The Aeschynanthus lipstick vine has pointy, waxy leaves and blooms with bright clusters of red blossoms. These flowers emerge from a maroon bud resembling a tube of lipstick from which the plant derives its common name. 'Black Pagoda' has interesting yellow and orange flowers, with dark mottled foliage. It can be quite scraggly, but given good light and proper care, it will mature into an attractive basket plant.
Lipstick flower vine is a moisture-loving plant and needs to be kept moist but not too soggy. Water whenever the soil feels dry on the surface, adding water to the soil until the excess trickles from the drainage holes at the base of the pot. If the pot sits in a saucer, tip out the excess water after watering so the pot isn't sitting in a puddle. Reduce watering by half in winter when the weather is cool and the light is dim.
Place the vine in the right light exposure for the particular plant. Although growing requirements vary, most plants require at least four hours of sunlight per day. Most don't do well in bright, direct light, especially during the summer, and most don't perform at their best in total shade. Read the plant's tag or consult a professional at a greenhouse or nursery.
Lipstick flower vines feed moderately during the warmer months when they are actively growing. Logee's Plants for Home & Garden recommends feeding with 1/2 teaspoon of water-soluble fertilizer diluted in 1 gallon of water. A balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, or a blooming fertilizer, such as 7-9-5 or 5-10-3, also work well for feeding a blooming lipstick flower vine. Dilute the fertilizer in water and replace one watering per month with the solution to help support the plant's growth and blooming.
The right soil makes a world of difference when it comes to watering lipstick flower vine. The University of Georgia Extension recommends using potting soil specific to gesnariad plants, such as African violets, although any soil mixture enhanced with sphagnum moss will help hold moisture around the roots. Avoid sandy potting mixes because they won't provide the correct moisture retention. Moisture-retaining soil is especially important for lipstick flower vines that are grown in hanging pots because the limited soil volume means they will dry out more quickly than those grown in larger pots.
Lipstick flower vine suffers from very few pest or disease problems apart from occasional crown rot if it is overwatered, so it will look attractive with little more than occasional grooming or pruning. The plants bloom on mature growth, so pruning must take place after the flowers fade. Prune back the entire plant so the stems are 6 inches in length using very sharp, clean pruning shears. Cutting back the whole plant will encourage more dense, lush growth. Make the cut just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching.
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