Jethro

Aeschynanthus Japhrolepsis

Lipstick Plant

• 
  Bright light
• 
  Easy care

• Jethro likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    Give him a drink when the top two inches of his soil feel dry. He likes his soil lightly moist, but not soggy.

  • 
    Medium light

    He grows best in conditions where the light is bright but indirect, i.e. not direct sun. He won’t do well in shade.

  • 
    Humidity

    He’s from the tropics so he loves a moist environment. Mist him every few days, or give him a home in the bathroom.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Aeschynanthus japhrolepsis

  Nickname

  Lipstick plant

  Plant type

  Indoor hanging plant

  Air purifying

  Yes

  Plant height

  25-35cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  15cm

• About lipstick plants

  The lipstick plants, or aeschynanthus, is found in steamy forests across the eastern hemisphere. There are over 150 different species, most of them epiphytes, which means they grow in nooks on trees or rocks, rather than on the ground.

  The name lipstick plant is probably confusing on first look. It makes sense when you see it in flower, as you hopefully will if you give your plant the right conditions. The bright red flowers emerge from little tubes, so they look like lipsticks twisting out of their holders.

  You should see flowers if you put your plant somewhere that gets a good amount of bright light, but not direct sunlight. Keep its soil lightly moist and give it a regular squirt with a mister. It’s also a good idea to feed it once per month in spring and summer. Follow those instructions and you should see lots of flowers. Even when it’s not in flower, this plant is a beauty, whether it’s a hanging plant or cascading its bright green leaves from a high shelf.

  Did you know?

  Most lipstick plants are pollinated not by bees but by stunning sunbirds. You don’t get a lot of sunbirds in the wild in Britain, sadly.