'Hindu Rope' Hoya carnosa - 1L / 14cm / Small
$40.00Hoya carnosa 'Compacta', commonly known as Hindu Rope, is a truly unique and eye-catching houseplant, featuring thick, twisted, crinkled leaves that curl tightly along cascading vines. The waxy, sculptural foliage grows in rope-like chains, making it a favourite for hanging baskets or shelf edges where its dramatic form can be appreciated. When mature, it may also produce clusters of highly fragrant, star-shaped pink flowers—typical of the Hoya genus—adding to its charm.
A cultivar of the classic Hoya carnosa, ‘Compacta’ is slow-growing but long-lived, thriving on minimal care. Its succulent leaves store water well, and it prefers to be left alone rather than fussed over.
Toxic if ingested (mildly).
Comprehensive Care Instructions for Hoya Hindu Rope
Lighting Requirements
Indoors: Thrives in bright, indirect light. Can tolerate a few hours of gentle morning sun. Low light will slow growth and reduce chances of flowering.
Outdoors (mild climates): Grow in bright shade or filtered light. Avoid direct afternoon sun which may scorch the leaves.
Watering Regimen
Active Growth (Spring to Autumn):
Water when the top 3–5cm of soil is dry. Its succulent foliage retains moisture—overwatering is the most common issue.
Cooler Months:
Water infrequently, allowing soil to dry out more deeply. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Temperature & Humidity
Prefers temperatures between 18°C–28°C. Protect from frost and cold drafts.
Average humidity is fine, but moderate to high humidity may encourage flowering. Mist lightly in very dry air.
Fertilizing
Feed every 4–6 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser. A bloom-boosting formula can encourage flowering once mature.
Support & Growth Habit
While commonly grown as a trailing plant, Hindu Rope can be trained up a small trellis or hoop.
Do not remove the flower spurs after blooming—they will rebloom in future seasons.
Repotting
Repot every 3–4 years or only when extremely rootbound. Hoyas prefer to be snug in their pots. Use a chunky, free-draining mix (orchid bark, perlite, and potting mix).
Pests & Troubleshooting
Can be prone to mealybugs or aphids hiding in leaf folds. Inspect regularly and treat early.
Wrinkled leaves often indicate underwatering, while yellowing or soft stems suggest too much moisture.
Important Note: Patience Pays Off
Hoya Hindu Rope grows slowly but rewards time and good light with stunning, fragrant flowers and an unforgettable texture. It’s an ideal long-term plant for collectors or those who love quirky foliage.
Plant Size Guide
The plant in the photos is an example and an approximate guide only however we try to show an average sized example. Sizes, flowering state and colours change throughout the seasons and variation will occur. In summer & autumn, plants are often larger or the same size as than the example picture but around winter and spring, they can be a little smaller but still at a size similar to the example. We aim to update the pictures to reflect significant differences.
Plant Heights - because the plant's foliage must fit inside our Plant Cartons, the actual height of a plant's central trunk (meristem) will be shorter than the box it fits in.
Small Plants - 14cm wide nursery pot - 1 Litre volume - Plants fit in a 50cm tall box.
Medium Plants - 17cm wide pots either 2L hanging pot or 2.5L nursery pot - Plants fit in a 75cm tall box.
Large Plants - 25cm wide pot, 10L volume. Plants fit in a 100cm tall box.
XL Plants - Plants over 100cm tall in pot sizes specified, 25cm/10L or greater and are hand delivered within Auckland/Northland only.
Dispatch Times
Plant courier orders are processed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
North Island orders are targeted overnight delivery, South Island orders are sent on a 2-day target but these are not a guaranteed delivery timeframe.
Add 1 extra day after a public holiday as well as for rural addresses or remote towns.
Monday - We send orders placed on previous Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
Tuesday - We send Weekend orders from previous Saturday & Sunday.
Wednesday - We send orders placed from Monday & Tuesday.
XL Plants are delivered only within urban Auckland & Whangarei and this service is for non-urgent orders. This excludes satellite destinations such as Beachlands, Pukekohe, Piha, Helensville etc and Whangarei Heads. We may deliver at any time Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday in Auckland and you need to have a sheltered accessible position for us to deliver to.
Plants in Transit
Each Small, Medium & Large plant is individually contained within its own protective cardboard Plant Carton which may be joined to other cartons in your order.
Plants typically take just a day or two to arrive, however they are usually fine in their cartons for 1-2 weeks, and many can go longer, so a few extra days are not usually cause for concern.
Whether it takes 1 or 7 days, let your plant recover from its journey by placing in gentle light and adding a little water and it will be back to its best within a couple of days. Let us know if there are any major issues via the contact page.
