Too much sun or a feeding gap

Yellowing or bleaching on the newest leaves usually means harsh sun or a feeding shortfall.

Diagnosis

Too much sun or a feeding gap

What's happening

Hoya carnosa wants very bright light but not scorching midday sun. New leaves bleaching to a pale, washed-out yellow or going slightly red on the window side points to too much direct sun stressing tender growth. Pale, weak new leaves with no recent feeding instead point to a nutrient shortfall, since young growth shows a lack of food first.

How to fix it

Move the plant out of harsh direct sun into very bright, indirect light. If feeding is overdue, start a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength through the growing season. Note that a touch of sun-stress blush is fine and can even encourage blooming, but bleached, crisping new leaves mean it's too much.

What fixes it

If that doesn't fix it

This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this