everything you need to know about caring for a lipstick plant

Looking for a gorgeous trailing plant? Pucker up! The lipstick plant is an excellent choice. Lined with glossy, dark green, oval leaves, the cascading stems spill gracefully over the sides of pots and hanging baskets, adding drama to any vertical space. The emerging red, pink or orange trumpet-shaped blooms resemble miniature lipsticks – hence the common name – and will add pops of colour to your indoor space from spring to summer. There are patterned and variegated forms, too, as well as cultivars with interesting leaf shapes and textures, offering plenty of variety.

Showcase the lipstick plant’s beautifully long locks on a high shelf, suspended from the ceiling or displayed on a plant stand. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South-East Asia, the lipstick plant grows as an epiphyte, using its roots to cling to tree branches and rock faces. If you were feeling up to the challenge, then you could mount it to a board for a unique display. However, I think that it’s easier to maintain when it’s kept in a pot with a moist, well-drained potting mix.

For a while, I avoided saying the lipstick plant’s genus name because I struggled to get it to roll off my tongue. If you find yourself in the same boat, then please know that it’s pronounced esh-kee-nan-thus. There is your (useless) fact for the day!

CARE
Low maintenance

PET FRIENDLY
Yes

LIGHT
Bright, indirect light

ALL THE DIRT ON THE LIPSTICK PLANT
Light
The lipstick plant thrives in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. It can tolerate lower light conditions, but it won’t flower and its growth will slow.

Potting mix
Use a moist, well-drained potting mix. I like to blend two parts African violet mix with two parts perlite and one part horticultural charcoal. I’ve also seen success with equal parts of premium potting mix, coco peat, perlite and orchid bark.

Fertiliser
Liquid feed regularly during spring and summer, or apply a controlled-release fertiliser at the beginning of spring.

Water
Water when the top 2.5 to 5 centimetres of potting mix is dry. Ensure that the water runs through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Humidity
The lipstick plant originates from tropical and subtropical regions, so the more humidity you can afford to give it, the better it will grow. Keep it away from draughts, heaters and air-conditioning vents. To increase humidity, group it with other plants.

CHOICE CULTIVARS OF THE LIPSTICK PLANT
Aeschynanthus radicans ‘Curly’
This cultivar has small, dark green leaves that curl inwards towards the stem, making it a fun addition to your plant collection. The unusual foliage provides a fantastic backdrop for the bright red, tubular flowers.

Aeschynanthus radicans ‘Thai Pink’
A beautiful cultivar, it has baby-pink flowers and rounded green leaves. Even when it’s not in bloom, the trailing stems make for an attractive feature; the plant should be displayed in a hanging basket or on an elevated stand so you can appreciate its handsome foliage.

COMMON PROBLEMS OF THE LIPSTICK PLANT
Sticky leaves and poor growth
Symptom: Leaves may turn yellow, with stunted or distorted growth. Cottony fluff, or green, yellow, black or transparent insects, may be clustered on leaves and stems, leaving behind a sticky residue.

Cause: Mealybugs or aphids (sap-sucking insects). The sticky residue is honeydew, a by-product of mealybugs and aphids.

Solution: Spray affected leaves and plant parts with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, ensuring that the solution makes thorough contact with the pests for effective control. Wipe away dead bugs with a cloth. Alternatively, use a systemic insecticide, which is absorbed by the plant and works from within to eliminate pests as they feed. Repeat as necessary.

GROWING TIPS
Make use of cuttings
If the trailing stems of your lipstick plant are getting too long, then simply trim them back to the desired length. But don’t discard the cuttings – you can propagate them and grow more plants. Remove a few of the lower leaves from the cut end to expose the nodes. Place the cuttings in a jar of water, ensuring that at least two nodes are submerged.

If the cuttings are top heavy, then you may want to remove additional leaves from the lower part of the stem. Top up the water as needed, and replace it weekly to prevent it from becoming murky. Once the roots reach 5 to 10 centimetres in length, transplant the cuttings into a pot filled with fresh potting mix. For a fuller look, you can plant a few cuttings in the same pot.Images and text from The Plant Book by Tammy Huynh, photography by Chris Chen. Murdoch Books RRP $45.00.