Lipstick Plant Care
Common Name: Lipstick Plant
Scientific Name: Aeschynanthus species
Lighting: Bright Light
Watering: Moderate
The Lipstick Plant is characterized by green foliage with bright red, tubular flowers. Many times the Lipstick Plant does best in a hanging basket due to its cascading and arching foliage. Many varieties of Aeschynanthus are available as houseplants. Some are more compact while others have different sized flowers. All of which can be called Lipstick Plants.
The Lipstick Plant is related to African violets and Cape Primrose, thus it too requires higher humidity levels. So give your plant a daily misting to help provide it with the humidity it prefers. If the leaves begin to brown and dry out or flowers turn black, the plant is not receiving enough humidity.
The Lipstick Plant does best when provided with bright, indirect light. Do not allow this houseplant to be in a lot of direct sunlight. It can burn the foliage, especially in younger plants.
This houseplant can be quite particular in terms of its water requirements. Keep the soil moist at all times, however not soggy. Be sure to keep the soil moist, you do not want it to dry out. If the leaves begin to fall off, it may not be receiving enough water. In winter months, you have to provide a little more attention to this houseplant. Water the plant less than in the summer. Due to the shorter light levels in the winter, the plant doesn't work as hard, thus giving your plant the same water levels as the summer can actually over water your plant.
The Lipstick Plant's blooming times and size depend on the pot size you use. If you would like your houseplant to focus on new growth, keep it in a larger pot size. However it you are satisfied with the size, having the plant root bound will help the plant to bloom.
Overall this plant is a low maintenance plant. The drama it adds to a room makes it well worth it.
Labels: Flowering Houseplants
posted by drayas @ 9:27 PM
11 Comments:
Great information! Thank you!!
What about a leggy lipstick plant that has NEVER bloomed? Moist soil, indirect light, all seemed to be right... :(
_ks
ks,
How root bound is your plant? Is it in a fairly large pot or is it more crowded? Typically, having the plant root bound will help the plant to bloom.
Other than that, you could also fertilize once a month with a general houseplant food and see if that works.
Please let me know how things work out.
Thanks,
drayas
Thanks for the info on lipstick plant. Your article was easy to understand and answered all my questions.
nice simple info and very informative .
This plant can grow easily in Asian. Too hot and direct sun will burn the foliage. My father managed to grow lipstick plant them under shade.
I was given a lipstick plant from my mother in law which already has one bloom...very pretty:) My mother gave me one she had the other day with no blooms...but they are different. The one with the bloom has bright green leaves that are close together and the one with no blooms had a darker leaf spaced further apart and a little more rubbery...she said she has never had a bloom on it but gave a peice to a friend who says she has gotten blooms. My question is, are these both a lipstick plant? are there diff kinds?
Sounds like one plant is the lipstick plant and the other a goldfish plant -- the leaves are different and so are the blossoms. To get them to bloom, feed them and use "filtered" water. Neither of them like water that has floride in them. Keep water moist do not let them dry out and in a well lighted location but not in direct sunlight. Feed once a month lightly -- If they are rootbound and have the right amount of food and water they should bloom for you!
Regarding the person who asked if there are different plants called 'Lipstick plant'. There are several. The most common plant is Aeschynanthus radicans. Several of the over 150 species that comprise Aeschynanthus have similar flowers and are also referred to as Lipstick plants. A. speciosus, micranthus and longicaulis are but a few. In addition several species of the genus Columnea (e.g. linearis), have very similar flowers and are sometimes referred to as Lipstick plants. There are different cultivars and of Aeschynanthus that have differing appearance including flower color. Lastly there are many hybrids among different Aeschynanthus species that could (rightly or wrongly) also be called Lipstick plants. Happy gardening.
Our plant has actually developed a smell resembling body odor; it's up near the soil. Any advice?
You were one of the few sites that gave me the information I was looking for on my Lipstick Plant. Thank you so much.
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