Moderate Tropical Safe for pets

Lipstick Plant

Aeschynanthus radicans

The Lipstick Plant is an original trailing tropical whose bright red tubular flowers irresistibly evoke a tube of lipstick.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 5 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

50–70 %
Temperature

16–27 °C

How to care for your Lipstick Plant

Everything you need to keep your Lipstick Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Aeschynanthus radicans is an epiphytic plant native to the humid tropical forests of Malaysia and Java. Its long trailing stems bear fleshy, glossy deep green leaves, from which clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers emerge. The effect is striking as the flowers emerge from dark tubular calyxes, evoking a tube of lipstick. It is an ideal plant for hanging baskets or high shelves from which it elegantly drapes its flowering stems.

Watering your Lipstick Plant

Every 5 days

Water when the topsoil is dry at the surface. The plant stores some water in its fleshy leaves and tolerates brief dry spells. Reduce in winter.

How to know it needs water

Compost dry 2–3 cm down
Leaves becoming slightly soft
Stems losing firmness

How much light a Lipstick Plant needs

Bright indirect light

Bright indirect light. A little direct morning sun is beneficial for flowering. Avoid harsh sun.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 2 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

50–70 %

50–70% Mist regularly to replicate the humid tropical forest atmosphere. Ideal in a bright bathroom or open terrarium.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 14 days

Fertilize from spring to autumn. A mild dry spell in winter combined with cooler temperatures (15–16°C) stimulates bud set.

Recommended feed: Liquid fertilizer for flowering plants, high in phosphorus (NPK 10-20-10) to stimulate flowering. · 1-1-1

Repotting your Lipstick Plant

Every 24 months

Use light, aerated compost: a blend of potting compost, perlite, and fine bark. A pot with good drainage. The plant flowers better when slightly pot-bound.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre, pine bark

The tell-tale signs

Roots emerging from the pot
Growth slowing
Substrate compacted and decomposed

Pruning your Lipstick Plant

After flowering or in spring. Shorten overly long stems to encourage branching. Stem cuttings root easily in water or moist substrate.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 7 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 4 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

The 'lipstick plant' name comes from the shape of its bright red tubular flowers emerging from dark calyxes like a tube of lipstick.
In nature, Aeschynanthus is an epiphytic plant that grows clinging to tree branches in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

Frequently asked questions about the Lipstick Plant

How do you care for a Lipstick Plant?

Water it every 5 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 50–70 %. Ideal temperature: 16–27 °C. Water when the topsoil is dry at the surface. The plant stores some water in its fleshy leaves and tolerates brief dry spells. Reduce in winter.

How often should you water a Lipstick Plant?

Every 5 days Water when the topsoil is dry at the surface. The plant stores some water in its fleshy leaves and tolerates brief dry spells. Reduce in winter. How to know it needs water : Compost dry 2–3 cm down ; Leaves becoming slightly soft ; Stems losing firmness.

How much light does a Lipstick Plant need?

Bright indirect light Bright indirect light. A little direct morning sun is beneficial for flowering. Avoid harsh sun. 0 to 2 h a day

Is the Lipstick Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Lipstick Plant is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Lipstick Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Lipstick Plant?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Use light, aerated compost: a blend of potting compost, perlite, and fine bark. A pot with good drainage. The plant flowers better when slightly pot-bound.