The Hoya Krimson Queen is yet another waxy variety of the vast Hoya family. It is also known as Hoya Tricolor or Hoya Variegata. With its variegated pink or creamy white leaves, this tropical succulent is sometimes referred to as the ‘strawberries and cream plant’.
Hoya Krimson Queen is similar to Hoya Carnosa. Hoya Krimson Queen is native to Southeast Asian countries, namely; India, Indonesia, Polynesia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Hoyas are relatively new plants. The krimson queen pertains to the milkweed family of Hoyas because of the white exudate that oozes out of its fleshy, succulent leaves.
Hoyas have become fairly popular house plants because of their ability to give a soft and subtle touch to any living space. This epiphytic climber offers luscious evergreen foliage with a touch of pink. Its flowers cluster together to form a star-shaped appearance.
If you’re looking to add a low-maintenance but gorgeous plant to your collection, the Hoya Krimson Queen should be your go-to!
Table of Contents
Meet The Hoya Krimson Queen: Basic knowledge and Origins
Hoya Krimson Queen can form ropey vines that look stunning in hanging baskets. The formation of leaves is preceded by the growth of long, glossy peduncles.
New leaves are pink in color, as are those that are exposed to more sunlight. The pink of the leaves is bordered by a creamy, luscious white or green color.
You would have to manifest quite a lot of patience to witness the flowers of the Hoya Krimson Queen’s. They require 2-3 years to bloom.
| Family Type | Apocynaceae |
| Common Name | Wax flower, Porcelain flower, Variegated Wax plant, Wax vine, Variegated Hoya Carnosa, African Violet Plant |
| Botanical Name | Hoya Krimson Queen |
| Plant Type | Succulent vine |
| Size | Up to 20 feet |
| Native Area | Southeast Asia |
| Sun Exposure | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Soil Consistency | Loose, well-draining soil |
| Soil pH | Mildly acidic |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and animals |
| Flower color | pink |
| Common Pests | Mealybugs, Spidermites, Scale |
Varieties of Hoya Krimson Queen
There are over 300 varieties of the Hoya species. Below, we will be discussing a few that caught our attention!
Hoya Carnosa Compacta
This draping succulent is also known as the Hindu Rope plant or Krinkle Kurl. It is a rather curly version of Hoya Carnosa. It houses beautiful pale pink flowers found in round ball-like clusters.
Hoya Linearis
Hoya Linearis is native to Nepal and China. Unlike other family members of the Hoya family, this one has long stems that house hairy, grooved leaves instead of the regular fleshy succulents.
Hoya Obscura
You can find this plant in the Philippines. It has beautiful glossy leaves that develop reddish borders when exposed to sunlight. It is praised for its unique blooms.
Hoya Bella
Flowers of the Hoya Bella are absolutely adorable. They have creamy, white, star-shaped petals with a blush pink center. This one is an asclepiad (from the milkweed subfamily).
Hoya Shepherdii
Its elongated shape has earned it the title of ‘long bean’ or ‘Hoya Longfoli’. Like many Hoyas, it houses beautiful fluffier blooms with white petals and pink centers.
How to Care for the Hoya Krimson Queen
Most Hoyas are easy to grow, care for, and maintain. They are also easily propagated. However, you must incorporate frequent pruning sessions to keep them looking fresh and edgy.
Krimson Queens can also be grown indoors; simply follow the instructions below, and your Hoya will soon thrive!
Sunlight
Supply your Krimson Queen with bright but indirect sunlight. This can be done by placing the plant near an east-facing window. If your Hoya variety is variegated, it would demand more sunlight because the variegated sections are deemed unfit to carry out photosynthesis.
This plant survives well in moderate sunlight exposure.
Soil
You must choose a well-drained, chunky potting mix for your Hoya Krimson Queen. Preferably one containing perlite, vermiculite, and sphagnum peat moss, coarse sand, or clay balls – each in an equal ratio.
If you are a horticulturist and love exploring sustainable planting methods, you should make your own potting mix out of coconut husk, pumice, and orchid barks.
Remember, the goal is to create a well-aerated soil for this epiphyte.
Water
What you’ve heard about these babies is correct; they are indeed drought resistant! You can leave these plants unwatered for a considerable time, only to find them thriving!
But that doesn’t mean you should skip on watering entirely. Adopt a watering frequency of thrice per week to keep your Hoya Krimson Queen plump and healthy.
The best way to determine whether your Hoya needs water or not is by touching its soil. Dry soil needs watering, but mildly damp soil suggests delaying it. Avoid overwatering as it would lead to root rot.
Temperature & Humidity
This semi-succulent survives well in a temperature between 16-35 degrees celsius, which is almost standard room temperature. Its temperature requirements make it perfect for indoor growth!
Any abrupt temperature change may prove to be fatal for the Hoya Krimson Queen. You must not place it in an air-conditioned room; the Hoya can not tolerate frost.
Hoya prefers 70-80% humidity, which means you will have to supplement most of it via humidifiers or pebble trays.
Fertilizer
Use an NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilizer every two weeks during spring and summer. The levels of Potassium in the fertilizer should be kept low.
Potting
Make sure to use a pot with drainage holes. This will ensure adequate aeration and prevent water from logging (an undeniably common cause of root rot).
There’s a lot of ongoing debate about using Terracota pots for Hoyas. I would say go for these babies because they soak up water to maintain moisture levels for the Hoya while ensuring ample packing of oxygen in the roots.
The Hoya Krimson Queen will have to be re-potted once, if not twice, every season!
Propagating Hoya Krimson Queen Using Stem Cuttings
Spring is the best time to propagate your Hoya Tricolor. Propagation carried out in Autumn or winter takes considerably more time.
Choose a not-so-woody, bloomless portion of the Hoya Krimson Queen that carries 2-3 leaves.
Using only sterilized pruning shears, make a diagonal cut. This cutting style allows the Hoya to harness more humidity.
Apply rooting hormone to the cut area to speed up the process.
Water or soil reinforced with sphagnum peat moss are two rooting mediums that can be used to grow the Hoya.
The cutting should be in touch with either root medium.
Increase humidity levels around the Hoya using a humidity dome or a lid. It is important to provide a warm environment for root propagation.
Keep this container somewhere near indirect sunlight.
Soon, you will witness root growth and then you can transfer your propagated stem to a pot with fresh soil or potting mix.
Challenges & Solutions
Yellowing Leaves
Cold climates and sudden changes in temperature can cause the yellowing of leaves.
Fungal Root Rot
Ill-drained soil can cause water clogging. The Hoya australis is an epiphytic plant that demands well-aerated soil.
Fungal root rot is a result of poorly drained soil. You must discard the affected areas of the Hoya to prevent cross-spread.
Ask Away: The FAQ Section
The main difference arises in the leaf color. Hoya Krimson Queen has green leaves with white margins. For the Hoya Princess, the pattern reverses; it displays creamy white leaves with green margins.
The Hoya Tricolor can reach a size up to 2-3 meters when grown indoors, whereas, in the wild, it sizes as tall as 6 meters. Each leave is 4-5 cm long and has a sticky, cordate, and waxy appearance. When grown under optimal conditions, these climbers grow vigorously.
