Repotting guide

When & how to repot Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans 'Mona Lisa')

Also called Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Plant.

More about mona lisa lipstick plant

About Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant

Aeschynanthus radicans 'Mona Lisa' · also called Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Plant · houseplant

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is arguably the most popular lipstick plant cultivar, prized for its prolific clusters of vivid red-orange tubular flowers emerging from dark maroon calyces and its glossy, dark-green trailing foliage. Pet-safe and rewarding to grow, it performs best with bright indirect light, warm temperatures, consistent moisture, and good humidity.

Mature size: 15–30 cm tall in a hanging basket; trailing stems 60–90 cm long

Watch for — 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.

How to tell mona lisa lipstick plant needs repotting

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

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

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 mona lisa lipstick plant

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant's growth habit — trailing, semi-epiphytic vine with glossy, succulent-textured opposite leaves on cascading stems; produces flowers along stem tips rather than branch ends — sets the pace. Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is arguably the most popular lipstick plant cultivar, prized for its prolific clusters of vivid red-orange tubular flowers emerging from dark maroon calyces and its glossy, dark-green trailing foliage. Pet-safe and rewarding to grow, it performs best with bright indirect light, warm temperatures, consistent moisture, and good humidity.

What size pot to step mona lisa lipstick plant up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

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 mona lisa lipstick plant

Spring or summer, while mona lisa lipstick plant is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting mona lisa lipstick plant

Repot dry. Do not water mona lisa lipstick plant for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty light, fast-draining epiphytic or gesneriad mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set mona lisa lipstick plant at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep mona lisa lipstick plant completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for mona lisa lipstick plant

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant wants 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. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting mona lisa lipstick plant — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot mona lisa lipstick plant?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for mona lisa lipstick plant. Repot mona lisa lipstick plant every 2–3 years into a snug pot of light, fast-draining epiphytic or gesneriad mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does mona lisa lipstick plant need?

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

Should you water mona lisa lipstick plant after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot mona lisa lipstick plant into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise mona lisa lipstick plant after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting mona lisa 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.