Reasons for Lipstick Plant Losing Leaves and How to Fix It

The flowers and plants of the world are endlessly varied and charming, yet some people love only the lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans). For these plant-loving folk, growing potted plants can become their greatest hobby. The lipstick plant is highly ornamental, with lush green leaves and vivid flowers, and its blooms are shaped like lipstick, which is how it got the name “lipstick plant”. Because the lipstick plant is rarely affected by pests and diseases, it is very convenient to grow at home, so more and more plant lovers are joining the ranks of potted-plant growers.

But even though pests and diseases are rare, some plant lovers still find that their potted lipstick plants are dropping leaves. What is going on? What should you do when a lipstick plant drops its leaves? In fact, when potted flowering plants drop leaves, it is mostly due to water and fertilizer, so we should start from these aspects first, find the root of the problem so we can treat it accordingly, and help the plant regain its vitality and vigor.

1. Improper watering

If watering is improper, it may cause a potted lipstick plant at home to drop leaves, especially when overwatered. So how should a lipstick plant be watered to avoid leaf drop?

From the articles previously published here, we know that the lipstick plant has a relatively high water requirement during its vigorous growth period, so it needs watering 3 or 4 times almost every week. Especially in hot summer weather, besides watering, you also need to mist the leaves, and you can also sprinkle water in the surrounding environment, which can raise the air humidity and achieve the goal of keeping the plant moist. Of course, you must not overwater the plant, especially in seasons when the plant grows slowly. If you overwater, it is easy for water to accumulate in the pot, which can lead to root rot, yellow leaves, and leaf drop.

2. Improper fertilizing

Improper fertilizing is another important cause of leaf drop in lipstick plants, and this is usually caused by fertilizer burn from applying too much fertilizer or fertilizer that is too concentrated. Everyone knows that many plants need nutrient supplementation during growth, but supplementation must be moderate and you should not blindly apply extra fertilizer. Potted lipstick plants are no exception. So how should a lipstick plant be fertilized to avoid fertilizer burn and the appearance of yellow leaves and leaf drop?

Although the lipstick plant likes a fertile soil environment, its fertilizer requirement is not great. Even when fertilizing, it is recommended to apply a thin, well-rotted liquid fertilizer, which avoids the irritation that raw fertilizer brings to the plant and also prevents the concentration from being too high. By applying thin, well-rotted liquid fertilizer, the plant can absorb the nutrients more fully, more evenly, and more safely while still getting an adequate supply, thereby effectively avoiding fertilizer burn and, in this respect, eliminating the occurrence of yellow leaves and leaf drop.

3. Insufficient light

In daily care and management, improper water and fertilizer are the main causes of yellow leaves and leaf drop. Of course, besides water and fertilizer, are there really no other factors that can cause leaf drop? Actually, there are. Besides water and fertilizer, if the plant grows in a dark environment for a long time, it will lack light, which in turn affects photosynthesis, so it cannot complete metabolism in time, and the plant will naturally also show wilting, yellow leaves, and leaf drop.

So, based on the growth characteristics of the lipstick plant, we know that it likes to grow in a warm, bright, semi-shaded environment, and especially in winter, you should provide the plant with plenty of light. If the place where the lipstick plant is placed lacks light for a long time or does not get enough light, then besides leaf drop, the leaves will also fade and the plant will become listless. It is clear that light is also very important for the plant's growth.

From the 3 points above, we know that leaf drop is mostly caused by improper water and fertilizer and insufficient light, so in our daily care and management we should work hard to do these 3 things well.