Lipstick Plant Care at Home (Aeschynanthus Radicans)
With dramatic cascading greenery and bright flowers, lipstick plants (Aeschynanthus Radicans) are a great statement plant for any home. While they may look complex, they are quite easy to care for. In my experience, all you need to do is provide the proper environment as well as regular water and fertilizer. In this guide, I’m going to share how I care for my Lipstick plants at home, including the best soil types, watering frequencies, fertilizing needs, light exposures, and ideal environmental conditions for optimal growth.
Growth Expectations
The lipstick plant has a trailing growth habit. That means it grows down rather than up.
In my experience, Lipstick plants can grow up to three feet wide, and their stems can reach three feet long. Mine typically grow up to a foot per year.
What to Do Before Planting
Since lipstick plants are vining plants, you’ll need to select an appropriate container and location. I keep mine in a hanging basket, which is a popular choice since it allows the plant to cascade down. A tall planter or a pot on an elevated table are also good options.
Best Soil Types
I find that Lipstick plants grow best in a well-draining potting mix that allows excess water to escape and provides aeration.
Since lipstick plants and orchids are both epiphytes, an orchid potting mix will work well for lipstick plants. African violet potting soil mixes also work well.
Personally, I like to whip up my own potting soil mix for these plants:
- 2 parts peat moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part pine park fines
This combination of materials provides excellent drainage while also providing decent water-holding capacity. That means your plant won’t sit in water but will have access to all it needs.
How to Plant
Since lipstick plants grow on trees or rocks in their natural environment, they’re not used to growing in the soil. That means it’s essential that you choose a potting mix that allows these plants to thrive.
Once you’ve found a container with drainage holes, fill the container with a proper mix. Place your lipstick plant so that only the roots are covered with soil. I then water the plant well.
Light Preferences
Lipstick plants don’t need direct light. In fact, you should avoid bright, direct light since it can burn the plant’s leaves.
Instead, I place my lipstick plant in an area that receives at least five hours of bright to moderate indirect light. This can be found in the interior of a brightly lit room or a few feet away from a north-facing or east-facing window (this is where I keep mine).
If your plant receives less light in the winter, don’t worry. Lipstick plants need less light in the winter, so the shortening days won’t bother them.
Temperature and Humidity
In my experience, Lipstick plants prefer an environment that mimics their native environments. This means warm temperatures and moderate to high humidity.
I aim to keep the air temperature between 65-80ºF during the spring through fall. While it’s okay if the temperature dips a bit during the winter, avoid temperatures below 50ºF.
These plants won’t enjoy sudden changes in air temperature eithere. Therefore, I avoid placing my lipstick plant near cold and cold drafts.
As far as humidity, normal household humidity is typically fine. However, if your house is very dry, you should increase the humidity using a humidifier or spray bottle.
Watering
Lipstick plants prefer soil that is moist but not dripping wet. Therefore, I aim to allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
To determine when it’s time to water, I simply stick my finger in the soil near the center of the plant. If the top inch is dry, I water thoroughly. If it’s moist, I wait a few more days before watering again.
Numerous factors affect how often you’ll need to water your lipstick plant. These include the temperature, humidity, lighting, and time of year.
With that said, I typically need to water my lipstick plant about once a week in the spring-fall and once every two to three weeks in the winter.
Remember that as the air becomes hotter and drier, the soil will dry out quicker. Therefore, you’ll need to water more frequently.
Lipstick plants aren’t super sensitive to water minerals or chemicals, so tap water is fine. However, you can use filtered water or rainwater.
Fertilizing
My Lipstick plants grow best when provided with small but regular doses of fertilizer. It really makes a noticeable difference in their growth rate and vibrancy.
I fertilize my lipstick plants every one to two months from the spring through fall. I prefer to use a balanced fertilizer labeled for houseplants and dilute it to half the recommended strength before applying.
You don’t need to apply fertilizer in the winter.
Pruning
I find that I don’t typically need to prune my lipstick plant, but you can if you feel like it’s taking over a certain area in your home. For me, the best time to prune is the late fall or early winter, but you can perform light pruning the rest of the year.
When you prune, avoid removing more than a third of the plant to avoid excess stress.
To prune, you’ll need a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears. Wash your cutting device with soapy water or sanitize it with rubbing alcohol to avoid spreading the disease.
If you want to trim back your plant’s stems, make a clean cut at the desired point. As you’ll read below, you can use these stem cuttings to propagate new plants.
Propagating
Fortunately, lipstick plants are easy to propagate. That means it’s easy to share your plant with friends.
You can begin propagating your plant anytime, as long as the plant has multiple stems.
To propagate, I follow these steps:
- Take a stem cutting that is 5-10” long and contains at least three leaf nodes.
- Remove the leaves until only the top 2-4 remain.
- Dip the end of the cutting in the rooting hormone.
- Place the cutting in a container filled with perlite or well-draining potting soil.
- Water well.
- Keep the plant in a humid environment.
- Wait about two weeks until roots form.
- Plant the cutting in a container filled with a suitable potting mix.
Repotting
My lipstick plants benefit from repotting every two or three years. However, you should repot your plant if you notice any signs of root rot.
To repot, I simply remove the plant from its container and gently shake off any soil. I then inspect the roots and trim off any unhealthy or rotten portions.
I go with a container that is a few inches larger in diameter than the old container. I fill it halfway with potting soil and place the lipstick plant.
Then, just add soil and gently compact it around the plant. Make sure the soil is in line with the base of the stems. Finally, I give the newly potted plant a good watering.
Common Problems and How to Treat Them
The lipstick plant is generally easy to care for and free from problems. However, you should keep an eye out for the following.
Yellow Leaves
Numerous environmental issues, including improper lighting and watering, can cause yellow leaves.
Too much water can inhibit your plant’s intake of water and nutrients. Over time, this can lead to yellow leaves.
Remember to allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. Also, ensure that your pot has drainage holes that allow excess water to escape.
Underwatering can also lead to yellow leaves. If your lipstick plant can’t access water, it can’t complete critical processes like photosynthesis and cell division.
If your plant’s leaves slowly turn yellow, it may indicate a nutrient deficiency. Try applying a diluted houseplant fertilizer, then see if the leaves regain their green.
Finally, insufficient light may cause your plant’s leaves to turn yellow.
Leaf Drop
While it’s not a big worry if your plant loses a few leaves occasionally, a lot of dropped leaves are a more significant concern.
The number one cause of leaf drop is cold temperatures. If the air falls below 50ºF, your plant will likely lose leaves.
Cold drafts can lead to falling leaves even if your house is warm. Therefore, avoid placing your plant near exterior doors or other cool areas.
While it’s less common, both underwatering and overwatering can also cause leaf drop.
Lack of Flowers
The environment is likely to blame if your lipstick plant is all leaves and no flowers.
Plants often fail to produce flowers if they aren’t receiving enough light. While you don’t want any direct light, ensure your plant is receiving at least five hours of bright, indirect light.
Improper fertilization is another reason why your plant might not be producing flowers. To encourage flowering, make sure you’re applying a fertilizer that contains both phosphorus and potassium.
About Lipstick Plants (Aeschynanthus Radicans)
Lipstick plants are flowering evergreen vines that are native to Malaysia and Thailand. They are epiphytes or lithophytes, which means they grow on other plants or rocks rather than in soil.
These plants belong to the Aeschynanthus genus, which comes from the two words aishchuno meaning shame, and anthos meaning flower. The genus name is radicans.
Lipstick plants are named for their tube-shaped flowers. Before the flower buds open, they resemble tubes of lipstick.
While their flowers are gorgeous, Aeschynanthus radicans also have stunning leaves. The plants grow as trailing vines with evergreen leaves.
Popular Types of Lipstick Plants:
There are several varieties of lipstick plants that work well as houseplants.
- ‘Curly’: twisting and curling leaves
- ‘Mona Lisa’: red-orange flowers
- ‘Rasta’: curly leaves
- ‘Tangerine’: yellow-orange flowers
- ‘Variegata’: green and cream striped leaves
Wrapping Up
With bright flowers and gorgeous trailing greenery, lipstick plants make a great addition to any home. Remember to water when the top inch of soil is dry, provide indirect light, and keep the air warm and humid.
Further reading: Discover an amazing collection of red houseplants to grow at home.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.