming process. 

3.) Foliage and Stem 

The Rebecca plant has waxy, dark green leaves. Apart from the flowers, this plant is also noted for its visible veining. One other thing that makes the Rebecca a special plant is because of its red undersides. 

4.) Evergreen

The green leaves of the Rebecca stay the same hue throughout the year, making it an evergreen plant. Despite this, it has a reddish hue when it is grown in an area with lots of light. 

Its flowers bloom during the warm season and stay up to 3 weeks. 

Basic Care of Hoya Rebecca 

One of the things people love about the Wax Plant is that it is so easy to take care of. You won’t need to pay special attention to it since it grows on its own. As long as you provide its necessary needs, you won’t encounter any problem with your plant. 

1.) Size & Growth 

The Rebecca plant is a small plant that can spread up to 50cm. Despite its size, its leaves trails and climbs 6 to 8 feet tall. 

You won’t notice the pink and yellow flowers that much, unless you really look closely at the plant. These flowers are small and grow in clusters.  

2.) Light Requirements 

If you plan to grow this plant indoors, you need to place it in a well-lit room. It won’t do well in areas with low light, but it should also be away from direct sun. In a well-lit room, your plant will grow faster and will produce more leaves. The flowers will be more likely to bloom and you will yield a deeper green color on the leaves. 

3.) Water Requirements 

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The Rebecca plant does not need to be watered too often. Like all other plants, you should avoid overwatering this plant as it can lead to root rot. 

As a general rule during the warm season, you can water your Rebecca once every 5 to 8 days. During winter, you can cut back on your watering schedule since your soil will take longer to dry. You might water only once every 13 to 22 days, depending on how cold it is and how much sun is available.

4.) Soil Requirements 

If you want your Hoya Rebecca to grow well, you need to use the right kind of soil for it. This means that you should go for soil that is lightweight, fast-draining, and well-aerated. The soil should also have a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0 so that the nutrients can be absorbed. 

You can use African violet soil or go for a fast-draining succulent soil mix. 

5.) Sunlight Requirements 

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One of the things you need to remember about the Rebecca is that you need to provide it with lots of bright light so that its flower will bloom. 

But you also have to make sure that it does not get exposed to very intense light and direct sun. You should not place it in an area where mid-day sun is available so you can make your hoya grow properly. 

6.) Temperature & Humidity 

Since the plant is common in Southeast Asia, it will thrive well in areas that follow this climate. It will do well in a tropical area with a temperature between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 

As for humidity, the plant prefers to be in an area with humidity levels between 60% and 80%. When you meet the right temperature and humidity, your plant will grow faster and have larger leaves. 

7.) Drought & Disease resistance 

The most common type of disease that affects the Rebecca is root rot. You can avoid this by avoiding leaving your plant in standing water and overwatering it.

Other diseases that can occur include moldy leaves. You can avoid this from happening by cutting back on moisture.  

8.) Toxicity 

The good news is that this plant is not known to be toxic to pets and humans. There is no poisonous component that could put you, your pets, or kids in danger. But even so, you should avoid ingesting or consuming any part of the plant. 

9.) Fertilizing 

You can fertilize your plant using organic compost or worm castings. There is also an option to use a liquid, balanced fertilizer by diluting it in water. 

A good practice is to feed your plant once a month or every two weeks. If the plant is growing slowly, you can increase your feedings to bi-weekly.

10.) Potting & Repotting 

The Rebecca plant can be repotted easily. But once it becomes pot bound, you should not repot it again. This usually takes around two years to happen so make sure you put it in a pot you favor from the start. 

When your plant gets root bound, it will likely start flowering. 

11.) Pruning Requirements 

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Remember not to cut out the old spurs since these are perennials. If you prune it off, its growth will stop from that stalk. You will need to wait for new spurs to grow before flowers start blooming again. 

As long as you put the plant in the right living environment, it will continue to produce flowers. 

How to Propagate Hoya Rebecca 

If you wish to propagate this plant, you can do so using its stem cuttings. It is the most effective method to use when you want to grow more plants. But you can also propagate in water. 

Water Propagation 

  1. Fill a glass container with water. Place the stem cutting in the container. 
  2. Let the roots develop from the leaf nodes. Allow enough roots to develop for around 4 to 6 weeks. 
  3. Move the cuttings into a pot with potting soil. 
  4. Keep the moss moist using sphagnum moss. Make sure that the nodes are buried below the medium.
  5. Once the roots start growing up to 2 inches, you can already transfer them in soil. 

Common Problems Caring For Hoya Rebecca 

Here are some of the common problems you may encounter when you’re caring for the Wax Plant. You can remedy them using these tips:

1.) Pests

Some of the pests that commonly invade the plant are mealybugs, thrips, and spider mites. They will usually eat the leaves and take as much sap as possible. If left unattended, these pests will grow and will be a threat to your plant. 

To avoid these pests thoroughly finishing off your plant, you can use horticultural or neem oil.

2.) Yellowing Leaves

This is usually an indication that you are overwatering your plant. Also, make sure that your pot has good drainage. 

The best way to stop your plants from turning yellow is to allow the top soil to dry between watering. You can also repot into a mix that dries more quickly. 

3.) Wrinkled or Thin Leaves

If the leaves are wrinkled, it is a sign that the plant needs more water. But if the leaves are wrinkled while the soil is moist, it could mean that its roots are rotting. You can stop this by gently removing from the container and checking its roots. 

Thinning leaves are a sign that your plant is stressed. Check if the pot has good drainage and that it is not sitting in compacted soil or water. 

4.) New Leaves Are Dropping

This is an indication of water stress. It could either be waiting too long before watering your plant. Try to adjust your watering schedule so you can avoid dropping new leaves. 

5.) Slowly Growing Or No Growth At All

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Hoyas are known to be temperamental. If you change the environment of the plant, it could stop growing for a few weeks or months. Allow the plant to adapt to the new change before trying anything.

See a similar post: Philodendron Grazielae Plant, Grow & Care Guide 2022

Outro 

Growing the Hoya Rebecca in your home will not only add beauty to it but a fragrant aroma as well. You can expect guests to compliment you when you grow this plant in your home, especially when the flowers are in bloom.

Buying Options 

The Hoya Rebecca plant can be purchased on Amazon and Etsy. The price for the plant varies so to get the cheapest price check both marketplaces.

Click on the links below to check the prices.
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Etsy

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you care for Hoya Rebecca?

It is easy to care for the Rebecca plant. As long as you provide it with the environment and watering schedule it needs, you’ll grow a strong plant that blooms regularly. 

Remember that your Hoya wants bright, indirect light. Make sure to put it in an area that doesn’t get too much midday sun. 

What is Hoya Rebecca?

The Hoya Rebecca is known as a cross between the Hoya Obscura and the Hoya Lacunosa “Langkawi Island”. The plant was said to be created in Thailand but is native in southeast asia. 

It is a vining plant that grows clusters of small flowers that produce a fragrant smell.

Is Hoya obscura the same as sunrise?

Although both have a similar shape and size, these two plants are different from each other. The Rebecca is a cross between the obscura and lacunosa langkawi island. Meanwhile, the sunrise is a cross between the obscura and the lacunosa pallidiflora.

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