The Curly Lipstick Plant is a little bit of theater for a quiet room. Its glossy leaves twist and coil down every stem like dark ribbon, and every so often the tips open into tubes of scarlet that look exactly like lipstick rising from its case. It is a trailing plant first and a flowering plant second, and with a soft, steady routine it gives you both. Here is how to keep yours curling and blooming.
Curly Lipstick Plant care at a glance
| Light | Bright indirect light, with a little soft morning sun for the best blooms. |
| Water | Water when the top third of the soil is dry. Roughly every seven to ten days in summer, every two weeks or so in winter. |
| Soil | A light, airy mix: indoor potting soil blended with orchid bark and perlite. |
| Pot | A hanging planter or high shelf with a drainage hole, only an inch or two wider than the nursery pot. |
| Temperature | 65 to 80°F. Keep it above 55°F and away from cold drafts. |
| Humidity | Loves humid air, around 50 percent or more. |
| Feeding | A bloom friendly houseplant fertilizer at half strength every two to four weeks in spring and summer. |
| Pets | Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. |
| Care level | Gentle routine. A quick check in once or twice a week. |
What makes the curly one special
Lipstick plants (Aeschynanthus) are epiphytes from the warm, misty forests of Southeast Asia, where they grow on tree branches instead of in the ground. That tells you most of what they want indoors: filtered light, air around the roots and humidity in the air. The curly form, often sold as 'Curly' or 'Twister', has leaves that spiral and cup along the stem, so even between blooms it looks like a sculpture. It is a natural for a hanging basket, where the stems can drape and twist freely.
Light: the key to blooms
Light decides whether you get flowers. An east window with gentle morning sun is ideal, or a bright spot a few feet back from a south or west window. In medium light the plant stays healthy and green, but it rarely blooms, and the stems stretch out with more space between leaves.
Harsh afternoon sun through glass can bleach or scorch the leaves, so soften it with a sheer curtain. If your home runs dim in winter, a small grow light a foot or two above the plant keeps it blooming. Our houseplant light guide helps you read each room.
Watering: let it breathe between drinks
Those thick, waxy leaves store water, so this plant forgives a missed watering far more easily than soggy soil.
- Feel first: water once the top third of the soil feels dry to the touch.
- Water the soil, not the leaves: pour at the base until water runs from the drainage hole. Water sitting on the curled leaves can invite leaf spot.
- Empty the saucer: roots that sit in water rot quickly in an epiphyte.
- Ease off in winter: let it dry a little further in the short days, and use room temperature water.
Hanging plants dry out faster than you expect, since warm air rises. Lift the pot now and then; a light pot is a thirsty pot. If leaves go soft and yellow while the soil is damp, our root rot guide walks you through what to check.
Humidity and warmth
Think forest canopy. Steady warmth between 65 and 80°F and humid air keep the leaves glossy and the flower buds from dropping. Grouping it with other plants, a pebble tray under a shelf plant or a small humidifier nearby all help, especially when heaters run. If you mist, do it in the morning so the leaves dry by evening. Keep it away from drafty doors, cold windowpanes and heat vents. Our houseplant humidity guide and winter care guide have more simple ideas.
How to get a Lipstick Plant to bloom
Most lipstick plants that will not flower are simply asking for more light. After that, a few small habits make a big difference.
- Bright light: the single biggest factor. Move it closer to the window.
- A snug pot: slightly root bound plants bloom more freely than ones in roomy pots.
- A cooler, drier rest: in late winter, a few weeks a little cooler (around 60 to 65°F) with slightly less water helps set buds for spring.
- Feed gently: a bloom friendly fertilizer at half strength through spring and summer.
- Tidy spent flowers: pull off faded blooms so they do not sit damp on the leaves.
Soil, pot and repotting
Give the roots air. Mix indoor potting soil with a generous handful of orchid bark and perlite, and choose a planter with a drainage hole. Our potting soil guide explains each ingredient, and our pot size and drainage guide helps with fit. Repot only every two or three years, in spring, going up just one size. Our repotting guide makes it an easy ritual.
Pruning and fuller growth
After a flush of blooms, trim long or bare stems back by a third, cutting just above a leaf pair. New shoots branch from below the cut and the plant fills in from the top, which keeps it from looking leggy. The trimmings root easily: tuck four to six inch cuttings into moist potting mix or a glass of water in a warm, bright spot, and pot them back into the basket for a fuller curtain.
Reading the leaves
| What you see | Most likely cause | What to do |
| Healthy but no flowers | Too little light | Move closer to a bright window or add a grow light |
| Long bare stems | Low light or age | More light, and trim back after blooming |
| Yellow, soft leaves with damp soil | Too much water | Let it dry further and check the roots |
| Wrinkled or limp leaves with dry soil | Thirsty | Water deeply and let it drain |
| Buds dropping before opening | Dry air, drafts or a move | Raise humidity and keep it in one steady spot |
| Brown spots on leaves | Water sitting on foliage | Water the soil only and improve airflow |
| Leaves dropping in winter | Cold draft | Move away from doors, glass and vents |
| Cottony white clusters in leaf joints | Mealybugs | Dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab, then treat weekly with insecticidal soap |
Quick answers
How often should I water a Curly Lipstick Plant? When the top third of the soil is dry, usually every seven to ten days in summer and about every two weeks in winter.
Why won't my lipstick plant bloom? Almost always light. Give it bright indirect light, a slightly snug pot and a short cool rest in late winter.
Is the Lipstick Plant safe for cats and dogs? It is generally considered non-toxic to pets. Discourage chewing all the same, and browse our pet friendly indoor plants for more gentle companions.
When does it flower? Mostly spring through fall, often in several flushes, and sometimes nearly year round in a bright, humid home.
How long do the stems get? Indoors, trailing stems usually reach one to three feet.
Bring one home
Our Curly Lipstick Plant arrives in its nursery pot, ready to hang in a bright window. Give it a home from our planters with drainage and saucers, or browse all our planters for one that lets those curls tumble.
More guides from Planty Things
And if your lipstick plant ever seems shy about blooming, send a photo to mike@plantylove.co. We are always happy to help.