Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Tweedie's Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus tweediei)— schedule & NPK
Also called Tweedie's Lipstick Plant, Tweedie's Basket Vine.
More about tweedie's lipstick plant
About Tweedie's Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus tweediei · also called Tweedie's Lipstick Plant, Tweedie's Basket Vine · tropical
Aeschynanthus tweediei is an epiphytic gesneriaceae species from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, closely related to the common lipstick vine and sharing its characteristic tubular flowers and trailing growth habit. It is a specialist collector's species seldom seen outside botanical gardens and specialist nurseries, prized for its compact, neat trailing stems and vibrant blooms. Like all Aeschynanthus, it requires consistently warm temperatures and should never be exposed to temperatures below 15°C. The ASPCA lists Aeschynanthus (lipstick plant) as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Growth habit: Trailing epiphytic evergreen with slender, arching stems suited to hanging baskets or mounted displays.
What fertiliser tweedie's lipstick plant actually wants — and why
Tweedie's Lipstick Plant is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for tweedie's lipstick plant: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed tweedie's lipstick plant, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For tweedie's lipstick plant:
Feed fortnightly with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength during spring and summer; withhold feeding in winter. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when tweedie's lipstick plant is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for tweedie's lipstick plant
Half strength is the safe default for tweedie's lipstick plant — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water tweedie's lipstick plant first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the tweedie's lipstick plant watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding tweedie's lipstick plant
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for tweedie's lipstick plant:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding tweedie's lipstick plant
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full tweedie's lipstick plant care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of tweedie's lipstick plant with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for tweedie's lipstick plant
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising tweedie's lipstick plant — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does tweedie's lipstick plant need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Tweedie's Lipstick Plant is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed tweedie's lipstick plant?
Feed fortnightly with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength during spring and summer; withhold feeding in winter. Feed fortnightly with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength during spring and summer; withhold feeding in winter. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for tweedie's lipstick plant?
Half strength is the safe default for tweedie's lipstick plant — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding tweedie's lipstick plant look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding tweedie's lipstick plant year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of tweedie's lipstick plant?
Flush the pot of tweedie's lipstick plant with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Tweedie's Lipstick Plant care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water tweedie's lipstick plant — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise low's cymbidium
- How to fertilise noble cymbidium
- How to fertilise giant cymbidium
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library