Hello! I'm new to hoyas and I'd really appreciate some advice!<3

My Hoya Carnosa (variegated) has developed some brown mushy/soft spots on a few leaves but only on the variegated part. I watered the plant a few days ago (I don't water often as they like to dry out), but could it be an overwatering issue? Should I cut the "damaged" leaves off or leave it alone? I'd hate to lose the plant it's so beautiful.

My H. Carnosa Krimson Queen will eventually loose the all white or pink leaves it produces due to an inability to photosynthesize, but it usually takes a while after they emerge. I typically do not lose leaves with a fair amount of green within the white border on either of my HCKQs.

Are those spots soft and mushy or are they crisp? I'm sure your photos are good but I'm looking on my phone

How do the leaves feel (other than the brown mushy spots)? If you bend them, will they bend or snap? What kind of light are you providing? What is it planted in (soil and pot)? How do you deterimine when to water?

DaisyI said:How do the leaves feel (other than the brown mushy spots)? If you bend them, will they bend or snap? What kind of light are you providing? What is it planted in (soil and pot)? How do you deterimine when to water?

They feel firm when I bend the leaves (besides the mushy brown spots). I give it bright indirect light close to a west-facing window. It is an a glazed terracotta pot with cactus-soil, perlite and orchid bark and I water when completely dry which is once a month or less.

Should I change my care-routine? And cut the leaves off?

No, don't cut the leaves off. The green part is still photosynthesizing. Are just a few leaves affected? Or all of them? I noticed the mushy spots on the leaves in your photo are on the same side of the leaf. Is that true for all the mushy spotted leaves? What side of the plant are most of the damaged leaves on? Back up and take a photo of the entire plant with surroundings.

What is the black dust looking stuff? You may be dealing with mildew from lack of air circulation.

I wouldn't cut the leaves totally off, but you can try surgically incising the mushy parts to keep it from spreading by using a pair of sharp cuticle scissors. I have problems sometimes in my greenhouse with plants that get dripped on a lot by condensation that forms on the greenhouse ceiling and falls repeatedly on plants if they are sitting on the ground in certain places. Some plants just dispose of the water by letting it roll off (broadleaved tropicals) and some can collect it on the leaves due to their shape. I usually don;t catch it until some mildew or rot has started on one place on a leaf. I will cut that out and move the plant and it saves the rest of the leaf.

I will just continue to observe more, if it does not spread then it will just dry off that part. No need to cut off any leaves. But be mindful of watering, do not spray the leaves with water. I do not know where you are located, so if it is being grown indoors in winter, then air circulation is not optimal. Better to keep dry the leaves and just water direct the soil line.