How to prune black pagoda lipstick plant

After flowering — typically late spring or summer depending on bloom cycle. Trim trailing stems back by up to one-third, cutting just above a healthy leaf node with clean scissors. Avoid removing more than one-third of total growth at once. Remove any entirely dead stems at the base.

Annually after each main bloom period. Aeschynanthus longicaulis (Black Pagoda) benefits from a light trim after flowering to prevent legginess and promote denser, bloom-producing new growth. Flowers form on new stems, so cutting back encourages the next flush. Remove dead or damaged stems as needed. Without occasional pruning, trailing stems elongate with sparse flowering.

Trim trailing stems back by up to one-third, cutting just above a healthy leaf node with clean scissors. Avoid removing more than one-third of total growth at once. Remove any entirely dead stems at the base.