Aeschynanthus pulcher, the lipstick plant or red bugle vine, is a species of evergreen perennial plant in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Indo-China and western Malesia. An epiphytic climber, it produces clusters of red flowers from summer to winter.
Overwatering your Curly Lipstick is a no-no. Moderate watering is best. Do not soak the soil as this will lead to root-rot and potential fungal problems.
The Aeschynanthus lipstick vine will not bloom without adequate light. Avoid placing this plant in full shade or full sun. The plant needs bright light for a portion of the day, but not all day long.
Curly Lipstick Plants enjoy a home in well-aerated soil. Using a liquid fertiliser is a good idea, but ensure that you keep the soil moist.
Prune the lipstick plant back right after it finishes blooming. Pruning encourages new, healthy stems and leaves. Each stem should be trimmed back to a length of about 6 inches (15 cm). Use sharp scissors or hand pruners and make a cut right above a leaf.
Indoor temperatures ranging between 75°F to 85°F promote the best growth and flowering. Lipstick Plants will tolerate temperatures down to 60°F but the growth slows. When indoor temperatures drop to 50°F or lower, the plant suffers tissue damage and leaf drop.
A hanging basket is a good pot for the cascading Aeschynanthus lipstick vine. You can also grow the vine on slabs of wood, but if you do, be sure to keep the plant adequately moist. You can repot this plant from a few cuttings if you fertilize the plant and water it moderately.
