Underwatering
Dry soil with wrinkled, yellowing lower leaves usually means it went too long without a drink.
Diagnosis
Underwatering
What's happening
Hoya tolerates drought well, but if the soil dries out completely for too long the plant draws down its leaf water reserves. The thick leaves pucker and dimple, and the oldest ones yellow and shrivel while the soil shrinks and pulls away from the side of the pot.
How to fix it
Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom. If the water runs straight through bone-dry mix without soaking in, bottom-water instead: set the pot in a few inches of water for 20–30 minutes, then drain fully. The puckered leaves should plump back up within a day or two. Going forward, water once the soil is dry and the leaves feel slightly soft rather than waiting until they wrinkle.
What fixes it
- A long-spout watering can — A long-spout can makes it easy to water deeply and evenly right at the soil.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Hoya Carnosa care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this