How to grow the lipstick plant? Understand the growing methods and precautions in one article
1. Soil.
The lipstick plant adapts to growing in slightly acidic, well-drained, loose sandy soil. When potting, you can mix peat soil, sand and vermiculite powder with an appropriate amount of superphosphate to make a potting medium, or use leaf mold plus coarse sand or barnyard manure mixed with coarse coal furnace slag as the medium.
2. Watering.
The growing season of the lipstick plant is from March to September each year. During this period the lipstick plant has a relatively large demand for water. Besides frequent watering, you can also use a spray bottle to spray water directly onto the leaves to increase the humidity in the air. After September, once autumn and winter arrive, reduce the amount of watering to help improve its cold resistance.
3. Temperature.
The most suitable temperature for the lipstick plant's growth is around 25 degrees. Its cold tolerance is somewhat poor, so when growing it in winter, move it indoors and keep the indoor temperature above 12 degrees. If you notice the lipstick plant's leaves turning red, you should raise the room temperature and increase light.
4. Light.
The lipstick plant likes a semi-shaded, airy environment. In midsummer the sunlight is intense at noon, so pay attention to providing appropriate shade. In spring and autumn the sunlight intensity is suitable, so give it sufficient light, which helps keep the leaves brightly colored. When growing it indoors in winter, place it in a position where it can receive direct sunlight to supplement light.
5. Fertilizing.
The lipstick plant has vigorous growth and does not have a very high demand for fertilizer. Generally, apply some thin, decomposed liquid fertilizer every two weeks. In summer, fish innards and bones can be soaked in water, fermented, then diluted 20 times before application.
Lipstick plant Aeschynanthus pulche Lipstick plant illustrated guide: how to grow the lipstick plant / how to propagate the lipstick plant
Lipstick plant profileLipstick plant Aeschynanthus pulche
Aliases: large red lipstick plant, flower vine grass
Classification: vine flowering plant
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiosperms, Lamiales, Gesneriaceae, genus Aeschynanthus
Full bloom period: summer
The lipstick plant is a recently introduced excellent hanging plant, and both its flowers and leaves have high ornamental value. As a small indoor foliage and flowering plant, the lipstick plant has a graceful plant shape, lush stems and leaves, and brilliant flower colors. It can be placed on a table or displayed hanging, and is a fashionable fine product for home flower growing. It was introduced to China several years ago. The stems of the lipstick plant hang down to about 1 m long. The dark green leaves of the lipstick plant, together with the bright red and peculiar corolla, are quite beloved by people. The flowering period of the lipstick plant is mainly in summer.
Growing methods and precautions of the lipstick plant Introduction to the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is a recently introduced excellent hanging plant, and both its flowers and leaves have high ornamental value. As a small indoor foliage and flowering plant, the lipstick plant has a graceful plant shape, lush stems and leaves, and brilliant flower colors. It can be placed on a table or displayed hanging, and is a fashionable fine product for home flower growing. It was introduced to China several years ago.
The stems of the lipstick plant hang down to about 1 m long. The dark green leaves of the lipstick plant, together with the bright red and peculiar corolla, are quite beloved by people. The flowering period of the lipstick plant is mainly in summer.
Morphological characteristics of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is an epiphytic evergreen trailing vine plant. It is epiphytic and is often planted in hanging baskets. The stems hang down to about 1 m long. The flowers are borne in pairs at the tips of the branches, with short pedicels, and the corolla is tubular and bright red.
The leaves of the lipstick plant are opposite, ovate, elliptic or obovate, leathery and slightly fleshy, 4.5 cm long and 3 cm wide, with entire margins, obvious midveins, and inconspicuous lateral veins. The leaf surface is dark green and the underside is light green. The flowers are axillary or terminal in clusters. The flowers are borne in pairs at the tips of the branches, with short pedicels, and the corolla is red to red-orange, about 6.5 cm long. The calyx is tubular, dark purple and covered with fine hairs. When it grows to about 2 cm, the corolla emerges from the mouth of the calyx, tubular and bright red, just like lipstick, hence the name.
The stems of the lipstick plant hang down to about 1 m long. The dark green leaves of the lipstick plant, together with the bright red and peculiar corolla, are quite beloved by people.
The flowering period of the lipstick plant is mainly in summer.
Ecological habits of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant likes a high-temperature, bright, sunny, semi-shaded environment. Although it likes sunlight, it can only receive at most 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight each day.
When cultivated indoors, the lipstick plant is best hung about 1 m from a south-facing window. During the day keep the indoor temperature above 24 degrees, and at night the temperature should be 18 to 21 degrees. The potting soil should be loose, well aerated, and kept constantly moist. It is relatively cold tolerant, but likes a high-temperature environment. It likes well-drained soil. After the flowering period, it can be heavily pruned once, leaving 15 cm, and given a thin fertilizer application. Spring cuttings propagate easily. It is grown indoors in pots or as hanging plants for ornament. The plant shape is graceful, the stems and leaves are lush, and the flower colors are brilliant.
Cultivation techniques of the lipstick plant Cultivation management
The lipstick plant likes a warm, bright, semi-shaded environment. Insufficient light easily causes the branches to grow leggy and makes flowering difficult; excessive light turns the leaves red-brown. For a lipstick plant grown at home, it is most suitable to hang it about 1 m from a south-facing window.
The potting soil is best slightly acidic. You can use a potting culture soil made of peat soil, sand and vermiculite, and add an appropriate amount of superphosphate. You can also use 8 parts leaf mold mixed with 2 parts coarse sand; or cultivate it with decomposed cow dung and horse dung mixed with 30% coarse coal furnace ash.
In hot summer, it can be placed outdoors under a shade shed or in a shaded, ventilated spot under trees, with about 50% shading. For those living in buildings, the pot can be hung under the frame of a balcony, shaded with a bamboo curtain above, or the pot can be hung on the inner side of a south-facing door or window where scattered light is abundant. The lipstick plant usually needs little fertilizer; apply some decomposed liquid fertilizer every two weeks, better thin than concentrated. When potting, an appropriate amount of livestock hoof and horn pieces and broken bone pieces can be added as base fertilizer, which can make it grow well.
For example, a 0.1% solution of monopotassium phosphate and a 20-times solution of decomposed fish innards water, bone water, etc. can all be used to promote the opening of autumn flowers. After potting, keep the potting soil moist, but not too wet, especially when the pot has poor ventilation, as the root system easily rots or causes leaf drop. Frequently spray water mist on the leaves to keep the air humidity at around 80%. Avoid wind blowing the branches and tendrils, so that the hanging stems are not worn through by the rim of the flower pot. In autumn, as the weather gradually turns cold, gradually reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing. In winter the potting soil should be slightly dry. Apart from appropriately applying some fertilizer solution containing slightly more phosphorus before budding and flowering, in general you should fertilize little or not at all.
Temperature management
The growth temperature of the lipstick plant is 18-30°C, with the most suitable temperature around 25°C. Its cold tolerance is relatively poor, and the overwintering temperature should generally be above 12°C. In winter it needs to be brought indoors to overwinter. If you find the lipstick plant's leaves turning red, it is mainly caused by too low a room temperature or too strong light, and at this time you should promptly raise the room temperature. If the room temperature is too low, it can also cause leaf drop and dry, withered branches.
The lipstick plant is not cold tolerant, and in winter it needs to be brought indoors to overwinter. The lipstick plant is not strict about air humidity and can adapt as long as the indoor air is not too dry. Its suitable growth temperature should be around 25°C, and the overwintering temperature should be above 12°C. If you find the lipstick plant's leaves turning red, if it is not due to too strong light, then it is due to too low a room temperature, and at this time you should promptly raise the room temperature. If the room temperature is too low, it will cause leaf drop and dry, withered branches. If the room temperature is suitable, the flowering period of the lipstick plant will be concentrated from December to February of the following year. At this time you should apply less nitrogen fertilizer, increase the intensity of indoor light, and control a relatively low room temperature, which promotes the flowering of the lipstick plant. After the winter flowering period ends, promptly cut off the remaining stems that have already flowered, which can save the consumption of the plant's own nutrients and promote the growth of new branches, so that it produces more buds and flowers.
Cultivation medium
The potting medium is best a loose, fertile, slightly acidic humus soil. You can use a potting culture soil made of peat soil, sand and vermiculite, and add an appropriate amount of superphosphate as base fertilizer. You can also use 8 parts leaf mold mixed with 2 parts coarse sand as the medium; or cultivate it with decomposed cow dung and horse dung mixed with 30% coarse coal furnace ash. The lipstick plant needs little fertilizer during growth, and when potting, an appropriate amount of livestock hoof and horn pieces and broken bone pieces can be added as base fertilizer, which can make it grow well.
Watering and fertilizing
When cultivating the lipstick plant, the potting soil should often be kept moist, but on no account should water accumulate in the pot, especially when the pot has poor ventilation, so as to avoid causing root rot. In winter the potting soil should be slightly dry. In summer, frequently spray mist on the leaf surface to increase the humidity of the leaves and the surrounding environment to benefit its growth.
The lipstick plant usually needs little fertilizer; apply some decomposed liquid fertilizer every two weeks, better thin than concentrated. When potting, an appropriate amount of livestock hoof and horn pieces and broken bone pieces can be added as base fertilizer. During the vigorous growth period of the lipstick plant, apply a decomposed organic fertilizer solution once every 15 to 20 days. After passing through summer, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, for example a 0.1% solution of monopotassium phosphate and a 20-times solution of decomposed fish innards water, bone water, etc. can promote the opening of its autumn flowers. When the weather gradually turns cold in autumn, gradually reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing. Apart from appropriately applying some liquid fertilizer containing slightly more phosphorus before budding and flowering, in general you should fertilize little or not at all. Under conditions such as suitable room temperature, the flowering period of the lipstick plant will be concentrated from December to February of the following year, and at this time you should apply less nitrogen fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
After the winter flowering period ends, promptly cut off the remaining stems that have already flowered and prune the overlong hanging branches once, which can save the consumption of the plant's own nutrients and promote the growth of new branches, producing more flowers the following year.
Growing methods of the lipstick plant Care points
As a tropical flower, the lipstick plant has the habit of liking warmth and moisture, and avoids strong direct sunlight. It grows luxuriantly in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated spot by a window or under the eaves. The suitable growth temperature of the lipstick plant throughout the year is between 20°C and 30°C, and its cold tolerance is weak. During home care, if the temperature is below 15°C, promptly move it to a warm, sheltered indoor spot, otherwise the leaves are easily frozen and turn yellow and withered. The lipstick plant is relatively drought tolerant, and avoids wetness and fears waterlogging. In the hot summer, frequently spray mist on the leaf surface to increase the humidity of the leaves and the surrounding environment. Because the flowering period is relatively long, flowering in summer and autumn, the supply of fertilizer and water should be sufficient. When cultivating, it is best to bury decomposed organic fertilizer at the base, and apply a flower fertilizer once a month during the growth period.
For a lipstick plant placed indoors for display or hung for ornament, the flowering period generally ends after 1 to 2 months, and the flowers then wither. At this time you can prune the overlong hanging branches once to promote the growth and sprouting of new branches at the base, producing more flowers the following year. At the same time, propagation can be carried out along with post-flowering pruning. Cut the pruned branches into 8 to 10 cm lengths, remove some of the lower leaves, insert them obliquely into plain sand, keep them cool and moist, and they will take root in about one month, forming a new plant.
For greenhouse cultivation, the length of the cuttings can be shortened to 2-3 cm, with just 1 pair of leaves. Keep the room temperature at 20-25 degrees Celsius and the humidity above 50%, and in about 10-15 days they will take root and survive in large numbers. In about ten months, when the branch length is above 30 cm, they can form buds and flower.
Propagation methods of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is commonly propagated by cuttings, which can be done throughout the year under conditions of 20°C to 30°C.
Spring cuttings propagate easily. Cut 10 to 15 cm long branches from the tips of the branches as cuttings, insert them in clean river sand or vermiculite, keep the soil and air moist, avoid scorching sun exposure, and maintain ordinary room temperature; they will root in about one month. After rooting, remove the bag, keep the potting soil slightly moist, and they can be transplanted in about 1 to 2 weeks. Several plants can be planted per pot. When planting, just keep the soil moist; do not water too much, otherwise it easily rots or causes leaf drop. In summer they can be directly inserted into the potting soil. During vigorous growth, you can appropriately pinch the tips to promote branching.
Pest and disease control of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant has relatively few pests and diseases, but when cultivated in summer, due to reasons such as hot and humid weather, the lipstick plant is prone to anthracnose. When the plant becomes diseased, small spots often appear on the leaves and gradually expand to form yellow-brown round spots. When the disease is severe, most of the leaves wither, blacken and die, and sometimes disease spots also appear on the stems. Keeping the cultivation site well ventilated, reducing air humidity, and reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer can prevent the occurrence of this disease.
The pathogen Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. et Curt) Wei is called Corynespora fungus. The pathogen spores mostly grow on the leaf surface, and can also be produced on the underside, but fewer. The conidiophores are mostly solitary, slender, and unbranched.
At the early stage of the disease, it can also be prevented with a 500-times solution of 50% carbendazim or a 500-times solution of 65% zineb. In addition, during the cultivation of the lipstick plant, if it lacks calcium fertilizer, the terminal buds will necrose, so superphosphate, etc. should be supplemented during cultivation.
In addition, when buying a lipstick plant, you should choose one with evenly growing branches, lush branches and leaves, and many densely packed flowers. Usually the lipstick plant is sold hanging in the air, so after buying it you should roll up the hanging branches and leaves upward and wrap them in newspaper or a bag, otherwise the hanging branches and flowers will be bruised and damaged, affecting the ornamental effect.
Variety classification of the lipstick plant Hairy calyx lipstick plantAeschynanthus radicans
Aliases: large red lipstick plant, Lobbes' lipstick plant
Family and genus: Gesneriaceae, genus Aeschynanthus
Morphological characteristics: perennial vine plant. The plant trails, the branches hang down, and the stems are green. The leaves are opposite, long ovate, with entire margins, the leaf surface is dark green and the leaf underside is light green. The inflorescences are mostly axillary or terminal, the calyx is tubular, dark purple and covered with fine hairs, and the corolla is tubular, red to red-orange, extending from the calyx. The flowering period is mainly in summer.
Distribution: native to the tropical regions from Indonesia to eastern India, introduced and cultivated in China.
Zebra lipstick plant（Aeschynanthus marmorata)
The leaves are ovate, thick, opposite, emerald green in color, with regular dark red zebra stripes on the leaf surface and purple stripes on the leaf underside. The flowers are small and pale yellow-green.
Slender calyx lipstick plant(Aeschynanthus micranthus)
The leaves are emerald green and glossy, and the flowers are dark red and tubular.
Beautiful lipstick plantAeschynanthus speciosus
Alias: emerald brocade lipstick plant
Family and genus: Gesneriaceae, genus Aeschynanthus
Morphological characteristics: perennial epiphytic evergreen herbaceous plant. The branches creep and hang down. The fleshy leaves are opposite, ovate-lanceolate, with pointed tips and short petioles. The umbel inflorescences are borne at the top of the stem or in the leaf axils. The small flowers are tubular, curved, and orange-yellow, with the base of the corolla green, and the stigma and anthers often extend beyond the corolla. The flowering period is July to September.
Origin and distribution: native to Java and other places in Southeast Asia, cultivated in Taiwan, China and Guangdong, China.
Distribution area of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is native to Java, the Malay Peninsula, and Borneo.
Uses and purposes of the lipstick plant Potting use
As a small indoor foliage and flowering plant, the lipstick plant has a graceful plant shape, lush stems and leaves, and brilliant flower colors. It can be placed on a table or displayed hanging, and is a fashionable fine product for home flower growing.
Landscape uses of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is suitable for potted hanging and is a foliage and flowering plant, and is also often used as a beautiful landscape plant variety.
Cultural background of the lipstick plant Origin of the name
The corolla of the lipstick plant emerges from the mouth of the calyx, tubular and bright red, just like lipstick, hence the name.
Lipstick plant pictures
How to grow the lipstick plant Growing methods of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant is also called lipstick spider plant, flower vine grass, large red lipstick plant, etc. It is an excellent hanging plant introduced to China in recent years. Both its flowers and leaves have relatively high ornamental value. It has a graceful plant shape, lush stems and leaves, and brilliant flower colors. It can be placed on a table or displayed hanging. As a small indoor foliage and flowering plant, let us take a look together at the growing methods and precautions of the lipstick plant!
Growth habits of the lipstick plant
The cultivation soil for the lipstick plant is best loose, fertile sandy loam, and drainage must be as good as possible. The cultivation site must be cool and ventilated, with about 50 to 70% sunlight, and it avoids strong direct light. The suitable growth temperature is about 15 to 25°C. It likes a semi-shaded environment. If the placement site has too strong or insufficient light, the leaves easily turn pale green or yellow-green, lose vitality, lose their due ornamental value, and may even dry up and die. If there is direct sunlight and the air is dry, it most easily causes scorching. It avoids continuous high temperature and high humidity; poor drainage and ventilation will cause rot.
Propagation methods of the lipstick plant
The lipstick plant can be propagated by cuttings, with spring and autumn being the suitable periods. Select robust, thick branches and cut each 7 to 10 cm into 1 section. Insert them into loose sandy soil, or a culture soil prepared from 50% fine tree fern fiber, 20% perlite and 30% coarse sand. Keep appropriate humidity, receive about 50 to 60% sunlight, and after about 30 to 40 days they can take root and become seedlings. After the root mass grows vigorously, transplant them into pots or cultivate them in flower beds.
Growing methods of the lipstick plant
1. Soil: The soil for growing the lipstick plant is best loose, fertile sandy loam, and drainage must be as good as possible. The potting soil is best slightly acidic. You can use a potting culture soil made of peat soil, sand and vermiculite, and add an appropriate amount of superphosphate.
2. Light: The lipstick plant likes a semi-shaded environment. Throughout the year, except for the strong light at noon in midsummer, which should be appropriately shaded, it should be given sufficient light at other times, especially in winter. If the placement site has too strong or insufficient light, the leaves easily turn pale green or yellow-green.
3. Temperature: The lipstick plant should be placed in a cool, ventilated spot, and attention should be paid to maintaining environmental humidity. It avoids continuous high temperature and high humidity; poor drainage and ventilation will cause rot. It is not cold tolerant, and in winter it needs to be brought indoors to overwinter.
4. Watering: When growing the lipstick plant, the potting soil should often be kept moist, and on no account should water accumulate in the pot, so as to avoid causing root rot. From March to September, the vigorous growth period, the water demand is relatively large, so it needs frequent watering and spraying to increase humidity. In autumn, as the weather gradually turns cold, gradually reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing. In winter the potting soil should be slightly dry.
5. Pruning: When the lipstick plant grows vigorously, you can appropriately pinch the tips to promote branching. After the winter flowering period ends, promptly cut off the remaining stems that have already flowered, which can save nutrients and promote the growth of new branches, so that it produces more buds and flowers.
Precautions for growing the lipstick plant
1. After potting the lipstick plant, keep the potting soil moist, but not too wet, especially when the pot has poor ventilation, as the root system easily rots or causes leaf drop. Frequently spray water mist on the leaves to keep the air humidity at around 80%.
2. In the hot summer, the lipstick plant can be placed outdoors under a shade shed or in a shaded, ventilated spot under trees, with about 50% shading. You can also hang the lipstick plant under the frame of a balcony, shade it with a bamboo curtain, or hang the pot on the inner side of a south-facing door or window where scattered light is abundant.
3. Avoid wind blowing the branches and tendrils of the lipstick plant, so that the hanging stems are not worn through by the rim of the flower pot. In autumn, as the weather gradually turns cold, gradually reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing.
4. When caring for the lipstick plant in winter, the potting soil should be slightly dry. Apart from appropriately applying some fertilizer solution containing slightly more phosphorus before budding and flowering, in general you should fertilize little or not at all.