How to Grow Lipstick Plant
Wikimedia Commons
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus radicans
flowerLipstick plant is a tropical trailing houseplant known for its vibrant red, tubular flowers that resemble lipstick tubes emerging from dark burgundy calyces. It produces glossy, ovate leaves on cascading stems and thrives in warm, humid indoor environments. This epiphytic plant is popular as a hanging basket specimen for its dramatic blooms and elegant foliage.
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Example Lipstick Plant timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Lipstick Plant
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Lipstick Plant blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lipstick Plant dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Best grown indoors in zones 10-11; can be cultivated as a houseplant anywhere with proper temperature control
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Get my Lipstick Plant timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
2-4 weeksNew plant develops root system and adjusts to growing environment; minimal visible growth above soil
Keep soil evenly moist, maintain warm temperatures (65-75°F), provide bright indirect light, and high humidity. Be patient—avoid fertilizing for 4-6 weeks.
Vegetative Growth
2-4 monthsStems elongate and produce new leaves; plant develops trailing habit with vigorous leafy growth
Maintain consistent warmth (65-75°F), bright indirect light, and humidity. Begin light fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with diluted liquid fertilizer. Pinch back growing tips to encourage branching.
Pre-flowering
4-8 weeksPlant reaches maturity with fuller, bushier appearance; leaf nodes thicken and flower buds begin to form at stem tips
Continue regular feeding with balanced or slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer. Ensure cool nights (55-60°F) to trigger flowering. Maintain bright light and high humidity.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (can extend with proper care)Vibrant red, tubular flowers with dark burgundy calyces appear at stem tips; flowers last 2-4 weeks individually with continuous succession of blooms
Maintain ideal temperatures, humidity, and light. Reduce fertilizer frequency as flowering begins. Do not move the plant or disturb blooming stems. Continue regular watering.
Post-flowering & Rest
4-8 weeksFlowers fade and drop; plant enters semi-dormant period with slower growth; reduced metabolic activity
Reduce watering slightly and allow soil to dry more between waterings. Withhold fertilizer. Maintain warm temperatures but allow for cool nights. Prune away dead flower stems to maintain shape.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; wipe leaves with rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs; increase humidity to discourage infestations
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Increase humidity significantly; spray with water to knock off mites; use neem oil; ensure good air circulation
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Remove manually with tweezers; spray with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap; treat every 7-10 days for 3 weeks
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase air circulation
Uses
Indoor Ornamental Display
HouseholdLipstick plant serves as a striking hanging basket specimen for home interiors, patios, and conservatories. Its cascading growth habit and vibrant red blooms make it ideal for decorative focal points in warm indoor spaces. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Bouquets
CraftFresh lipstick plant flowers can be used in tropical-themed floral arrangements, corsages, and decorative bouquets. The waxy, long-lasting blooms add exotic elegance to cut flower displays. [source]
Hummingbird & Pollinator Attraction
WildlifeThe tubular red flowers are specially adapted to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators in tropical regions. Growing this plant indoors or on tropical patios supports pollinator biodiversity. [source]
Air Quality & Humidity Regulation
HouseholdLike many tropical houseplants, lipstick plant contributes to indoor air quality and helps regulate humidity levels in growing environments, supporting overall indoor plant ecosystem health. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not a harvested plant. Remove spent flowers by cutting stems just below the dead bloom to encourage continued flowering and tidy appearance. Prune back overgrown stems in early spring to maintain shape and vigor.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The common name 'lipstick plant' refers to the tubular red flowers that protrude from burgundy calyces, which visually resemble lipstick being extended from a tube—the darker calyx resembles the lipstick case.
- 🌱 Lipstick plants are epiphytic in their native tropical rainforest habitat, meaning they naturally grow on tree branches rather than soil, which is why they prefer well-draining, bark-rich growing media.
- 🌱 The plant produces waxy flowers with reduced sepals that protect developing buds, an adaptation that makes the blooms appear to 'pop out' dramatically when they open.
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