Indoor Garden Guides
|
|
|
Lipstick Rasta You
would think the Lipstick Rasta came straight from Jamaica, but it
originally hails from the rainforests of Malaysia.
Also In
fact, it’s the red, trumpet shaped blooms that give the Lipstick Rasta
its name, as the flowers look just like a red tube of lipstick when they
begin to bloom. In
its natural habitat, the Lipstick Rasta trails from the branches of trees
in the tropics. The
cultivated variety is best displayed in hanging baskets or containers to
show off its long trailing ‘locks’ of dark green leaves crowned with
its bright blooms for an attention getting contrast.
Tips
for Care These plants prefer warmth, humidity and medium lighting conditions. The Lipstick Rasta is just as happy with artificial light as it is under natural lighting conditions. As a tropical plant, it of course needs a warm climate and it grows best in 65-70 degree temperatures. The Lipstick Rasta is a thirsty plant, and needs regular watering, particularly if kept in a hanging basket. In drier areas of the home, misting between the watering can help make up for the lack of humidity, but the Lipstick Rasta does forgive a slight drying-out between watering. During the winter, temperatures can be kept slightly cooler and the plant a bit drier to encourage the buds for new flowers. Bloom time usually occurs late summer into early fall, although some have been known to bloom year round. During warmer months, the Lipstick Rasta can really put on a show with the underside of leaves turning purple or burgundy. Once the leaves have their color, moving the plant to a lower light area can help prolong the leaf color without it ‘tarnishing’. Light
sandy soil with a mix of peat/humus is preferred and fertilizing can be
once or twice per month with a common houseplant fertilizer is best to
keep the this exotic houseplant happy and healthy. The
Lipstick Rasta is quite forgiving when it comes to outgrowing its pot.
In fact, being pot-bound actually encourages flowering in this
plant, and they usually require repotting only every two to three years.
They do like haircuts after flowering, and they can take a hard
pruning if necessary. Leggy
stems can be cut back to about 4-5 inches to encourage a fuller growth.
Bottom
Line For an easy
care houseplant that puts on quite a show, the Lipstick Rasta is a hardy
choice. Keep it moist, warm
and in medium light, and it will put on a year round display with its
foliage and then blooms for an encore. |
|
|
called the Aeschynanthus radicans, the Lipstick Rasta is
known for its curly, dense vines that look like dreadlocks from afar.