Aeschynanthus Rasta – Lipstick Plant

Lady in red with trailing long compact curls, she is a blooming stunner and she knows it. The Aeschynanthus Rasta sends out trailing fronds of shiny sickle shaped foliage, tipped with lipstick-like rouge blooms. Rasta is more robust and displays fuller foliage than her delicate cousin the pink polka.

Please note: the stems and leaves on this plant are very fragile and despite our best efforts some may be lost during transit.

Horty Hints

Pruning back longer stems by a third will promote bushier growth and subsequently more blooms.

Be cruel to be kind! If your trailing plant is quite long and leggy with not many flowers, a quick trim after flowering in autumn means you will get even more next year.

Blooming lovely! If you don’t have many flowers, try moving this plant somewhere warm, bright and humid. You will be thanked in the late summer.

Light

Preferably a lot of bright, indirect light, but can take some lower light levels. A lack of light can cause leaf drop, slow growth, and stems to become long and leggy. If this occurs, move to a brighter position.

Watering

Water moderately during the summer months, but do not soak the soil. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out between waterings. Never allow to sit in soggy soil as this can cause root rot. Water less frequently in the winter.

Temperature

Prefers a warmer position away from cold draughts. Ideal temperatures are 21-27°C but can tolerate as low as 18°C. Temperatures below 10°C will damage the plant and cause chilling, turning the leaves a dark red.

Humidity

Likes a high humidity, with the ideal location being the bathroom or kitchen as these are typically steamier rooms. Regular weekly misting is a good way to increase humidity levels.

Feed

Apply a weak dose of general-purpose feed once a month at most during the growing season (May-August).

View Plant Nutrition

Height & Growth Rate

Aeschynanthus Rasta is a slow growing plant which can reach heights of up to 45cm to 60cm.

Toxicity

Pink Polka is considered non-toxic. Consuming the plant is not advised.

Air Purifying

This plant filters airborne toxins and is part of our clean air plant collection.

Origin

Aeschynanthus Rasta is a native of tropical South East Asia.

Please note: images show how this plant may look at various stages of maturity. The size you choose may look different.

View All Trailing & Hanging Plants