Hoya Heart with Birch Twig Trellis
A lovely way to showcase the Hoya Heart (Hoya kerrii)
This beautiful potted arrangement features a Hoya Heart plant (Hoya kerrii), and makes a unique hostess or Valentine’s Day gift. It requires minimal watering and can thrive in different lighting conditions, making it a great gift for anyone - no green thumb required! This also works well as a Mother’s Day gift or a unique wedding favor.
The Hoya Heart plant, with its heart-shaped leaves, is a charming succulent known for its resilience and ability to tolerate occasional neglect. Hoya Hearts are a popular houseplant and are available to purchase year-round at nurseries and online plant stores. They become more widely available during the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, when you will see them at big-box retailers, home improvement stores and grocery stores.
The beauty of this DIY project lies in its simplicity - it only takes a few minutes to pot the plant in a container of your choice, insert birch twigs into the soil and add moss and pebbles for a finishing touch. Anyone, regardless of their crafting experience, can enjoy the satisfaction of creating and gifting this adorable floral arrangement. Read on for step-by-step instructions and a materials list.
A sweet, inexpensive, handmade Valentine’s Day gift.
Materials needed:
Small terracotta pot, 3-4 inches in diameter, with a drainage hole
Decorative jade bean pebbles, 1/5-inch size
1 Hoya Heart plant (Hoya kerrii)
Potting soil
5 Birch twig tips, trimmed to approximately 6-7 inches in length
Floral bind wire, natural or brown color
Preserved spanish moss, natural color
Chartreuse preserved reindeer moss
To assemble:
Pot the Hoya Heart (Hoya kerri) in the terracotta pot, adding potting soil as needed. Ensure the soil level is the same as in the previous pot.
Make a trellis - gather the 5 birch twig tips and bind them together, just below the tips, with a small piece of floral bind wire. Spread the bottom of the twigs out - your trellis will have an upside-down V shape.
Insert the bottom, wider part of the trellis into the dirt, behind the Hoya Heart, about 1-2 inches deep. Tamp down the dirt around the trellis twigs so they are solidly anchored in place.
Cover the soil with green jade pebbles.
Add small pieces of dried spanish moss and reindeer moss around the base of the plant, and wind them around the top of the trellis to cover the floral bind wire.
How do I take care of my Hoya Heart (Hoya kerrii)?
Hoya Heart (Hoya kerrii) is a slow-growing succulent that is easy to take care of. Place the plant in bright, indirect light - the perfect spot is a few inches away from a sunny window, away from direct sunlight.
Water your Hoya Heart infrequently - about 2-4 times per month, when the top half of the soil has completely dried out and the pot feels light. Drainage is very important for the health of this plant - your pot absolutely must have a drainage hole!
During the growing season, which typically spans from spring through early fall, feed your Hoya kerrii about once a month. Reduce or stop fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant tends to be in a dormant phase. Use a well-balanced, water-soluble fertilizer specifically formulated for houseplants, and follow instructions on the package.