The lipstick plant is a tropical evergreen perennial plant that produces beautiful flowers which resemble the shape of a lipstick. These tubular-shaped flowers exhibit the beauty of nature and are of varying types, ranging from red to burgundy colours.
So, if you want to know how to care for a lipstick plant in the best possible way so that it flourishes and brightens up your garden, you are at the right place! In this article, right from types of lipstick plants to the humidity range needed for them to grow properly, we have covered everything you must know.
1. What is a Lipstick Plant?
Lipstick plants are some of the most unique flowering plants in the world.
They look extremely beautiful when placed both indoors and outdoors. The unique flowers of this plant are what makes it even more popular. The strong, wavy, and thick leaves also add to the beauty of the plant.
Before we jump on to learning the steps involved in taking care of a lipstick plant, let us have a quick chance at its basic details.
- Common name: Basket Vine or Lipstick Plant
- Scientific name: Aeschynanthus radicans
- Classification: Tropical Plant
- Temperature: 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Light: Bright light Indoors, shaded areas outdoors
- Flowers: Burgundy, red, orange or yellow,
- Humidity: High
- Water: Overwatering should be avoided
- Soil: Fast-draining soil is the best
This plant is mostly found in the Southeast Asian regions. It’s a flowering plant that is famous for the unique flowers it grows.
The name Lipstick plant comes from the way it blooms flowers. The unique formation of the flowers makes it very unique and demanding. One of the most interesting facts about this flower is the way it opens. When it is fully grown, it appears to be a lipstick oozing out from the tube. Hence the name Lipstick plant.
The colour of the flower may vary from plant to plant. It depends on the type of plant that you have bought at home. There are various kinds of flowers available for this plant.
Some of the colours are yellow, red, burgundy and even orange.
Different varieties of these plants are also available. Let us learn about them in detail.
2. Types of Lipstick Plant
As mentioned earlier, there are different varieties of this plant available. Let us know about them in detail.
2.1. Black Pagoda
It is one of the most unique varieties of the Lipstick plant. The colour of the flowers is the best part of Black Pagoda.
The flowers have a beautiful combination of red and orange colours, with the stamens being mostly yellow. The colour variations remain in the same colour combination but can be different for different plants.
Regardless of the variation, the colour of the Black Pagoda is very bright and gorgeous. This makes it one of the most unique varieties of Lipstick plants.
2.2. Curly Leaf
The curly leaf is another interesting variety of lipstick plants. We can make out by the name why this plant is named so. The leaves of this kind of Lipstick plant are generally curly.
Some of the plants even have semi-curvy or wavy stems. The flowers of this plant are also very colourful and vibrant. They attract a lot of people.
2.3. Mona Lisa
Sounds interesting by the name, right? Yes, Mona Lisa is the name of a variety of Lipstick plants. This type of Lipstick plant has dark green foliage.
The flowers are again the best part of this plant. The reddish-orange colour makes it very attractive.
2.4. Rasta
The most distinctive feature of the Rasta plant is its highly twisted leaves. The twisted leaves make the plant look unique and pleasing, even in the absence of flowers.
2.5. Variegated
Ever heard of this name before? We are sure you didn’t. This is because Variegated is one of the most rare hybrids of the Lipstick plant.
The variegated plant gets its name because of its unique property of showing a variety of colours, including white, golden, and cream, on its green leaves.
Due to this, some of the varieties also have white or golden-green leaves. You will be able to spot them in very rare nurseries.
3. How to Care for a Lipstick Plant
There are some very minor things that you must keep in mind while taking care of a lipstick plant. Though all of these might seem minor, they affect the overall health of the plant.
Let us know about the steps involved in taking care of this plant.
3.1. Water
Just like every other living entity, water plays a major role in the growth of a Lipstick plant. It is important to know that a Lipstick plant prefers to be dry but not completely dry. You should know how much water is enough so that you don’t end up overwatering the plant.
These plants have the ability to withstand drought and can bear extreme weather conditions. However, letting the water dry off completely is also not a good idea. This will result in the leaves being weathered. The leaves will turn brown and eventually fall off if you leave them unattended for a long time.
Keeping the soil moist and the tips of the plant dry is the best way to water these plants. Do not leave the plant dehydrated, but also do not overwater.
3.2. Humidity
Humidity plays a crucial role when it comes to growing a Lipstick plant. Exposing the plant to the right amount of humidity can do wonders. The humidity, which ranges from 50-60%, is perfect for the lipstick plant.
The kitchen and bathroom are, therefore, the perfect places for this plant if you are planning to keep it indoors. Does it sound weird? But it’s actually not. These places make the best environment for the Lipstick plant.
But if you don’t want to place your lipstick plant in the bathroom or the kitchen, then you can try another option to keep it sufficiently watered. You can try spraying water on the leaves every now and then to keep them moist. Make sure not to overdo it, as it can cause harm.
At the same time, it is important to keep a check on the humidity level that your plant is receiving on a daily basis. However, keeping track of the humidity levels can be challenging because there are always chances of inaccuracies when you do it manually.
That is why we have a small tip on how to care for a lipstick plant: consider placing a humidifier in the room where you are growing your lipstick plant. This can help you track the humidity levels more precisely, and you can decide whether to water your lipstick plant accordingly.
3.3. Light
Light plays another important role when it comes to growing and taking care of a plant. The amount of light it gets determines the quality of the plant. The plant generally prefers sunlight but indirect. It is always better to keep it in a place that receives indirect sunlight.
Take care of the amount of light your plant is receiving, even if you are keeping it indoors. Make sure to keep it in a place that receives light either from the window or any other sources in the room. This will help the plant to bloom.
Lack of light will result in poor health for the plant. The plant will not be able to bloom to its fullest. You can even add an artificial source of light to help the plant bloom if it is not getting enough sunlight. This artificial sunlight will also help the plant grow in the same way as the sunlight would.
Make sure to keep it away from direct sunlight if you are planning to place your plant outdoors. Keeping it in a place that is shady but still receives indirect sunlight is the best way to help the plant grow. Direct sunlight can be harsh for the little plant and will, therefore, cause withering.
3.4. Temperature
Temperature also plays an important role when it comes to growing a Lipstick plant. The right amount of temperature can do wonders for the plant. The ideal range of temperature for a Lipstick plant ranges from 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Any weather condition that goes higher or lower than this temperature can cause harm to the plant.
In some of the cases, these plants have been seen tolerating a temperature less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit for a short period of time. However, they cannot withstand these temperatures for a long time.
Exposing these plants to extreme weather conditions will result in shedding their leaves and halting their growth.
You can maintain the temperature of your plant by watering it regularly. Spraying some water on the leaves of the plant and keeping the soil moist will help it to grow better. You can also add a water tray if you want the air around the plant to be humid.
3.5. Soil
The type of soil you choose also plays an important role when it comes to taking care of a plant. A soil that is light and fluffy and can retain enough moisture and drain away the excess is the best type of soil for a lipstick plant.
A mixture of soil containing components like sphagnum moss and sand is a good example.
Water logging can damage the condition of the plant. It is therefore advised that the drainage of the soil be given proper importance.
The best practice that you can adopt to prevent water logging is watering the lipstick plant whenever you notice that the top layer of the soil has become dry. The time taken for this to happen will vary for every lipstick plant depending on its type, the amount of care taken and the area where it is placed.
4. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Apart from how to care for a lipstick plant, there are many other questions that bother planters. We have answered the most common of these questions below.
- What is the best time for the blooming of Lipstick plants?
The best time for blooming of the Lipstick plants is during summer and spring. They also bloom during the early fall. The plants are versatile and are known to flower throughout the year. If you take care of the plant well, it will produce flowers throughout the year.
- Are lipstick plants toxic in any way?
Lipstick plants are not toxic. They are completely safe for humans and pets. You can safely grow them in your house without the fear of anything.
- Are these plants very easy to grow?
Every plant is easy to grow once you know how to take care of them. You should know the fundamentals that are required to keep the plant healthy. This will make your plant’s growing process easy.
- What is the best spot to place the Lipstick plants?
You can place your plant either indoors or outdoors. The only thing to keep in mind is that it should not receive direct sunlight during hot summers. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause harm to the plant’s growing process. Contrastingly, you can keep the lipstick plant directly under the sun in colder weather conditions.
- How fast does a Lipstick plant grow?
The growth of the plant depends on the species. The rate of growth varies from one species of the plant to the other.
5. In the End
All in all, knowing about what variety of lipstick plants you have is essential for determining the steps you can take to ensure its proper care.
Getting the right type of soil, proper placement of the plant to ensure it gets filtered sunlight, and maintaining the right humidity levels around the plant are some essential steps you must take.
Have anything more to add? You can leave your valuable comment below and let us know.
Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Daraksha, B.Pharm
