Care guide
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus spp.
Glossy trailing stems tipped with buds that emerge like lipstick from its tube — a hanging plant that actually flowers indoors, generously.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- Drooping or leaf drop can have several causes. Check the compost, drainage and growing conditions rather than assuming it is only travel stress.
- Keep a healthy plant in its nursery pot while it settles. If it keeps wilting, the compost stays waterlogged or roots look damaged, check the cause rather than waiting a fixed number of weeks.
- Follow the watering advice for this plant below. Check the compost first and let excess water drain before returning the nursery pot to its cover.
Light
Bright, indirect light brings the flowers — near an east or west window is ideal. Too dark and you’ll get trailing greenery but no lipstick; harsh sun scorches the glossy leaves.
Watering
Check weekly and water when the top few centimetres have dried. It’s an epiphyte with fine roots — it wants regular small drinks that drain freely, never a waterlogged pot.
The dipstick check
Slide a wooden stick or skewer a few centimetres into the soil.
Pull it out and look: damp soil clinging on means hold off.
Use the watering advice for this plant to decide whether it is ready for a drink. When you water, let the excess drain.
Humidity & temperature
Warmth and a little humidity keep it blooming — 18°C upwards, away from cold windows in winter. A bright bathroom is a happy home.
Feeding
Half-strength balanced feed monthly from April to September fuels repeat flowering.
Repotting & size
Repot only every two to three years — snug roots encourage blooms — into an airy peat-free mix with added bark. Trim stems lightly after each flowering flush to keep it full; it blooms on newer growth.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
No flowers
Cause
Too little light, or too cold.
Fix
Brighter, warmer, plus a modest feed through the season — buds usually follow within weeks.
Buds dropping before opening
Cause
A sudden change — cold draught, a move, or drought at the wrong moment.
Fix
Keep conditions steady while budding and check the soil a little more often.
Leaves dropping
Cause
Cold or overwatering.
Fix
Warm, stable spot; let the top of the compost dry before each watering.
Bare stems at the base
Cause
Natural with age.
Fix
Prune stems back by a third after flowering — it regrows dense from the base.
Sticky or sooty leaves
Cause
Aphids or scale sneaking in on the soft new growth.
Fix
Inspect stems and leaf undersides to identify the insects. Separate the plant, wipe away honeydew with a damp cloth and remove visible pests gently. Monitor new growth. If further treatment is needed, choose one labelled for the identified pest on indoor ornamental plants and follow its directions.
Crispy leaf edges
Cause
Dry air combined with underwatering.
Fix
A more humid position and steadier watering routine.
Meet the plant
Aeschynanthus
- The buds really do emerge like lipstick winding out of its tube — deep red from a darker sheath.
- It’s a rainforest epiphyte, growing from tree branches — which is why it trails so beautifully from a shelf or hanger.
- Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' and 'Mona Lisa' are popular cultivars: Rasta with twisted curling leaves, Mona Lisa with generous red blooms.
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