Aeschynanthus tricolor (tricolor lipstick plant) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Aeschynanthus tricolor burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Wants plenty of bright, filtered light to flower well, with perhaps gentle early morning sun. Too little light gives lush leaves but no blooms; harsh midday sun scorches the foliage. An east or lightly shaded west window is ideal. 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 tricolor: when the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-9 days. 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 then let the surface dry before watering again; never leave roots standing in water. As an epiphyte it resents soggy soil. Reduce watering in winter, but do not let it dry out completely or buds and leaves drop.

Soil and pot

Aeschynanthus tricolor grows best in light, free-draining epiphytic mix. Use an airy, peat-free blend of coir or orchid bark with perlite, like a coarse houseplant or orchid mix. Good drainage and aeration around the roots prevent the rot this epiphyte is prone to in dense soil. 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 tricolor sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-27°C (64-81°F). Prefers a warm, humid atmosphere typical of tropical forests. Mist regularly or run a humidifier or pebble tray; dry air causes leaf drop and crisp leaf edges and discourages flowering. 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 tricolor sparingly. Feed every one to two weeks through spring and summer with a balanced or bloom-boosting liquid fertiliser at half strength; this fuels its prolific flowering. Cut back to monthly or none in autumn and 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 tricolor in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Leaf drop — Sudden leaf loss usually signals cold drafts, dry air, or erratic watering. Keep it warm, humid, and on a consistent watering rhythm.
• No flowers — Too little light or over-feeding with high nitrogen. Give brighter indirect light and a balanced or bloom feed; a slightly snug pot also encourages blooming.
• Root rot — From a dense mix or standing water. Use an open epiphytic mix and let the surface dry between waterings.
• Crispy leaf tips — Low humidity or mineral-heavy water. Raise humidity and use rain or filtered water.

Propagation

Easily propagated from 8-10 cm stem-tip cuttings rooted in a moist, free-draining mix or water; provide warmth and humidity. Take cuttings in spring or summer for fastest rooting. 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 tricolor is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus) appears on the ASPCA non-toxic plant list, so A. tricolor is considered pet-safe; even so, ingesting plant material can cause mild stomach upset, so discourage chewing. 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 tricolor deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Aeschynanthus tricolor 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 tricolor is also commonly called tricolor lipstick plant or three-colour aeschynanthus.

• Peace lily care — light, water and common problems
• Bird of paradise care — light, water and common problems
• Hoya care — light, water and common problems
• All 3899 plant care guides in the Growli library