---
title: "New Hoya parent here… I’ve read that you should let the soil dry out…"
description: "New Hoya parent here… I’ve read that you should let the soil dry out close to 100% and that you can do the taco test. If the taco bends, water. If resistance,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/-Hvw2UpVTXuBN-5q5GuMYg/659e2bdd6e1b0fe80c8ec6cc"
community: "Hoya Hoarders"
author: "Nik Van B"
published: "2024-01-10T05:32:13.61Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/ulvyli9ldpglwkqhsctz.jpg"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Hoya Hoarders](https://getplanta.com/community/-Hvw2UpVTXuBN-5q5GuMYg.md)

# New Hoya parent here… I’ve read that you should let the soil dry out…

_Posted by Nik Van B on 2024-01-10_

New Hoya parent here… I’ve read that you should let the soil dry out close to 100% and that you can do the taco test.

If the taco bends, water. If resistance, don’t.

My Hoya is new I haven’t watered her yet. Her soil is damp but her leaves are tacoing - do I keep waiting to water??

## 5 comments

### MeasomerPi commented on 2024-01-10

I agree with Sunny and PlantAnn. Let it dry out.

If the leaves bend and the soil is wet, I would be concerned there is a problem with the roots. Given its new, you don’t know the care it received in the past. I also find plants newly acquired from a commercial grower are often in an unsuitable soil for my growing conditions. You might consider popping it out of the pot and taking a look at the roots.

### Plant Father commented on 2024-01-10

if the soil media is dense and is still quite wet i’d recommend repotting in a chunky, airy mix. i use either a coco-chip or fir bark based mix. hoyas prefer to dry out quickly and greenhouse soil often prevents that. overwatering and stress can cause squishy leaves too

### Amy Morgan Grace commented on 2024-01-10

All good advice here, just wanted to add that depending on the species of Hoya, new leaves will bend until they harden off, so the taco test shouldn’t be used on them.

### SnappityWhizBang commented on 2024-01-11

The big problem with the “taco test” is that by the time the leaves are soft, the plant may be stressed. Doing this repeatedly will definitely stress your Hoya and eventually kill it.

### Cherrybergher commented on 2024-01-11

All good advice. Also want to add the some Hoya leaves are more bendy than other varieties so it depends on which Hoya you are talking about. I feel the taco test is only a valid test if you have had the plant for a long time and already know how they feel when fully watered and when not.

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_