Apocynaceae, waxplant, waxvine, waxflower, hoya plant care, growing tips.

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   Wax plant is propagated from cuttings which are harvested from stock vines. Normally single-node cuttings are made with a cut approximately 1/4 inch above each pair of leaves, leaving a longer stem section below the leaves to anchor cuttings which are usually direct stuck. Cuttings root in 3 to 4 weeks and a single shoot usually develops from one of the buds on each cutting approximately 4 to 6 weeks later. Roots form along the stem section below soil level with the greatest number of roots developing at or near the node (point where leaves are attached to the stem). Cuttings should be positioned so the node is at the soil surface to ensure maximum rooting. Avoid sticking cuttings too deep as shoot development will be inhibited or prevented if buds are positioned below the soil surface.
   Wax plants develop best under light intensities of 1500-2000 foot-candles and temperatures of 68 to 75°F. Summer rooting and growth of wax plant can be reduced if temperatures are excessively high due to poor ventilation or inadequate cooling. If greenhouses are run very cool in winter, plants will become dormant. An acceptable production temperature range is 68 to 90°F.
   After cutting material is harvested from stock plants, water management becomes one of the most critical factors in propagation. As long as greenhouse relative humidity is high (75 percent or more), the unrooted cuttings should not be misted frequently. Simply apply enough water overhead to keep the soil surface moist, not soggy. After roots develop to the bottom of the pots, the watering frequency should be reduced to permit the potting medium to become relatively dry before the next irrigation.
   Most wax plant growers prefer liquid fertilizer application over incorporated slow release products so the fertility level of the potting medium can be adjusted easily as the crop irrigation frequency is changed. Fertilizers with a 2:1:2 or 3:1:2 ratio with microelements added are a good choice. Apply fertilizer at the rate of 2.9 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet per month.
   Potting media should contain a high percentage of organic material, such as fibrous peat, to provide good water holding capacity and some coarser particles, such as pine bark, perlite and calcined clay to assure good drainage and aeration. Several of the commercially available preblended soilless mixes are suitable for growth of high quality wax plants.
   Production schedules vary considerably depending upon cultivar, temperature and degree of water management. The flat-leaf, all-green types grow more than twice as fast as plants with variegated, reflexed leaves and short internodes. It takes approximately 5 to 11 months to produce a finished 3-inch pot of wax plant with a 6 to 8-inch long vine from an unrooted, single- node cutting. One or two cuttings are stuck per 3-inch pot and 3 to 4 single-node cuttings stuck per 4-inch pot.