Origin and Habitat: Hoya vitellinoidesSN|30574]]SN|30574]] is a native of part of the Greater Sunda Islands, Java (rare) and Sumatra.
Type locality: Java, West, Ciampea, Mt. Tjiputih, alt. 800 m
Habitat and Ecology: It grows at high elevation in river banks and slopes in humid and shade areas.

• Hoya vitellinoides Bakh.f.

Description: Hoya vitellinoides is one of the most spectacular of all Hoyas known for its beautiful thick light green leaves with a web of dark green veins, which become huge. The flowers are quite anonymous in comparison to the leaves. Yellow and white, somewhat transparent forming a perfect sphere. The long, narrow fruit contains many plumed seeds that float in the wind.
Habit: Hoya vitellinoidesSN|30574]]SN|30574]] is an evergreen compact climbing plant, twining, creeping or pendent, both epiphytic or epilithic, rarely rooting in the ground.
Root: Fibrous.
Stem: About 3 mm in diameter, terete, sparsely branched.
Leaves: Usually only one per node, very firm. Petiole 5 mm thick and 30 mm long. Lamina tick, broadly oblong to 16(-30) cm long, 6.5(-15) cm wide, new leaves dark green, glossy, with occasional bright spots, later becoming lighter and dull, with clearly visible reticulate venation darker than the background at the upper surface. The undersides of the leaves have a light purple blush.
Flowers: Weakly, but pleasantly scented, hanging from along the stems in perfectly spherical bunches (umbels) of 10 to 20(-40). Peduncle horizontal, rigid, 20-50 mm long. Pedicels c. 20 mm long. Corolla spreading, finely and sparsely pubescent inside and out with spreading pale green or yellow petals (lobes) at first to18 mm across, becoming about 6-8 mm in the bent-back state (with petals completely backwards. Corona entirely creamy white. Dropping nectar abundant.
Flowering period: Spring to summer so far, from time to time. Flowers complete their development from happening of buds to anthesis in about 7 weeks and lasts over 6 days.
Also in circulation as Hoya meredithi

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures:
1) Sri Rahayu “Hoya species diversity at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia” Proc Soc Indon Biodiv Intl Conf. vol.1 pp.77-81 July 2012
2) Bakhuizen v.d. Brink Jr RC, Backer CA. 1950. "Notes on the flora of Java.VI. Asclepiadaceae." Blumea 6 (2): 368-382
3) Backer CA, Bakhuizen v.d. Brink Jr RC. 1965. "Flora of Java." Vol. II. Noordrof, Groningen.
4) Hoya vitellinoides Bakh.f <http://www.hoyor.net/en/showspecies.php?id=43> web Accessed on 2015/02/21

Cultivation and Propagation: Hoya vitellinoides is an excellent species producing large ornate leaves well suited for baskets. Requires rain and frost protection in very cold climates and maybe shy to flower if kept too cold. It can be trained to climb on trellis-work to almost any height, and when in bloom, which continues for half the year, it is a very interesting plant. The leaves are actually so large that they might become a problem if the plant is growing on trellis. Despite the size of the leaves the branches are considerably thinner than expected, though very sturdy. It really doesn't look like any other Hoya. This is a fun species to have. It's a delightful addition to any collection - providing you have space for it.
Growth rate: Although the vines can reach considerable lengths in the wild, cultivated plants generally extend 1,5-2 m, twisting around supports to which they cling or hanging down in attractive cascades from suspended pots. T
Potting medium: Because it is an epiphyte benefits from being potted up in a very well-draining and porous potting medium that allows some air to get to the roots; typical mixes include, peat, with some fibrous soil and sand along with large-grade drainage material such as perlite, pumice, or ceramic balls. Often specialized hoya growers either use only chopped coconut husk or a good orchid potting mixture for growing their hoya plants. The medium needs to be moisture-retentive.
Fertilization: The plants should be fed regularly with a fertilizer suitable for epiphytic plants.
Watering: With its succulent qualities it's quite adapt at storing water for longish periods of time between waterings. Water regularly in summer, but do not overwater ( wet-sensitively) and let the plants to dry out between watering and then water again. Its roots are easily lost in pots that stay damp for any length of time. Keep quite dry with ample airflow in winter (It would probably tolerate one watering a month). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity. Care must be taken with watering as they tends to become swollen and untidy in growth habit if given too much water and shade.
Fertilization: During the growing season enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.
Exposition: This Hoya species prefers bright light but no direct sun. Outside half shade to shade (filtered sunlight or afternoon shade tolerated) , inside it will need a reasonably light room in order to actually grow, although it will still get by even in a shadier spot and can be positioned almost anywhere in homes or offices. It subject to sunburn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy leaves production.
Temperature: The optimal temperature is approximately 12-15 ° C in winter and 30 - 40 ° C in Summer (USDA Zones: 10 -12 ).
Spring: When winter ends and they begin to grow again, they will require much water and soaking the pots will no longer put the plants at risk for rot. In the spring they will grow well in partial shade and leaving them out in the rain may provide them with the water they need.
Summer: In the summer months they will tolerate heavy rain, but will be just as happy if the season is dry. They will tolerate hot weather outdoors as long as they are kept in strongly filtered light and this will encourage them to flower. They also enjoy some fertiliser. Moving the plants as they are developing buds may cause them to spontaneously abort the flowers all together.
Autumn: In the fall keep them outdoors until the night time temperatures drop below the 10°C.
Winter: Winter care presents no problems at 12° C with plenty of light . In winter be sure to take extra precautions to keep them dry, because damp cool conditions when the plants are resting is an invitation to fungal infections, but - according to temperatures –some occasional lit watering may be useful.
Maintenance: Prune the plant lightly to keep it tidy.
Repotting: In any season it's best to lay the stems out for several days before replanting them and then pot them only in dry soil and withhold any water until they begin to shrivel or start growing again. Re-pot every 2 years.
Pest and diseases: Hoya are generally fairly easy to grow, especially if kept pest-free. They are very susceptible to stem and root mealy bugs, and damage from these may well initiate fungal attack. Any time when there is a dead or dying stem in the pot it is important to remove it immediately and completely before other healthy stems can become ill too, isolate the healthy parts, dry them off, and re-root them in new compost.
Propagation: It is propagated from cuttings. The stems produce aerial roots which roots easily when inserted into a moist medium making it easy to propagate new plants from stem cuttings. Allow cuttings to dry a day before planting. A very good method is to wrap a cutting in moss, keeping it moist until the roots are well started. It can also be increased from seeds sowing in spring in moist, sandy peat moss. Barely cover seeds. Seeds germinate quickly.