Hoya – Garden For Indoor

Growing a Hoya Krimson Queen indoor is relatively easy, and its beauty in decorating your home is simply rewarding. Though Hoya Krimson Queen can be easily distinguished by its pink, white, and green color variegation, you may still confuse its resemblance with Krimson Princess. Don’t worry, in this article, you’ll find out why these two plants are usually interchanged, and at the same time, you’ll also be able to figure out how to distinguish Hoya Queen from Princess. Hoya Krimson Queen and Krimson Princess are relatively similar in having variegated foliage structure, but upon looking closely, you will find out their most significant difference, Krimson Queen has a green-colored center with cream margins, while Krimson Princess has a cream-colored center surrounded by green borderlines. Difference Between Hoya Krimson Queen and Princess Since both of these plants are usually interchanged because of their similar appearance, it’s much better if you focus first on identifying the differences between the two. Here are some factors that you should consider checking to verify if you’re growing a Krimson Queen or Princess. Taxonomy Plant taxonomy refers to the study of plant classification. It involves the naming, description, and identification of species. Looking at Hoya Krimson Queen and Princess, it’s hard to figure out the difference between these plants. But if you check on their taxonomy, you’ll notice that these two have their own uniqueness. Though they might be both under the Hoya genus, they are relatively different in terms of variety. Krimson Queen and Krimson Princess are just two of the many types of Hoya that you can find at your local garden stores. In general, they are different in classification but both part of the same family. Leaf Shape and Texture Hoya Krimson Queen Hoya Krimson Queen has thin cordate-shaped leaves that can grow up to 5 cm long. It has darker green leaves and stems. The leaves are usually bordered in a creamy white margin. It also has an extended internode. In terms of texture, Krimson Queen has a slightly smooth and waxy leaf surface. Hoya Krimson Princess Krimson Princess is much thicker in appearance, with leaves that grow around 3-4 cm long. The leaves are lighter in terms of their color. The leaves center-color is creamy white with green borderlines. The texture of Krimson Princess is waxy and a little bit smooth compared to Krimson Queen. Flower Hoyas have a lesser chance of blooming when growing indoors since it requires an adequate amount of sunlight and abundant micronutrients that it can only get when planted in the wild. However, if you are to differentiate the flowers of the Queen and Princess, you’ll most likely need to thoroughly observe both plants since their flowers are almost the same at first glance. But as you look further, you’ll notice that Krimson Princess has a bright reddish appearance on the center, compared to the fully pinkish color of Krimson Queen. Foliage Color Krimson Queen leaves have a dark green color in the middle while having a cream border alongside. But as you check on the inner foliage, you’ll also see that some leaves either have a complete green, pink, or white color. On the other hand, Krimson Princess is the reverse variegation style of Queen. It has a cream-colored center with green borders on its edges. On some occasions, you will also spot pink colors appearing on the leaves. Growth Habit The growth rate of Krimson Queen is much quicker compared to Krimson Princess. As we have discussed earlier, Krimson Queen composes dark green leaves, indicating an abundant chlorophyll within. Chlorophyll absorbs light which is essential to complete the process of photosynthesis. Meanwhile, Krimson Princess is slow in its growth process because it has lighter green pigment, indicating the shortage of chlorophyll. Therefore, you may prefer using Krimson Queen for propagation since it can grow rapidly compared to Krimson Princess. Height and Structure Hoya Krimson Queen can grow approximately 5 to 7 ft when growing indoors. But it can reach up to 25 ft when planted in the wild. While Krimson Princess is a little bit lower, about 3 to 4 ft when planted indoor and around 15 to 18 ft when in the wild. Furthermore, Krimson Queen's stem possesses light-brown color, while Krimson Princess’s stem showcases a stunning pinkish appearance. Price The average price of Krimson Queen ranges from $31 to $49. On the other hand, Krimson Princess has an average price of $18 to $20, depending on the plant's size. The price of both Krimson Queen and Princess significantly varies depending on your location. Though looking on through different stores online, it’s safe to say that Krimson Queen is much more expensive nowadays compared to Krimson Princess. Growing Requirements You need to know whether you’re growing a Hoya Krimson Queen or Princess because they individually have specific requirements to thrive and develop. Once you distinguish your plant’s identity based on the physical differences that you have read earlier, now, it’s time to become familiar with their needs. Watering Frequency Based on the leaf observation, you can see that Krimson Princess has much thicker leaves than Krimson Queen. In that case, you can conclude that Krimson Princess leaves can hold too much water, hence it doesn't require too much watering frequency. Ideally, you can water your Krimson Princess once every 7 to 10 days. Remember that having too much watering is worse than having not enough. Meanwhile, Krimson Queen requires much more watering frequency than Krimson Princess because of their thin leaves composition that can only handle a minimal amount of water. Typically, I recommend watering your Krimson Queen once or twice a week. Sunlight Since both Krimson Queen and Princess originally came from tropical regions, they will be very much happy to stay in an area where there is an adequate amount of indirect sunlight. Therefore the ideal place for your Hoya is an east-facing window, where sunlight is much abundant. Though they both love to enjoy sunlight, it’s recommended to allow your Krimson Princess to be exposed a little bit longer than Krimson Queen. Krimson Queen is more capable of handling too much water due to its thick leaf structure. Whereas Krimson Princess can only store a few, making the soil left soaking for a certain period. That’s the reason why allowing it to stay a bit longer under sunlight is a good idea so the soil can dry up quickly to avoid root rot or any pathogenic attacks. Not to mention that sunlight can help Krimson Princess for its nutrient and energy production, given the fact that their leaves are variegated with light pigments. Fertilizer In general, the Hoya genus doesn’t require too much fertilizer. In fact, if you’re using compost, then you don’t need to apply fertilizer anymore. But if you want to add some nutrients to your plant, applying a modest amount of fertilizer will help. In using fertilizer for your Krimson Queen, make sure you are applying organic instead of synthetic fertilizer. In that way, you will avoid causing fertilizer to burn the roots. However, Krimson Princess needs an adequate amount of fertilizers. In that case, you need to carefully dilute the dose into half or probably a quarter to reduce concentration. But nonetheless, it’s a good substitute for organic fertilizer. Just keep in mind to avoid using fertilizer during winters because your plant might be in its dormant season. I understand your urge to provide sufficient nutrients to your plant, but applying too much fertilizer is definitely not the best solution for that. Similarities Between Hoya Krimson Queen VS. Princess Here are some of the similarities that Krimson Queen and Princess have in common that’s why most people or even garden shops tend to interchange them with each other. Flowering Truth be told, there is no assurance that either Krimson Queen or Princess will bloom even if it’s planted outdoors. Though you have read earlier that the flowers of these two houseplants differ in structure, their flowering season is the same. It usually takes 2-3 years of intervals before they bloom again. Of course, who could not notice how relatively similar the scents of their flowers are? The flowers of both Krimson Queen and Princess are the most obvious reason people interchange these two Hoya Variants. Temperature Hoya Krimson Queen and Princess both love temperatures between 60 to 95°F (15 to 35°C). Though they are tropical plants thriving in hot areas, they can totally adapt to your home temperature as long as it’s within the given temperature range. Also, they are both vulnerable to frosts. So it will be better if you keep them away from moist windows during the winter season as this low temperature will deplete your plant's growth. Humidity In terms of humidity, the Hoya genus will thrive more in a high humid environment. Therefore it will be adequate to place them in an area with a humidity level between 70% to 80%. But in case your area is not capable of providing such humidity, you can try using a humidifier or put your houseplants closer to each other. You might probably think of misting or overhead watering your plant for a more convenient process, but that would be dangerous to either Krimson Queen or Princess. Excess water on top of the leaves might cause pathogenic infestations. Soil The natural habitat of Hoya genus allows them to hang on trees and exposes their roots to air. This set-up is less likely to happen when you're growing either Krimson Queen or Princess as houseplants. Still, you can always improvise by using the right kind of soil and hanging it on your ceiling. A well-draining soil is the best potting mix that you can use for both Krimson Queen and Princess. This kind of mix will help the plant’s soil in its draining process and provide a well-aerated structure. To achieve that kind of potting mix, just add orchid bark, peat moss, and perlite to your soil. Orchid bark and perlite will help the draining process, while peat moss will hold enough water for the plant’s usage. Pruning Proving their low maintenance distinction, Krimson Queen and Princess doesn't require regular trimming. In fact, pruning them is not a guaranteed way of promoting new growth. One of the reasons for pruning your Hoya genus is to control the plant's growing size, especially when you have it indoors. It could also be a solution for root rot or other pathogenic infections. Nonetheless, pruning either your Hoya Krimson Queen or Princess is not recommended if the plant isn't at risk at all. Repotting Similar to all Hoya genus, Krimson Queen and Princess are not fond of being repotted from time to time. They love to stay on a spot where they have become comfortable growing. As much as possible, repot your plant with not less than 3 years of interval. Apparently, certain inevitable situations will force you to repot, like treating diseases or fungal attacks. In that case, you need to check these reminders. Avoid repotting on a huge pot. Simply go up one size from the previous pot. Use a well-draining potting mix. Check the drainage of the pot. If possible, drill additional holes underneath. Do not reuse old potting mix. Final Words To sum it up, Hoya Krimson Queen is different from Krimson Princess in various aspects such as taxonomy, leaf shape, foliage color, flower structure, growth habit, pricing, height, and growing requirements. Though they might differ in classification, Krimson Queen and Princess both came from the Hoya genus, making them similar in some features. Those similarities can be observed in their flowering season, temperature needs, humidity level, soil requirements, and pruning and repotting process. After reading this article, I hope you can easily distinguish whether you’re dealing with a Hoya Krimson Queen or Princess. (Sources: College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Science Direct, University of Florida, United States Department of Agriculture)