Soil & potting mix
Best soil for 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.
Preferred mix: Light, fast-draining epiphytic or gesneriad mix
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.
Why mona lisa lipstick plant needs this mix
Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant'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 mona lisa lipstick plant.
pH — does it matter for mona lisa lipstick plant?
Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh mona lisa lipstick plant'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 mona lisa lipstick plant covers the timing and technique step by step.
Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for mona lisa lipstick plant?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates mona lisa lipstick plant's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for mona lisa lipstick plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant need a special pH?
Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for mona lisa lipstick plant 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 mona lisa lipstick plant?
Refresh mona lisa lipstick plant'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 mona lisa lipstick plant needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water mona lisa lipstick plant — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting mona lisa lipstick plant — 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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