Lipstick plant care isn’t difficult, as long as you follow a few basic requirements, your plant will thrive for years to come! You can avoid this, by keeping the plant as well as the soil moist. I have 1 room with East exposure that is available for the newly divided plants, and hope that works. Proper watering and adequate lighting are the most important things to consider when growing lipstick plants indoors. So it’s better to let the soil dry slightly between waterings, rather than keeping it moist at all times. Hope this helps! I got mine as a teeny tiny $2.99 terrarium plant, and it has tripled in size since then. Lipstick plants are hardy in zones 10 – 12 so here in the US we grow them as houseplants. A general purpose liquid fertilizer for indoor plants, or compost fertilizer would work great for blooming lipstick plants. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. There are more than 150 species of Lipstick Plants are found, some of the common varieties are explained below: Radicans ‘Curly’ (Eschynanthus) It is the type of lipstick plant that looks very unusual, grown because of its vines that roam extravagantly. This detailed guide will show you everything you need to know about how to care for lipstick plants. Otherwise, you can mist your plant regularly as part of your lipstick plant care routine, run a humidifier near it, or even grow it inside of a mini indoor greenhouse if the air in your home is extremely dry. How to Grow Lipstick Plant. Red lipstick plant (aeschynanthus radicans). how to add drainage into a hanging planter, how to drill a drainage hole into a ceramic pot, how to get rid of spider mites on houseplants. You can use the cuttings from pruning your plants to grow new plants through propagation, too. If the vines get too long for the spot you have it, you can always trim the back to keep them the size you want rather than moving it. Use sharp scissors to snip off any excess roots growing out from the main root mass. This can dry them out too much. Be sure to dip the cuttings in rooting hormone before rooting them, this will help to speed things up. I’m a passionate gardener who loves growing everything from vegetables, herbs, and flowers to succulents, tropicals, and houseplants - you name, I've grown it! If they are turning more of a black color than brown, then it’s likely due to overwatering. When I bought my plants they were the only 2 left at the store and I had to fight a lady for them so I want to make sure I have a couple with Spring coming up.. It also helps to prevent soil compaction. The genus aeschynanthus has about 150 different species of evergreen subtropical and tropical plants—generally they are trailing plants with bright flowers. Another important factor relating to lipstick plant care is watering. If the leaves of a lipstick plant appear soft and shriveled, give the plant more water. I haven't watered it in 3 weeks but the rotting still hasn't stopped. Enjoy! If you’re looking for a beautiful and unique houseplant to add to your collection, I highly recommend getting yourself a lipstick plant. A good well-draining soil can help prevent over-watering. Simply remove some of the leaves from the bottom part of the cuttings. The cascading vines of lipstick plants look beautiful in a hanging basket, or spilling over the top of a pillar or shelf. When I saw one at Lowes for just over 10 bucks, I grabbed it! Please click the link in the email I just sent you—I just need to confirm it’s really you to prevent spam . Do not place lipstick plant near air condition vents as exhaust will damage it. If you struggle with indoor plant care during the winter months, then my Winter Houseplant Care eBook is for you! Keep the planted cuttings in moderate light. The lipstick plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight, and will bloom it’s best when given plenty of light. The development of a lipstick plants slows when temperatures reach below 60°F. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although it flowers profusely which is refreshing in the winter, I notice that some of the green leaves are wrinkled even though the soil is moist. Let it sit for a bit and then wash down the plant, flushing the soil with soapy water to kill any larvae. Lipstick plants also like high humidity, so a bright bathroom or kitchen would make a great home. Neem oil is a natural insecticide. Pruning lipstick plants will encourage the plant to grow fuller, rather than longer vines, but it’s usually not a necessary part of lipstick plant care. If it isn’t thirsty, your plant could be too cold. Each displaying desirable characteristics that fit any style you would love to grow your lipstick plant- in a hanging basket, an open garden, or … In a rush, a few hours of drying will suffice, but the leaf can be left to dry for up to 3 days. If your plant is looking untidy, or not very full, then you can prune off the vines to the desired length. I used to water it once a week and I thinkthat was too much at once. Aeschynanthus radicans. Also, check to make sure you’re watering it correctly. The Lipstick Plant does best when provided with bright, indirect light. Lipstick plant flower looks like a tube of lipstick. Add a few different varieties to your collection for constant blooms throughout the year! Also, be sure to grow your lipstick plants in a pot that has drainage holes in the bottom to prevent overwatering, or use an African violet pot. Lipstick plants (Aeschynanthus radicans) or are house plants that develop vibrant red, tubular blooms at the ends of trailing sets of small, dark green leaves. Lipstick Plant Losing Leaves? When to repot. I am going to show you how to Propagate Lipstick Plant.1. To fight these yucky houseplant bugs, I recommend using natural, organic pest control methods rather than toxic chemical pesticides. These plants lose green leaves when they are over-watered. Download your copy today! It’s said to be a prolific bloomer, but mine hasn’t bloomed yet. No matter the variety of lipstick plant you choose, the care needs remain largely the same. Buy your own gorgeous lipstick plant from Logees. Use a liquid organic food at 1/2-strength. However, if your lipstick plant is dropping buds or healthy flowers daily, then that’s not normal. Make sure it’s in a spot where it gets bright, indirect sunlight. before I brought them in. If your houseplant is facing problem of browning of leaf edges, chances are it is facing direct sunlight or too little water. Some even have curly leaves that remind me of the more rare hoya rope plants. They are tropical plants that are easy to grow, but will do best if the air is humid. However, when random leaves, even the newer ones, begin to turn yellow and fall off, it is an indication of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Eventually you will establish a new plant. There is new growth from the center of the plant. Repot your lipstick plant when it outgrows its container. But bcuz some leaves have dropped, it is getting some spindley areas on the plant. Check out my post about how to get rid of spider mites on houseplants. A drop in temperature in winter repeated cold drafts or lack of water or moisture may cause this problem. The blooms are very unique – as they open, the flower resembles a tube of lipstick – hence the common name of lipstick plant. Anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the plant to drop leaves. It needs me to give it a good deep soak instead of just a bit of water. A humidifier is also an option. The plant should be placed in a position where it receives the brightest light. On the other hand, dry brown leaves could be caused by chemicals in the water (softener salt, chlorine, etc), or over fertilizing. In order to be successful with lipstick plant care, be sure to give it the right amount of light, water and fertilizer. Plenty of light will help encourage blooming. Any idea what is the reason ? 🙂. You’re welcome! Some varieties climb, while others bunch and trail. So glad you found the article helpful, and now you’re a lipstick plant expert. It’s all yours! No spam; unsubscribe anytime. They are gorgeous, with lovely waxy leaves and unique flowers – and they bloom profusely with the right care. African violet potting soil also would work great for growing lipstick plants. For more details, review my privacy policy. Also, note that the lipstick plant does not like to be moved during the flowering period. Pruning isn’t really necessary, but you can easily snip off the ends of stems that have any drying of dead foliage. Aeschynanthus longicaulis black pagoda: This one has gorgeous leaves with cool-looking patterns on the leaves in a lighter green color. So don’t worry if your house gets colder during the winter. Just curious at the growth rate of these plants! When they fall they dont appear dead blooms, like it is shedding fresh blooms. The flowers on this variety are small and green, so the real show-stopper for this plant is its leaves. Lipstick Plant Care: How to Help Your Plant Thrive Indoors! If the soil is wet, then allow it to dry out a bit before watering it again. Oh no, sorry you’re having trouble with your lipstick plants. No spam; unsubscribe anytime. They prefer to be kept slightly on the dry side, and don’t like to be overwatered. What the heck am I doing wrong. There are several reasons for falling leaves. Carefully check the soil by sticking your finger one inch down and if it’s dry then water it. If you notice very fine webbing on your plants, you likely have spider mites and need to take immediate action—spider mites can totally obliterate your poor plant in a few days! Lipstick vine prefers to be a … Here’s what you will find in this lipstick plant care guide…. Indoors, they are happiest in a temperature range of 65⁰F - 85⁰F. Is this normal? Lipstick plants can bloom throughout the year, but do so, more often during longer daylight hours. Leaf margins turn yellow and the new shoots drop off can be caused by the fact that the air around Aeschynanthus speciosus plant is too dry. Be certain to always check the soil before you water your lipstick plant to avoid overwatering. Wrinkly or dropping leaves on a lipstick plant are both signs of improper watering (either too much or too little). African violet fertilizer would also work great on lipstick plants. I found, really allowing soil to dry a few weeks will force a lipstick into bloom. Lipstick plants are easy to grow indoor plants, and they are fun to have in your plant collection too! Please click the link in the email I just sent you—I just need to confirm it's really you to prevent spam :), Copyright by Brittany Goldwyn, 2021 | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Burro's Tail Care: Growing This Unique Succulent. Required fields are marked *. Lipstick plants originate from tropical environments, so they like to be kept on the warmer and more humid side. Let it dry out after misting it. My lipstick plant keeps getting dark leaves. i too am in zone 4, the UP of Michigan, and my Hummingbirds love the lipstick plants… The peat moss helps to increase aeration in the soil and let more water pass through and out the bottom of the planter. Lots of people ask me “how do I prune a lipstick plant?”. Water these plants generously, but take care not to make the soil soggy. The second picture is what it used to look like but then slowly all the leaves started to fall off and the roots started to rot. I mentioned that I have a curly lipstick plant as well. Lipstick plant blooms just starting to open. The first thing you need to start watering the plant correctly. Lipstick plant cuttings can easily be rooted using a propagation chamber (or you can make your own DIY propagation box). If I have any questions, for sure I will come back here to read this article again and again…, Thank you so much, wish this plant was easier to come by in the garden centers, You’re welcome! For that one, I just added a thick layer or perlite in the bottom of the pot and take extra care not to overwater. I recommend using organic plant fertilizer rather than chemical ones because they work better, and there’s less of a chance of burning sensitive plants. One of mine is in a pot without a drainage hole—that’s the smaller one that started out as a terrarium-sized plant. Mine continues to bloom on and off all winter, and it’s one of my favorite winter flowering plants. Here’s everything you need to know! It came by mail 3 weeks ago Im giving it light humidity and moisture meter says moist Im at loss I dont know how to get it to perk up. If you find bugs on your lipstick plant, be sure to treat the plant immediately. Posted on Published: August 24, 2020 - Last updated: March 28, 2021 Categories Plants & Gardening. Since lipstick plants don’t like their soil to dry out completely between watering sessions, using a pot with a porous material like an unsealed or unglazed clay will dry the plant out faster. My lipstick plant has been dropping some green leaves. If you want to hear from me, drop your email below! (not to the point leaves fall/yellow) IMO, lipsticks also are likely to bloom when rootbound. It’s probably best, yes. Lipstick plants are fun indoor flowering plants that are also pretty easy to grow! We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees through links to Amazon.com. There is no bug mold its just not happy and I do not know what to do. It rooted well, but all I get is one long spindly branch. Good luck! I would recommend using neem oil, which is a natural pesticide that works great for getting rid of plant pests. Choose a lipstick plant species that fit your tastes. I’m not sure why they’re not more commonly sold, they easy to care for flowering houseplants. Although there are well over 100 different species of lipstick plants, there are a few that you’ll mostly commonly encounter at your local nursery. Lipstick plants can grow fairly fast in the perfect conditions. You’ll get used to the smell when you see how well it works Spray the plant’s foliage down and spray all over the top of the soil. Hello. However, if left dried out for too long, the leaves will start to turn brown and drop off. On the other side of the plant there is no growth and no stems. This is one of the plants I keep indoors year round, though—no outside summer vacation. Flowers form at the tips of the leaves, so this can also create more opportunities for flowers. This was a wish list plant for me for a while because it has the chunky, rope-like look of the hoya rope plant without the price tag. Unless soil nitrogen is regularly replaced through fertilizer applications, nitrogen deficiencies turn lawns and plant leaves yellow or pale green. Bud or flower drop is usually caused by improper watering, either too much or too little. Even if you don’t see the obvious bite marks, if the plant is small or stunted, this could mean a nutrient deficiency which also indicated pests or improper care. It can take about 2 months to form roots when you keep the soil slightly moist. Too much moisture is typically the cause. If it’s only losing one or two flowers, then it may not be a big concern. But if you tend to over water your houseplants, then I would recommend amending your potting soil with perlite or pumice to add extra drainage. Don’t let the soil dry out completely like you would for succulents. Lipstick plants enjoy household temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Lipstick plant is a beautiful flowering indoor plant prized for its shiny foliage and interesting flowers. Ideally the soil should stay lightly moist, but never wet or completely dried out. How do I save My Lipstick plant? Check boxes below for what you want to see—I won't send you anything else. Will the plant regenerate itself. It’s a pretty simple process, too. The vines and leaves on these varieties curl and twist, giving the plant a thick, full look. If the leaves also appear misshapen or as if they’re crumbling against the predation of another living organism feeding off the plants’ nutrients – this is yet another indicator. Lipstick Plant Care Guide: How To Care For A Lipstick Plant Does your pot need drainage? The sun outdoors is so much stronger than when it is filtered through a window. Mealybugs slowly suck the life out of your plant. All content found on this website is copyrighted materials and any form of reproduction is strictly prohibited. For my plants, this means roughly every 10 days. Be sure to use a sharp pair of precision pruners, or use bonsai shears to prune the delicate lipstick vines. I received this and it was probably in shock and then I caused even more of a problem. If it’s wet, then you’re overwatering it. When they don’t get enough sunlight, lipstick plants won’t bloom. Set the lipstick plant … This year I am bringing them indoors, I divided the plant into 2 and gave it fresh dirt and new pots Hello everyone, welcome back to my channel. I want to highlight a few care tips about this plant because I think it’s just a bit trickier than regular lipstick plants. They will bloom better when they’re root bound, so don’t repot your lipstick plant until it’s absolutely necessary. Certain pests, such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale, can cause leaf drop. The common name “lipstick plant” comes from the fact that the buds look like lipstick before they bloom. They are pretty versatile—and their lovely vines can grow multiple feet long. DIY Tiered Plant Stand: Make Space for More Plants! Do not allow this houseplant to be in a lot of direct sunlight. Stressing lipstick plants by allowing the soil to dry out before you water often encourages them to flower. Since lipstick plants like humidity, though, keeping them near heat registers isn’t a great idea. Aeschynanthus radicans Curly/Rasta: I haven’t found much information differentiating the two of these varieties, so I am lumping them into one here. Lipstick plant care is easy, and there are many different beautiful varieties of lipstick plants to choose from. For more details, review my privacy policy. If the soil is dry, water the plant thoroughly. In this family of the lipstick plant species, we do have trailing types, semi-trailing, upright, and climbing. You can also subscribe without commenting. It’s such a lovely, low maintenance plant. Check out my posts for how to add drainage into a hanging planter, how to drill a drainage hole into a ceramic pot, and how to drill a hole in a concrete pot! I love how they have such thick, succulent-like leaves. Lipstick plants don’t require any special soil, and will usually grow just fine in general potting soil. Holiday Cactus Care Guide: How To Grow Thanksgiving and Christmas Cactus, Cyclamen Plant Care Guide: How To Take Care Of A Cyclamen Plant, How To Care For A Pothos Plant (Devil’s Ivy), 17 Of The Best Office Plants For Your Workspace, 15 Easy Indoor Plants That Anyone Can Grow, How To Fertilize Houseplants: The Ultimate Guide, Terms Of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy. Where a large proportion of leaves fall it is a sign that the plant is under stress and there are a number of possible causes. If the soil is moist, then I recommend allowing it to dry out more between waterings. You could also use a time release houseplant fertilizer granules for tropical flowering plants. Make sure that the room is not colder than 15 degrees, as this can lead to flying around the foliage. Use filtered or distilled water, switch to an organic fertilizer (rather than a synthetic one), and don’t feed them during the winter. I’m about to toss it and look for a new plant but I also have some sentimental attachment to it since my uncle has passed. I used a regular indoor potting soil for my plants with a bit of peat moss added in. Leaves drop off and roots rot can be caused by too much water in winter Treatment: Cut off damaged roots and repot plant in a well-drained soil mixture. The plant flowers mostly in the spring and summer. Thanks for signing up for this freebie! PESTS: Spider mites, an annoying plant pest that can only be identified by its webbing on the leaves, can infest lipsticks. Direct sunlight is too intense for lipstick plants, and it can burn their foliage. I have a cutting that I got from my uncle a few years ago. I have three different varieties, and all were labeled as just “lipstick plant,” so I have done a bunch of research on which versions I likely have. . Aeschynanthus radicans Mona Lisa: This is the first lipstick plant variety I got (I think). You can also try a high-potassium fertilizer. Listed below are some of the most common causes for leaves falling off. The leaves might be curling one way or the other (up or down), or just dropping off the plant after yellowing or browning, signifying their death. Low light levels area common reason for leaf drop and sometimes shoots may die back. Of course, you can always find a variety of lipstick plants for sale online, and order a few of your favorites! If you struggle with properly watering your houseplants, I highly recommend you get an inexpensive soil moisture gauge to help you out. And this one also seems much happier with some misting on the foliage. 🙂. The most common cause of leaves falling off is improper watering. The best time to prune a lipstick plant is right after it’s done blooming, or any time in the early spring through summer. It has detailed information that will show you exactly how to care for your houseplants during the most difficult time of the year. Aphids do something similar. If you want to take your plant outdoors during the spring and summer, a shady spot is best. However, in the winter especially, your lipstick plants might enjoy an occasional misting with water from a spray bottle.