Hoya Endauensis ‘Viola’ 4”

Hoya Endauensis

Native to Johor in Peninsular Malaysia, this is a small, unusual species found in wet tropical forest, including trees along rivers and streams. Its foliage is what immediately sets it apart. The leaves stay relatively small, usually around an inch long, with distinctly wavy, ruffled margins and pointed tips. Mature plants can produce tiny fuzzy flowers in warm yellow to orange tones with pink to rose centers.

This is a compact creeping and climbing vine rather than one of the large, heavy-vined Hoyas. In nature it grows as an epiphyte, using trees for support, and it can also grow on rock. Indoors, its fine stems can be allowed to trail or given a small trellis or piece of wood to climb. It stays relatively compact even as the vines extend, making it especially interesting for collectors who enjoy miniature species.

For natural light, start with an east-facing window within about 1–2 feet. A west-facing window approximately 2–4 feet away can also work well when the afternoon exposure is strong. Aim for approximately 500–1,000 foot-candles at the leaves. Foot-candles simply tell you how much light is actually reaching your plant. This species naturally grows in partial shade beneath a tropical forest canopy, so the goal is useful light without treating it like a sun-loving succulent.

Under grow lights, use a 5000–6500K full-spectrum light positioned approximately 10–14 inches above the canopy as a practical starting point, aiming for 500–1,000 foot-candles at the leaves. Kelvin describes the color of the light, while foot-candles tell you how much light is actually reaching the plant. Because the vines and leaves are small, keep the entire plant within the useful footprint of the fixture rather than lighting only one section.

This one differs from many of the thicker-leaved Hoyas when it comes to water. Its native habitat is wet tropical forest, and botanical cultivation information describes it as sensitive to drying too severely. Water when your plant needs watered. Allow the root zone to use some of its available moisture, but do not repeatedly push it through the substantial dryback that thicker, more succulent Hoyas can tolerate. An airy, fast-draining mix allows frequent access to moisture while still keeping oxygen around the roots. Warmth and higher humidity are also particularly useful for this species.

Watch the small leaves, newest growth and the amount of time the root zone remains wet. Repeatedly drying too far can interrupt new growth, while a root zone that stays saturated without enough air creates a different problem. Increasingly long spaces between leaves or weak, reaching vines are reasons to check how much light is actually reaching the plant.

A plant moving in the right direction will continue producing compact vines, closely spaced ruffled leaves and active new growth. As it matures, flowering becomes another sign that the environment is supporting it well. This is a Hoya where the unusual foliage is every bit as interesting as the flowers, and those tiny pointed, heavily rippled leaves become even more distinctive as the plant fills in.