Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' (curly lipstick plant) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright, indirect light all year; an east window or a few feet back from a south/west window is ideal. A little gentle morning sun deepens leaf colour and drives flowering, but harsh midday sun scorches the foliage. Too little light gives leggy growth and few or no blooms. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering aeschynanthus 'rasta': when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-9 days in growth. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly until it drains, then let the top few centimetres dry before watering again. As an epiphyte it resents soggy roots, so never leave it standing in water. Ease off in winter, keeping the mix barely moist. Use tepid water; cold water can spot or drop leaves.

Soil and pot

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' grows best in light, fast-draining epiphytic mix. Use a chunky, airy blend — peat-free coir or potting mix cut with orchid bark, perlite and a little sphagnum. Roots need air, so avoid dense, water-retentive compost. A snug pot with good drainage holes suits it; it flowers more reliably when slightly pot-bound. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' sits happiest at around 50-60% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). Prefers moderate to high humidity. Average room air is tolerated, but dry winter heating can crisp leaf tips and cause bud drop. Group with other plants, sit it near a pebble-and-water tray, or run a humidifier. Mist sparingly and avoid wetting open flowers. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed aeschynanthus 'rasta' sparingly. Feed every 2-4 weeks spring through early autumn with a balanced or bloom-boosting houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. A higher-potassium feed encourages flowering. Stop or reduce feeding in winter while growth slows. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on aeschynanthus 'rasta' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Few or no flowers — Usually too little light or no cool, drier winter rest. Give brighter indirect light and a short autumn cool-down (around 13-16°C) to initiate buds.
• Leaf and bud drop — Triggered by cold draughts, sudden temperature swings, or letting the rootball dry out completely. Keep watering steady and away from cold windows and heat vents.
• Leggy, sparse growth — Low light stretches the stems and bares the base. Move to brighter indirect light and pinch back tips to encourage branching and fullness.
• Root rot — Caused by dense mix or overwatering, leaving roots soggy. Use an airy epiphytic blend, let the top layer dry between waterings, and ensure free drainage.

Propagation

Easily propagated from 8-10 cm stem-tip cuttings in spring or summer. Remove the lower leaves and root in moist coir-and-perlite mix or water; warmth and humidity (a covered tray or bag) speed rooting in 3-4 weeks. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses (Lipstick Plant, Aeschynanthus humilis, family Gesneriaceae), with no toxic principles. As with any plant, nibbling large amounts may cause mild, transient stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of aeschynanthus 'rasta' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' watering schedule
• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' light requirements
• Best soil mix for aeschynanthus 'rasta'
• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' fertilizing guide
• When to repot aeschynanthus 'rasta'
• How to propagate aeschynanthus 'rasta'
• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' growth rate & size
• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' cold hardiness
• Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' temperature & humidity
• Is aeschynanthus 'rasta' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is aeschynanthus 'rasta' toxic to cats?
• Is aeschynanthus 'rasta' toxic to dogs?
• Getting aeschynanthus 'rasta' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' is also commonly called curly lipstick plant or Rasta lipstick vine.

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