The Lipstick Plant, Aeschynanthus radicans, is a captivating tropical epiphyte admired for its long, trailing stems, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets. A member of the Gesneriaceae family, it naturally grows on tree branches in its native Southeast Asian rainforests. The ‘Pink Passion’ cultivar is a popular houseplant due to its unique visual appeal, featuring striking foliage and distinctive blooms.
Defining the ‘Pink Passion’ Variety
The ‘Pink Passion’ variety is distinguished by its striking tri-color foliage, setting it apart from the standard solid-green Aeschynanthus radicans. Its thick, waxy, shield-shaped leaves feature a deep green base variegated with patches of cream, pale yellow, and a blush of rosy pink along the edges and undersides. This pink coloration is often more pronounced when the plant receives bright, filtered light. The plant maintains a cascading growth habit, with vines that can easily reach lengths of three feet indoors. During the blooming period, the cultivar produces clusters of tubular, reddish-pink flowers that emerge from dark, cylindrical calyces, creating the iconic image of a lipstick tube being pushed out.
Optimal Growing Conditions and Maintenance
To ensure a ‘Pink Passion’ Lipstick Plant thrives, it requires bright, indirect light to maintain vibrant variegation and encourage blooming. Placing it near an east or west-facing window is often ideal. Direct, intense sunlight should be avoided, as it can scorch the waxy leaves, causing brown or crispy patches.
Watering should be managed carefully, allowing the top inch or two of the potting mix to dry out slightly between applications. The plant is sensitive to overwatering and subsequent root rot. It performs best in a well-draining, airy substrate, such as standard potting soil combined with orchid bark, perlite, or coco coir for enhanced aeration. The preferred temperature range is between 65°F and 75°F; exposure to cold drafts or temperatures below 50°F can cause leaf drop.
The plant appreciates high humidity, ideally 50% or higher, which can be provided by grouping it with other plants, using a humidity tray, or a room humidifier. During the active growing season of spring and summer, apply a balanced, liquid houseplant fertilizer monthly, diluted to half-strength. To stimulate flowering, provide the plant with a slight rest period during the cooler, darker winter months by reducing watering and stopping fertilization.
Pruning is beneficial for maintaining a bushy, full shape and encouraging new growth, which leads to more bloom sites. After a flowering cycle is complete, stems can be trimmed back to about six inches. Trimming the long, trailing stems helps the plant redirect energy into branching and denser foliage production. The plant often blooms most prolifically when slightly root-bound, so excessive repotting should be avoided.
Propagation Methods
Propagating the ‘Pink Passion’ Lipstick Plant is most reliably accomplished through stem cuttings during the spring or summer growing season. Select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a section four to six inches long, ensuring the cutting includes several leaf nodes. Remove the lower leaves to expose at least two nodes, as new roots will emerge from these points.
These prepared cuttings can be rooted successfully in either water or a rooting medium. For water rooting, place the bare nodes in a jar of clean water, ensuring the leaves remain above the waterline; roots should develop within a few weeks. Alternatively, cuttings can be inserted directly into a small pot filled with a moist, highly aerated mix, similar to the main plant’s soil. Both methods benefit from high humidity and warmth to speed up root formation.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
One of the most common issues with Aeschynanthus is leaf drop, usually a symptom of environmental shock or improper watering. If leaves are yellowing and dropping, the cause is often overwatering or poorly draining soil, leading to root rot. Conversely, dry, crispy leaves and a wilted appearance indicate low humidity or severe underwatering.
A plant that fails to bloom is suffering from a lack of sufficient light, as bright, indirect exposure is necessary to set flower buds. Increasing the light level or providing a cooler, drier rest period in winter will encourage flowering in spring and summer. Common houseplant pests, such as mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids, can occasionally infest the foliage, especially in low-humidity environments. Manage these pests by isolating the plant and treating affected areas with insecticidal soap or a diluted neem oil solution, applied thoroughly to all leaf surfaces.