Some do, others don't. The solid white vines don't contribute as much to the plant, as far as chlorophyll production. Common sense would dictate that if it is not producing as much chlorophyll, it may not be utilizing as many nutrients as the greener leaves, but I can't tout that as fact. If it is a nice large plant, I'd just leave it. If it is small, you can see how it does and if it starts declining, chop time. I left a nice full white stem on my incrassata cv. Moonshadow. It grew nice and white for awhile. That part of the plant only lived for 6-7 months, before it died. No other part of the plant was affected. Shorter lifespan, due to "albinism" maybe?

Without the chlorophyll production, the leaves have a substantially reduced ability to uptake carbon dioxide and produce sugars necessary to function. The process of photosynthesis is how a plant acquires the components to produce ATP, which is one of the key sources for energy for nearly every active cellular requirment in any biological organism. I am simplifying this a lot, there or other important products produced here as well. You get the gist.

There are not a lot of examples of variegation existing in the wild, as the lack of cells capable of producing energy is a huge disadvantage. The biomass generated by a white leaf os the same as a green leaf, requiring the same products to produce. The missing chloroplast organelles isn't going to cut back on the net "grocery bill" for producing those leaves.

Plants have nifty transport systems already in place to transfer and store photosynthates. Structures like roots and flowers can't produce them and still need energy, so they are moved throughout the plant.

My plant physiology course didn't focus much on variegated and white leaves, so I am not sure how much on the way of photosynthate they are recieving from the rest of the plant. Maybe a little, but the white leaves usually grow so much slower than the rest of the plant. Either way, the white leaves need a lot of light to function, more so than a nice dark green leaf would. If they can't get it, they die because they aren't able to take up what they need to maintain basic cell function. So yeah, shorter lifespan. For us, probably due mostly to lack of sun.

I saw a photo in another group recently, taken by some tropical grower, of a big white compacta vine with a flower on it. Ohh, to have those levels of sunshine!

My plant is big though, so should be fine. :)

This does have me curious about all sorts of things. I am going to have to look at both white and green leaf tissue under a microscope one of these days.

I leave them on - I figure it's giving me a pretty show and I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

Denise in Omaha

My carnosa KQ had two out of three vines have have gone completely creamy - only one vine had any green in the leaves (and even those leaves were variegated, of course). I like the look a lot, and the plant looked healthy. I definitely was not going to cut those vines off - because then you get a much more boring looking plant, I think.

I actually sold it on ebay recently, because I need space, but it was a good looking plant, I think.

Oh yes, very nice. Most of my white leaves usually die off over the winter. They just have higher light requirements, but this one was clearly happy under your lights. At least, I assume you used artificial lighting for this, as you do your others?

I suppose, probably was a silly question. If it is healthy, no need to cut. Just find myself increasingly curious about these little mutants, what is going on under the surface and how it impacts the overall plant.

my white leaves don't get a chance to die off...they get chopped off. Ruthless!

I have a variegated hoya that wants to revert to all green. I've been cutting all green off and I think it is now coming out variegated.

It was me that you sold the plant to mr greentoe357.I've lost one creamy leaf but my question is why are some smooth and waxy and other you can see veins and texture? Are they dying Also?

Small world! Hope you enjoy growing the plant.

I think creamy leaves do not live quite as long as the ones that have green in them. I did not track this, but I do have this impression. But it's not a problem because new creamy leaves have been growing relatively fast for me.

Seeing the texture and the veins is OK, I think. (Although show us a picture - it's possible that there is a problem with dehydration.) Do the leaves feel relatively turgid, or are they slightly wilted?

As someone who has not raised a hoya for years and years, I can say I think I will pass on an increased difficulty level. Verigation is lovely, but I am after blooms!!!