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Plant care

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant (Lipstick Plant) care

Aeschynanthus radicans 'Mona Lisa'

Also called Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Plant.

RHS H1bUSDA 10–12Pet-safeIndoor 15–30 cm tall in a hanging basket

Watering rhythm

7-10days

Every 7–10 days in active growth; every 14 days in cooler months

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Light, fast-draining epiphytic or gesneriad mix

Humidity

50–70%

Temp

15–27°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

15–30 cm tall in a hanging basket

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Thrives in bright, filtered indirect light — an east or west window is ideal. Insufficient light results in sparse flowering and leggy growth. Avoid direct harsh sun, which scorches the glossy leaves. Supplemental grow lights at 12–14 hours per day work well in lower-light situations. 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 mona lisa lipstick plant: every 7–10 days in active growth; every 14 days in cooler months. 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, allowing excess to drain freely. Allow the top 2–3 cm of soil to dry between waterings. Never leave the plant sitting in standing water. Keeping the plant slightly pot-bound encourages flowering, as does avoiding overwatering. Use room-temperature water.

Soil and pot

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant grows best in light, fast-draining epiphytic or gesneriad mix. Use an African violet mix amended with perlite or pumice (1 part perlite to 3 parts mix) for rapid drainage. As a semi-epiphyte, it needs airy roots. Avoid heavy peat-only mixes that compact and retain excess moisture. pH 5.5–6.5. 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

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant sits happiest at around 50–70% humidity and 15–27°C (59–81°F). Prefers moderate to high humidity, consistent with its native Southeast Asian tropical habitat. Use a pebble tray or humidifier. The 'Mona Lisa' cultivar tolerates somewhat lower humidity than species plants but still performs best above 50%. Mist lightly if very dry. If you keep the room above 15–27°C 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 mona lisa lipstick plant sparingly. Feed every 1–2 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. A phosphorus-rich formula (e.g. 10-30-10) applied monthly can boost flowering. Reduce to monthly in autumn; cease in winter or when the plant shows no active growth. 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 mona lisa lipstick plant in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Failure to flower — The most common complaint with Mona Lisa. Usually caused by insufficient light, over-watering, or overly warm nights. Ensure bright indirect light, allow a slight seasonal drop in temperature in autumn (15–17°C nights), and keep slightly pot-bound. A phosphorus-rich fertiliser boost in late winter also helps.
  • Leaf drop and yellowing — Sudden leaf drop is typically triggered by cold draughts, cold water, or temperature drops below 15°C. Yellow leaves often indicate overwatering or root rot. Check drainage, inspect roots, and relocate away from draughts or air-conditioning.
  • Leggy growth with sparse leaves — Results from insufficient light or not pruning after flowering. Trim stems back by up to one-third after each flowering flush to encourage bushy, branching growth and more bloom tips. New growth from the trimmed tips will carry the next flush of flowers.

Propagation

Take 10–15 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or summer, selecting non-flowering stems with at least two leaf nodes. Dip in rooting hormone and insert into moist sphagnum or a 50:50 perlite/coir mix. Maintain at 21–27°C in bright indirect light with high humidity (cover with clear plastic). Roots develop in 10–21 days. 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

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is pet-safe. Aeschynanthus radicans (Lipstick Plant) is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by ASPCA (aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lipstick-plant). Some individuals may experience mild GI upset from ingesting large quantities, but the plant poses no serious toxic risk. 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.

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Aeschynanthus radicans 'Mona Lisa'?

Aeschynanthus radicans 'Mona Lisa' is most commonly called Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant, but it is also known as Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Plant. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant apply identically to anything sold as Lipstick Plant.

How much light does mona lisa lipstick plant need?

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Thrives in bright, filtered indirect light — an east or west window is ideal. Insufficient light results in sparse flowering and leggy growth. Avoid direct harsh sun, which scorches the glossy leaves. Supplemental grow lights at 12–14 hours per day work well in lower-light situations.

How often should I water mona lisa lipstick plant?

Water mona lisa lipstick plant every 7–10 days in active growth; every 14 days in cooler months. Water thoroughly, allowing excess to drain freely. Allow the top 2–3 cm of soil to dry between waterings. Never leave the plant sitting in standing water. Keeping the plant slightly pot-bound encourages flowering, as does avoiding overwatering. Use room-temperature water. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is mona lisa lipstick plant toxic to cats and dogs?

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is pet-safe. Aeschynanthus radicans (Lipstick Plant) is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by ASPCA (aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lipstick-plant). Some individuals may experience mild GI upset from ingesting large quantities, but the plant poses no serious toxic risk.

What USDA hardiness zone does mona lisa lipstick plant grow in?

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is rated for USDA zone 10–12 and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of mona lisa lipstick plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is also commonly called Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant or Lipstick Plant.