Lipstick Plant about to bloom!

[orchidea]

This is Aeschynanthus radicans or Lipstick Plant 'Black Pagoda'.
I am growing this one with my chids. It likes humidity and doesn't need a lot of light. I didn't know I'll be able to make it bloom, because they told me in the store that it's not a blooming plant. Well, I didn't believe them because of it's name. Lipstick Plant that doesn't bloom???? No way...
So I took it home (about 4 months ago) and checked on line - what a funny plant; it shoots out little tubes and then the flowers come out like lipstick.
My plant has tubes already:




That's the whole plant, sorry it's too dark for taking pictures....


Does anyone have one like that? I think it's from the Hoya family....

[orchids4me]

Never even herd of it before.....
But its really COOL!!!!!
I like it : )
Thanks for posting it
Emmaye

[-k-]

Nice! looks very healthy! I had one of these for years before I let it go; strange plant. Mine had molted leaves though and the blooms were the strangest, like the jaws of a jumbo venus fly trap...

[Izzie]

I'm not sure if it's from the hoya family, but I have one of it's cousins- the Goldfish Plant! We got one from O'tooles and chucked it outside this summer under the umbrella, and it really took off! No blooms though. Any idea how you got yours to rebloom? It's now at my mom's office.

It should really be called the Platy or Mollie plant, because the flowers look more like them than Goldfish.

[Izzie]

Here's what mine will look like-
Nematanthus gregarius

[Izzie]

Just saw this- Aeschynanthus radicans - Lipstick Plant - Gesneriaceae
Your plant is an epiphyte? I had no idea.

And look! It's listed in DenverPlants! Lipstick Vine - Aeschynanthus - Denver Plants

[orchidea]

Thank you Izzie,
Yep, it's an epiphyte!!! That's what triggered my interest in it. I thought, WOW it should like my orchids....
Mine is Aeschynanthus radicans. There are apparantly many different Aeschynanthuses. I found one site with pictures of 20-30 different Aeschynanthuses...... They all called 'Lipstick Plant' I think....
I am taking care ot the plant just like I would one of my chids. Watering it about once a week with the showering it and letting water to drain right trough. It's hanging in the ES facing window with shade over it most of the day but morning....
I got this plant on sale for $4 at Lowes (they told me it doesn't bloom..)
I'll post his blooms if I am to get it any time soon......
I can cut a piece if you like it. It should root very easy.....

[Izzie]

Sure, maybe we can trade cuttings sometime. I have a darling Baby Sunrose (variegated) that might be big enough to trim next year. It's more of a succulent- PlantFiles: Detailed information on Baby Sunrose, Dew Plant, Heartleaf Ice Plant, Heart Leaf Ice Plant Aptenia cordifolia

[Phalcycle]

Oo looks like its an interesting flower to bloom soon

[Daethen]

Very nice. I like it.

[lmartiny]

Mine looks just like yours I think. A friend gave me a cutting about three years ago. You want to class it as a Hoya, but I'm not sure it is. There are similarities. It does root very easily too. Mine usually blooms in Feb. best I recall. No blooms last year. Too many freezes.

[BluPeaches]

I've never heard of that before but I like it.



the Goldfish Plant!
I saw one of these at the Balboa Park in San Diego. It was very nice and full of blooms.

[berniep]

G'day Orchidea

Very nice deep color lipstick plant, we have a old one, about 7 years old and flowers every year. It is bright red and looks to be setting buds now, so perhaps in a few months? It hangs outside year round and gets the late afternoon sun. I can't ever recall feeding it.
Izzie it hangs next to the goldfish plant, which seems to flower most of the year have also planted cuttings in the garden over the years and they grow and flower too.

Cheers
Bernie

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by berniep

G'day Orchidea

Izzie it hangs next to the goldfish plant, which seems to flower most of the year have also planted cuttings in the garden over the years and they grow and flower too.

Cheers
Bernie

Thanks, I'll see if mom can put it up on a shelf closer to the lights in her office, maybe that'll get 'er done. This is a pretty large plant in a 7" pot, so it has to be blooming size....

[meanie]

I have Aescynanthus "Mona Lisa"......

This has doubled in size since flowering finished in July. As you identify, good light is essential, and a regular misting.

[orchidea]

Now I see why they call it a "Lipstick Plant".

[lmartiny]

I noticed that mine was starting to form some buds. I am protecting it from the cold snaps and hope to see it bloom this year.

[Izzie]

Lovely! Glad it finally got it's act together.

[orchidea]

And finally the BLOOM!!!!
OMG, doesn't he look exactly like Elmo???????

[Ladyofthelakes]

Elmo, definitely,

But seriously, a very pretty plant, one that I have wanted for a lot of years. Next summer

[krpot]

I had no idea these were epiphytes. Cool! Both lipstick vines and and goldfish plants are in the gesneriad family (same as african violets}. I read that they like the same conditions as AVs. I plant mine in MG african voilet mix with added perlite and some sand and they love it. Georgeous Blooms! Gesneriads are definately my second loves after orchids of course. (:

[meanie]

One of the better local garden centres has a sale of house plants on at the moment (must have over estimated christmas demand). So I just picked up an Aeschynanthus marmoratus half price. It's not in bloom, but has great foliage and a few buds just starting to form.
The link below is a photo of what the flowers will look like.......

A. marmoratus | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Daethen]

YES, Elmo!! Really pretty.

[orchidea]

Hey guys, if you live in a warm climat and interested in attracting few hummingbirds THIS PLANT IS FOR YOU!!!!!!!
I took it down to check if it needs watering just to find out that the rain of sweet liquid is dropping from my plant.........
These little cups are filled with it!!!!! It's sooooo sweet.