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Indoor plant care

Lipstick Plant

Aeschynanthus pulcher

• LightLipstick Plant performs best in bright, indirect light…
• WaterKeep Lipstick Plant soil consistently moist without leaving…
• ToxicityNot ASPCA-listed
• Mature sizeIts trailing growth can reach 2 to 3 ft…

Lipstick Plant is an evergreen perennial with glossy green leaves carried along trailing stems. Bright red tubular blooms emerge with the look of lipstick rising from a tube. The cascading growth works well in a hanging pot or raised position. It suits an easy to intermediate grower who wants flowering foliage and can supply indirect light, steady moisture, and moderate humidity.

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Care data checked 25 September 2026 · Dany · A-Z Plants

Light requirements

Lipstick Plant performs best in bright, indirect light measuring 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹.

• Place it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid giving the foliage a direct view of the sky. Soften unavoidable direct sun with a sheer curtain.
• Excess sun may scorch the glossy leaves. Too little light can slow growth and reduce the display of red flowers.
• Measure photosynthetically active radiation with a PAR meter or PAR meter app, reported as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

Watering

Keep Lipstick Plant soil consistently moist without leaving it soggy. Test the mix at different depths with a knitting needle or chopstick. This prevents watering based only on a dry-looking surface. Reduce water considerably during winter when the plant is less active.

• Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
• Soak the mix until excess water flows from the drainage holes. Let it drain fully before returning the pot to a saucer or decorative planter.
• A container with drainage holes is essential to help prevent root rot.
• Avoid letting the entire root ball dry. Extended dryness can cause wilt, dropped growth, or crispy leaf edges.

Soil

Use an organic potting mix formulated for gesneriads. Lipstick Plant needs a blend that holds light moisture while draining enough air and water through the root zone.

• A DIY recipe combines 2 parts coir, 1 part pumice, and 1 part vermiculite.
• Use the finished mix in a freely draining container.

Feeding

Feed Lipstick Plant with an organic gesneriad fertiliser every 2 to 4 weeks from March through October. Use the dilution shown on its label because no strength is given. Do not overfeed, and pause during winter.

Temperature & humidity

Lipstick Plant prefers 65 to 75 °F / 18 to 24 °C. Keep humidity within the 50 to 60% range. Stable warmth and moderate humidity support its evergreen foliage and help prevent the leaf margins from drying.

What to expect

Lipstick Plant matures in about 2 to 3 years, giving it a moderate growth pace. Its trailing growth can reach 2 to 3 ft / 60 to 90 cm in height or length. The eventual spread is 1 to 2 ft / 30 to 60 cm.

Varieties & cultivars

• A. radicans ‘Mona Lisa’: Bushy green foliage and trailing vines can reach 2 ft / 60 cm. Oval leaves frame red and orange lipstick-shaped flowers.
• A. radicans ‘Twister’: Dark green leaves are pointed and twisted. Red flowers appear during spring.
• A. radicans ‘Variegata’: White or yellow streaks mark the variegated leaves. Its care matches that of the standard variety.
• A. radicans ‘Rasta’: Curly, twisted foliage gives this cultivar a distinctive texture, while its flowers are bright red.