Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Showy Lipstick Vine (Aeschynanthus speciosus)
Also called Showy Lipstick Plant, Basket Vine, Lipstick Flower.
More about showy lipstick vine
About Showy Lipstick Vine
Aeschynanthus speciosus · also called Showy Lipstick Plant, Basket Vine · houseplant
Showy Lipstick Vine is a striking trailing gesneriad with waxy, dark green leaves and spectacular clusters of large, two-toned orange-red tubular flowers that emerge from dark maroon calyces resembling lipstick tubes. It blooms most freely when slightly pot-bound. Listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA — safe for pets.
Preferred mix: Loose, free-draining orchid or African violet mix
Watch for — Failure to bloom: Most often caused by insufficient light or over-potting. Move to a brighter spot and allow the plant to become slightly pot-bound; a brief cooler, drier winter rest (15°C, reduced water for 6-8 weeks) often triggers flowering.
Why showy lipstick vine needs this mix
Showy Lipstick Vine is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Showy Lipstick Vine is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons showy lipstick vine struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates showy lipstick vine's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for showy lipstick vine.
pH — does it matter for showy lipstick vine?
Showy Lipstick Vine is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for showy lipstick vine as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all showy lipstick vine needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh showy lipstick vine's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for showy lipstick vine covers the timing and technique step by step.
Showy Lipstick Vine soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for showy lipstick vine?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Showy Lipstick Vine is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for showy lipstick vine?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates showy lipstick vine's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for showy lipstick vine as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does showy lipstick vine need a special pH?
Showy Lipstick Vine is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for showy lipstick vine?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for showy lipstick vine as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for showy lipstick vine?
Refresh showy lipstick vine's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all showy lipstick vine needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Showy Lipstick Vine care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water showy lipstick vine — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting showy lipstick vine — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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