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Would my Hoya Carnosa (house plant) survive in my greenhouse?

gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
in Plants
I've had this Hoya for about 8 years and it's always been very happy - too happy, in fact! It continually wants to grow and grow and climb and trail and I have to keep cutting it back as I have no where indoors suitable for it to grow to the size it wants to! It would go perfectly in my greenhouse and have lots of climbing and trailing space to do as it pleased, but it's an unheated greenhouse - do you think it would survive? I'm in the south east and we've generally had mild winters for the last few years....


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  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2022
    I've not grown this house plant but for those I have grown they seem to be quite fussy about temperature and light levels.  Many don't like to be in direct sunlight which could be a problem in a greenhouse and temperature fluctuations would be more variable than in a centrally heated house over winter.  I found this which might help you:Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant) Best Care Tips (plantophiles.com) 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello @gilla.walmsley. I have a Hoya growing happily on a chest of drawers in my north facing bedroom. The drawers are in a niche at right angles to the bedroom window. I wouldn't risk putting it into an unheated greenhouse where I am, in the northwest, but you could take some cuttings from the long whippy shoots and try your 'parent plant' in your greenhouse - maybe using garden fleece over it if frosts are forecast.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited October 2022
    Hello gilla,I have one probably about the same age. I've never cut it back,it's got a sort of "trellis Frame" and we just wind it round that. In the Summer months,it lives outside under a eucalyptus. At the moment its in my north facing conservatory. Although as an unoverlooked bungalow,it does get warm. There are roof blinds,no direct sunlight. On very cold frosty nights it goes down to 8c, occasionally,but this is rare. Also in the SE. I have a large "spider plant" and a begonia in one green house, neither of which should survive in there,but they are huge
     The green house is bubble wrapped,a little tubular heater,and when frost is forecast, everything gets an extra layer. Why not risk it now while it's not too cold. If you are anywhere near me (east Sussex) it's been 17c overnight, outside.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I agree with @Ladybird - you might get away with it in the GH in your location.  I'd be tempted to make a 3 sided "cage" ( using the thin white polystyrene sheet ) which would give it some protection and reflect light ) but make sure you have fleece handy to drape over it once we start getting cold nights.
    Definitely take some cuttings tho just in case - good luck :)
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Could you put a cup hook above one of your windows and then hang it, to save space? 

    When you cut it back, you can use the cuttings to make replacement plants, and replace the original with a smaller plant if you like.

    Not sure if it will take an unheated greenhouse, but it's a shame to have it where it will not be seen. As Ladybird suggests you could do this with the parent plant when you've successfully taken a few cuttings.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We have had ours now for over 20 years and never cut it back. It has some bent canes so that the leads can be wrapped around and then tucked in. If you keep cutting it back wont it stop flower growth? We have it in a unheated conservatory.
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Thanks ever so much for all your replies! I hadn't actually thought about the glare in summer, I was thinking about the cold... but now that you've said it, my garden is south facing with very little shade and the greenhouse gets absolutely roasting in the summer... so now I'm thinking perhaps it's not the best idea after all? It's got this far with very little assistance from me (and I don't have a great track record with house plants!) so it would be a shame for me to lose it now.

    Does anyone have any suggestions of how I could display it in the house? If you look to the right of the plant in my picture you can see these huge long tendrils that grow (leafless, not sure why) and they seem to want to grow up rather than down. I can't put it on a window sill because I have blinds that damage the tendrils when lowered... it really needs some kind of frame to grow on/up/down. @Nanny Beach and @bertrand-mabel would love to see how yours are growing on their supports, it might give me some inspiration! The only other thing I can think is what I think you're suggesting @Loxley and hang it from the ceiling from a hook? It would need to be pretty heavy duty though!
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    We placed ours in the corner of our north facing kitchen window. I've installed vine eyes evenly spaced into the whole frame and over the years we've wrapped all the tendrils across the entire window. Its covered the whole frame and looks quite cool in my opinion, but it might not be to everyone's taste!

    Re the greenhouse. Sometimes i'm amazed at what survives the unheated winters in there. I'm quite sentimental and often 'throw out' plants into the greenhouse for one last chance. We've successfully overwintered all sorts over the years. There's no harm in giving it a try but the direct sun would be my worry. i'd definitely keep some cuttings as an insurance policy just in case. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    A moss pole or trellis would give more support if you want it to grow upwards, or a plant stand or bookshelf if you want it to trail downwards - you may need a heavier pot to stop it falling as the plant gets larger!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Bit difficult to tell from the photo but looks like H australis ( smaller leaf ) rather than H carnosa. If it is any help, I've grown both and found it better to let carnosa climb - with a decent support - and australis trail.
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