I was browsing plants today and this unusual Aeschynanthus radicans (Lipstick plant) caught my eye for it's most unusual foliage. The cultivar name is 'Rasta'. A lipstick plant having a bad hair day lol! It will bloom the typical red tubular blossoms.
Close up of the leaves still wet from being showered...
This message was edited Apr 19, 2007 6:39 PM
That is beautiful.....nan just sent me a rooted cutting of a lipstick plant that is variegated......I still have it in water as Idon't know what to plant it in...the runners are about 12" long....
Gessiegail,
I love the variegated lipstick and have it as my goal to get some this year. I've had it before and lost it. Have missed it ever since. So pretty. I know I can order it online but was hoping like mad to find some locally.
Plant your rooted cutting in some of your normal AV mix. You can even trim it back and root more. To root, insert cutting(s) into your moist mix and cover with a baggie till rooted. What kind of mix do you use?
I have Schultz, Optimara, etc...and all kinds of soil, perlite, vermiculite, etc....what do you suggest....also, once it all is rooted, can I put it out on the front screened in front porch with all the other house plants??
Everyone has their favorite mix but a general all purpose one is called a 1-1-1 mix which is equal parts of good quality bagged peat based mix (like you mentioned), coarse vermiculite, and coarse perlite.
That will be a good start. Just like any recipe, you may adjust it accordingly. I don't recommend this for wick watering but for hand watering or matted trays, will do nicely.
Yes, I think your Aeschynanthus would love it on your covered screened porch. As an experienced grower of plants, you will know if it's happy or not. Do you have humidity where you are?
I don't know that the average humidity is but i do know at least half of our days a month are over 90% humidity.....we call an exceptionally dry day one with 50% humidity....I am just 17 miles from the coast...
50% is exceptionally dry?! Love that.
Where I live, winter indoor humidity is below 20% unless I crank up two humidifiers!
Cuttings of non-woody parts of lipstick plants should root fine without a bag for humidity where you are. Cuttings of older parts can be a bit stubborn.
I also like the 1:1:1 mix for a lot of things. But, we had a "soil" presentation at the last meeting and he recommended not using more than 10% vermiculite. Interesting as it's a staple ingredient for a lot of people.
Snowrose - I would love some pollen if Rasta blooms. I would like to see a curly leaf with longucaulis markings - think it's possible?
Well, that I would like to see! Sure, when she blooms I will send pollen no problem What an interesting combo that would make.
What a neat plant! Sorta looks like a rope hoya!
I thought the same thing about the Hindu Rope hoya. Very similar how the leaves curl.
Hee Hee .... I so wanted to also say "Another plant for my Wish List" .... that list gets longer and longer every time I log on to DG!
Snow,I love the leaves on that one too.They are so cool.Any chance I can trade a few cuttings of my frostfire for a few cuttings of your rasta in our tradeboxes?
ppp..please??LOL Nothing like sounding desperate huh?
Lin,I hear ya about wish lists getting longer.I am the same way everytime I see a neat plant on here.I gotta have it..I just gotta lol
Sure, cedarnest, be glad to. Now that is spring (kinda around here), there are just so many more plant opportunities both indoors and out. All around happy times now and for months to come.
Lin, if you want some cuttings, I'll be glad to send some to you so you can cross it off your wish list or maybe you were referring to Hindu Rope hoya?
woo hoo Thanks Snow!
Snow: Oh, I would love some cuttings! Nope, it wasn't the Hindu Rope Hoya ... it was that variegated lipstick that I was adding to my wish list! If you have an extra little cutting, I would love it! That is just such a cool looking plant! Shoulda called it "Curly Top"!
It appears to be variegated but it isn't. The leaves fold exposing the silvery green undersides contrasting with the topside darker green giving that overall effect.
It is still a beautiful plant ... and I still would love cuttings to try! Are they easy to root? And, is it okay to use the same mix for this plant that I use for AV's ... a well draining mix, or do they prefer a heavier soil? I've never tried the lipstick plant.
I'm thinking since you are in a warm climate, they should root well for you. I'm going to take some cuttings for myself also and put them down in my warm plant room. I don't use rooting hormone, but might be worth a try on these. I don't know how much difference it makes. The cuttings taken will be softer newer growth. I most likely will scratch the stem end before inserting. AV mix should be okay. What do you use? I use the same wick mix I make for everything so that's what I'll use as my rooting medium and change later when they are rooted and ready to move on to a small hanging basket or elevated pot.
Speaking of elevated pots. I tried this and like it and plan to make many more pedestals of varying height from glass objects put together using vases, candlesticks, bowls, plates, and so on. I have always wanted plants elevated rather than all the same level on a table to make use of space better. Plus, I think it looks good. This was my first simple attempt using a candlestick and a bowl. The bowl and candlestick cost a dollar each. Yard sales or thrift shops would be even cheaper I would think.
That looks Beautiful Snow! I do the same thing. I use candle holders, the little ice cream sundae dishes, pitchers, candy dishes. I have two Trifle type bowls and a footed (stemmed) fruit bowl that I like to elevate plants on also. I will try to take a couple of photo's to post later today! I even like planting directly into different types of containers ... when doing that though, I have to be very careful with watering since they don't have drainage holes - don't want soggy plants!
That is what i was looking for at Tuesday Morning yesterday.....I found a lot this size in white.....I don't ever worry about overwatering as I have a time consuming habit of placing folded paper towels under each plant for a while to absorb any extra moisture....I will also get my camera out later.....
I have too much to do potting up house plants today ....need to quit playing on DG (but it is soo much fun)
That lipstick plant is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I have the pagoda one and love the foliage on this one too. I bought the pagoda at Lowe's and it's the newest one I have. I can't believe how fast it has grown. It is almost twice the size of the attached picture. I have 2 others that I have had longer which have never bloomed for me. One is variegated and the other has small hard leaves. Not sure why they won't bloom but this Pagoda did. When the Pagoda bloomed, it had greenish, yellow flowers. Not real pretty flowers but the foliage certainly makes up for it.
Kim
Your Black Pagota looks great. Nice and healthy. I actually do like the blossoms it produces. All very exotic looking. This year, I hope to get some of the variegated aeschynanthus.
I don't know what I have, snowrose, even though Nan put the name on it....lost it of course...
I am going to run take a picture and see what you think???? Remember that I had it outside but when the winds got up to 40mph I brought her in today....
You can see the wind damage to the leaves....also hard to get the entire plant in the picture...
Yours might be Black Pagota (is it a 'd' or a 't' ? I'll have to check) , gessiegail.
http://www.gesneriads.ca/aeschy05.htm
I absolutely LOVE the foliage on yours Snowrose! I have never seen one like that before. We just get the same 'ol same 'ol at our HD & Lowe's and that's about our choices here in Maine :(
Most everything I have is because of great trades with loving people here at Dave's or from E-Bay purchases.
Exceptionally Beautiful! Would love to see it when it blooms for you :)
Kim
Kim, I have several DG'ers I want to send some cuttings to so they can have a start with this. I'll be glad to send some to you. This week is too busy but send me a d-mail and I'll try to get some things out next week.
I have been to Kennebunk. Lovely area.
Wow, Thank you SO MUCH! I will send you a D-Mail right now.
Kim
