Repotting guide

When & how to repot Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)

Also called Lipstick plant, Lipstick vine, Basket vine.

More about lipstick plant

About Lipstick Plant

Aeschynanthus radicans · also called Lipstick plant, Lipstick vine · flowering

The lipstick plant is a trailing tropical epiphyte from Gesneriaceae, grown for cascading stems tipped with tubular scarlet flowers that emerge from dark "lipstick-tube" buds. Its one defining need is a cool winter rest near 15°C with reduced water, which sets the buds that drive its showy summer bloom indoors.

Mature size: Stems trail to around 45-90 cm (occasionally longer) indoors, with a similar spread; happiest kept slightly pot-bound in a hanging basket.

Watch for — Root rot and yellowing leaves: Result from a heavy, waterlogged mix or letting the pot sit in water. Switch to a free-draining mix, empty the saucer, and let the surface dry between waterings.

How to tell lipstick plant needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For lipstick plant, watch for these signs:

Thick roots out of the drainage holes, or circling the surface and lifting the plant.
The pot dries out unusually fast and lipstick plant wilts between waterings it used to shrug off.
The plant is visibly top-heavy and tips over easily.
Stalled growth and small new leaves over a full season — though with a big specimen, top-dressing is often the better first response before a full repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot lipstick plant

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years. Lipstick Plant's growth habit — trailing, semi-woody epiphytic vine with arching, cascading stems clad in glossy, fleshy paired leaves. tubular scarlet flowers with yellow throats push from maroon, lipstick-shaped calyx tubes in terminal clusters, mainly spring through autumn, making it a natural for hanging baskets. — sets the pace. The lipstick plant is a trailing tropical epiphyte from Gesneriaceae, grown for cascading stems tipped with tubular scarlet flowers that emerge from dark "lipstick-tube" buds. Its one defining need is a cool winter rest near 15°C with reduced water, which sets the buds that drive its showy summer bloom indoors.

What size pot to step lipstick plant up to

Move up exactly one pot size. A heavy lipstick plant dropped into a vastly bigger pot sits in a reservoir of wet soil its roots cannot reach, which rots them and destabilises the plant. In the years between repots, lift off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil (top-dressing) instead — it refreshes nutrients without the shock of a full repot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot lipstick plant

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for lipstick plant. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting lipstick plant

Consider top-dressing first. If lipstick plant is not badly root-bound, scrape off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil instead — far less shock for a big plant that hates moving.
Get help and one size up. For a full repot, choose a pot just one size larger. A heavy plant needs two people and a stable, free-draining pot.
Ease it out on its side. Lay the plant down, slide the pot off, and gently loosen the outer roots. Do not bare-root a mature specimen.
Repot at the same depth. Add fresh free-draining, peat-free houseplant mix beneath and around the rootball, keeping the original soil line. Firm it so the trunk is stable and upright.
Water and leave it put. Water thoroughly, then leave lipstick plant in the same spot and light — moving and repotting at once is what makes it drop leaves.

Aftercare

Leave lipstick plant in exactly the same spot and light it was in before — moving and repotting at the same time is what makes a big specimen drop leaves. Water it in well, then let the top of the soil dry before watering again so the larger volume of fresh soil does not stay sodden. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for lipstick plant

Lipstick Plant wants free-draining, peat-free houseplant mix. Use a light, airy mix based on peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, bark or sand to keep it open and fast-draining. As a natural epiphyte it resents heavy, waterlogged soil, which is the quickest route to root rot and yellowing leaves. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting lipstick plant — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot lipstick plant?

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years for lipstick plant. Fully repot lipstick plant only every 2–3 years; in the in-between years just top-dress the top 3–5 cm of soil. Step up one pot size in spring with free-draining, peat-free houseplant mix. It is heavy and hates being moved, and a vastly oversized pot holds water against the roots and rots them.

What size pot does lipstick plant need?

When is the best time of year to repot lipstick plant?

Should you top-dress or fully repot lipstick plant?

For a big, heavy lipstick plant, top-dressing — replacing the top 3–5 cm of soil — is the gentler option most years, with a full repot only every 2–3 years. A mature specimen sulks and drops leaves when fully repotted, so do it as rarely as the roots allow.

Should you fertilise lipstick plant after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting lipstick plant. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.