Curly Lipstick Plant

🌿 The Curly Lipstick Plant, scientifically known as Aeschynanthus radicans 'Curly', belongs to the Gesneriaceae family. Native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, this epiphytic plant naturally grows on tree branches where it cascades downward in humid, dappled light. It's considered an intermediate-level houseplant, requiring some attention to humidity and watering but rewarding growers with striking tubular red flowers. Here's something interesting: the plant's buds emerge from dark burgundy calyxes that look remarkably like tubes of lipstick, which is exactly how it earned its memorable common name.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This is a trailing plant with a cascading growth habit, making it perfect for hanging baskets or elevated shelves where its stems can drape freely. The leaves are small, thick, and fleshy with a glossy, waxy texture that helps the plant retain moisture. What sets the 'Curly' variety apart is the distinctive twisted or curled leaf edges that give the foliage extra visual interest. The deep green leaves grow in pairs along arching stems that can eventually reach several feet in length, creating a lush, flowing appearance.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers are tubular and bright red with yellow throats, resembling small tubes of lipstick emerging from darker calyxes. They have a smooth, waxy texture and no noticeable fragrance, but their vibrant colour and unique shape make them absolute showstoppers. Flowering typically occurs in spring and summer when conditions are right, though with proper care, you might see blooms sporadically throughout the year. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, maintain consistent humidity, avoid overwatering, and give the plant a slight rest period in winter with reduced watering and cooler temperatures around 15-18°C.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light is essential. Place near an east or west-facing window with filtered light. Needs 6-8 hours of bright, indirect light daily. Too much direct sun will scorch leaves; too little light means fewer flowers.
💧 Water: Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry, usually every 5-7 days in summer and every 10-14 days in winter. Reduce watering in cooler months. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom, then discard excess water. Bottom watering works well to avoid wetting the foliage.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 50-70% humidity. Will tolerate average home humidity around 40%, but higher humidity encourages better growth and flowering. Mist occasionally or use a pebble tray.
🪴 Soil: Needs well-draining, chunky soil that mimics its epiphytic nature. Mix regular potting soil with orchid bark, perlite, and a bit of peat moss or coco coir for moisture retention without sogginess.
🏺 Potting: Use shallow pots with drainage holes, as the root system is relatively small. Plastic or terracotta both work, but terracotta dries faster. Repot every 2-3 years in spring, going up only one pot size.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate growth rate. Expect 15-30 cm of new growth over six months in good conditions. In a year, stems can grow 30-60 cm. Mature plants can have trailing stems reaching 60-90 cm or longer.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed every 2-3 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce to monthly in fall and skip fertilizing in winter. A bloom-boosting fertilizer can encourage more flowers.
🐾 Pet friendly: Yes, the Curly Lipstick Plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it a safe choice for homes with curious pets.
WHERE TO PUT IT
This plant thrives in bright bathrooms where humidity is naturally higher, or in living rooms and bedrooms near windows with sheer curtains. Hanging baskets near east or west-facing windows work beautifully, as do high shelves where the trailing stems can cascade down. You can also place it on plant stands or in macramé hangers to show off its flowing growth habit. Avoid dark corners, windowless rooms, or spots near heating vents and air conditioners, which will dry out the foliage and reduce flowering. Keep away from cold drafts in winter.