Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang

Origin of Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang

Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang comes from Cao Bằng in northern Vietnam.

Hoya globulosa occurs naturally from the Himalaya through southern China to Indochina. The individual selection history of the Cao Bằng form is still uncertain.

Care and growing tips for Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang

Choose bright filtered light for the plant, sheltered from hot direct sun. Aim for 18–24°C and 40–60% relative humidity, allowing air to move gently around the leaves. A trellis supports the extending stems.

Use airy mix in a pot with drainage holes. During growth, water when the pot is lighter and the deeper mix is lightly moist, then soak and drain thoroughly. When growth slows, allow it to become fairly dry between waterings, without drying it completely.

Feed lightly with balanced orchid fertiliser about every two weeks while new growth develops, following the label. Pause when growth stops. Repot only one size larger once roots fill the pot, checking fresh mix for added fertiliser before feeding again.

A one- or two-node cutting can root in lightly moist sphagnum. Use a clean blade and wear gloves, as the sap can irritate skin. Remove lower leaves and place a node in loosely packed moss in a container with drainage holes. Keep the remaining leaves above the moss. Give warmth, indirect light and humid air; ventilate any cover and hold it off the foliage. Pot into airy mix once well rooted.

Problems and solutions for Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang

• Yellowing or worsening wilting while the mix stays wet: Persistent wetness can damage roots. Drain trapped water and inspect roots if decline continues. If you find a small amount of root rot, use a clean, disinfected tool to cut the soft roots back to firm, healthy tissue. Throw away the rotten roots and old mix. Repot in fresh, airy mix, using a clean pot just large enough for the roots that remain. The pot must have drainage holes. If decay is widespread, save only healthy stem cuttings. Discard the plant if no healthy stems remain, and disinfect your tools afterwards.
• Long leaves lose firmness with a dry root ball: The deeply sunken side veins are a normal feature. Check whether the mix around the roots is dry. If the root ball is dry, water thoroughly and drain. If the leaves still wilt after watering, inspect the roots. Avoid repeated watering while the roots are still wet.
• New pale speckling (stippling) or webbing: Examine both sides of damaged leaves with magnification; tapping a leaf over white paper can help locate mites. Confirm spider mites before treatment. Isolate the plant, gently rinse both leaf surfaces and let water drain. Recheck every few days and repeat rinsing while live mites remain.

Hoya globulosa (villosa) Cao Bang is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Hoya globulosa: where the name comes from

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Globulosa refers to the rounded flower cluster.

Robert Brown established the genus Hoya in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 459.

Richard Dean first described Hoya globulosa in 1880 in The Floral Magazine (London), new series, volume 9, issue 102, plate 406; Joseph Dalton Hooker had proposed the name.