Why is my lipstick plant not blooming?

It likely needs more bright, indirect light to produce flowers.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Lipstick plant.

Aeschynanthus radicans

Pronounced ees-kee-NAN-thus RAD-ih-kanz

Also known as lipstickplant

Aeschynanthus radicans — Photo by luluchouette (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The lipstick plant is a lovely trailing tropical that gets its name from its unique, tube shaped red flowers. It loves a warm, humid spot in your home where it can show off its glossy leaves. It is a fantastic choice for hanging baskets near a bright window.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Epiphytic trailing vine
Light: Bright indirect light
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 10 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late spring to late summer

Care

Keep your plant in a spot with high humidity and consistent warmth to encourage blooming. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings, but watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering. If the stems look sparse, feel free to pinch them back to promote a fuller shape.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems after flowering to maintain a bushy appearance.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound in its current container.
Soil: Well draining peat based mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 27°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth despite proper care.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
Pets: This plant is considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: Keep out of reach of small children to prevent accidental ingestion of leaves or stems.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no known significant respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should be kept away from food preparation areas.

How to identify it

Glossy, dark green waxy leaves
Bright red tubular flowers
Trailing stems that grow long
Flowers emerge from dark maroon calyxes

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: red, yellow, 5 to 8cm

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Root RotCommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a warm spot away from cold drafts. Reduce watering slightly during the cooler months when growth slows down.
In containers: It is an excellent choice for hanging baskets, which allow its trailing stems to grow naturally.

Stem cuttings

1. Take a 10 centimeter cutting from a healthy stem.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Place the cutting in moist potting mix or water.
4. Keep in a warm, humid spot until roots form.

Group this plant with other tropical foliage to create a microclimate that helps maintain necessary humidity levels.

Grows well with

Ferns · They share similar requirements for high humidity and indirect light.
Orchids · Both are epiphytic plants that thrive in warm, humid indoor environments.

Similar species

Goldfish plant · It has similar trailing growth and tubular flowers.

Science

Family: Gesneriaceae
Genus: Aeschynanthus
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical regions of Southeast Asia.
Conservation: This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

As an epiphyte, it grows on tree branches in humid rainforests, gathering moisture and nutrients from the air and decaying debris.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: hummingbirds
Uses: hanging basket plant, indoor ornamental

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why is my lipstick plant not blooming?: It likely needs more bright, indirect light to produce flowers.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Aeschynanthus comes from the Greek words for shame and flower, referring to the red color. The common name lipstick plant refers to the unique shape of the flower buds.

Good to know

It is commonly called the lipstick plant because the flower buds emerge from a dark calyx like lipstick from a tube.
It is an epiphyte that grows on trees in the wild.
The stems can trail up to 60 centimeters long.

Keep your lipstick plant growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.