April 26, 2022

Hey Plant Friends!

This week we are talking about Aeschynanthus radicans or more commonly known as the Lipstick plant. This plant belongs to the Gesneriaceae family, just like African violets, and is native to Southeast Asia. Lipstick plant gets its name from its vibrant, red, tubular flowers. The flowers grow in clusters that look like tubes of lipstick! If you are looking to add a hanging plant to your home, this is an easy care choice. Lipstick plants come in many different shapes and sizes. There are even curly-leaved varieties like ‘Rasta” which are available from time to time. Our favorite variety is ‘Black Pagoda’. We love the mosaic pattern of light and dark foliage that is unique to each leaf.

Let’s talk about care. Lipstick plants love bright, filtered light. Too much direct sun will cause leaf burn and result in leaf drop. Watering this plant is easy once you get it down. Lipstick plants like to be consistently moist soil, but not waterlogged. Water once per week during active growth, but and cut back during the winter months as the growth rate will slow a bit. Make sure to drain excess water, so it is not sitting in damp soil. Plant in a well-drained potting mix. We recommend using Sol Soils Houseplant Mix. Getting your Lipstick plant to bloom will require a few things. Temperature is key; ideally 65-75 degrees F. Keep away from and heating or cooling air vents to keep temperature consistent and also to avoid drafts which could lead to leaf drop. Your lipstick plant will love spending the summer outside, so give it a go. They also love high humidity, misting your plant will make it very happy. As always, scout for insect pests as you care for your Lipstick plant. A pest to keep an eye out for when caring for your Lipstick plant is mealy bugs. Keep a bottle of Bonide Eight Insect Control at the ready so that you can treat upon first inspection.

‘Black Pagoda’ Lipstick Plant is available in greenhouse in 4” pots and we also have our lush green Lipstick Plant available in 8” hanging baskets. If you have additional questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us - hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy Planting!