Overview

Bring a touch of tropical elegance into your living space with the exquisite Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant. This live Aeschynanthus plant, known for its striking ‘Bolero Bicolor’ variety, is a true conversation starter. Its common name, indoor lipstick plant, comes from the vibrant red, tubular flowers that emerge from maroon sheaths, strikingly resembling a tube of lipstick. Related to African violets and gloxinias, this gesneriad family member is native to the West Indies, where it thrives as an epiphyte. In your home, it will flourish in hanging baskets, offering continuous blooms throughout the year with proper care. The captivating blend of red and orange flowers creates a dramatic bicolor effect that will instantly brighten any indoor setting.

The Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant is not just a visual delight; it’s also a relatively easy-to-care-for houseplant for those who can provide suitable bright light and consistent moisture. Its lush foliage and unique flowering habit make it a favorite among plant enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the world of houseplants, this Aeschynanthus cultivar offers a rewarding growing experience and a continuous display of its beautiful, distinctive blooms.

Key Benefits

The Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant offers numerous advantages, making it an excellent choice for indoor gardeners. Its unique aesthetic and relatively straightforward care routine contribute to a rewarding experience.

• Stunning Bicolor Blooms: The primary allure of this Aeschynanthus variety is its spectacular tubular flowers, which display a mesmerizing blend of red and orange. This unique bicolor effect ensures a vibrant and eye-catching display that stands out in any plant collection.
• Continuous Flowering: With adequate bright light and consistent watering, the indoor lipstick plant can bloom year-round, providing a constant source of color and beauty in your home. This makes it a dynamic and ever-changing addition to your decor.
• Ideal for Hanging Baskets: Its naturally trailing habit makes the lipstick plant hanging basket an ideal choice. The long, cascading stems adorned with glossy leaves and bright flowers create an impressive visual statement, perfect for elevated display.
• Air Purifying Qualities: Like many houseplants, the Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant contributes to a healthier indoor environment by helping to filter airborne toxins and improve air quality, making your home a more pleasant place to be.
• Unique Form and Texture: Beyond its flowers, the plant’s glossy green leaves and distinctive growth pattern add textural interest to your interior design. Its epiphytic nature in the wild gives it a unique charm.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: While it does have specific light and humidity needs, once these are met, the Aeschynanthus plant care is quite manageable, making it suitable for busy plant lovers. It’s not overly demanding, rewarding consistent care with abundant blooms.
• Tropical Appeal: Hailing from the West Indies, this plant brings an exotic, tropical vibe to your home, transforming any room into a lush, vibrant oasis.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant involves understanding its tropical origins and replicating those conditions as best as possible indoors. Providing the right environment will ensure a healthy plant with abundant, year-round blooms. This indoor lipstick plant thrives on consistency and attention to detail, but is not overly difficult to maintain.

For optimal growth and flowering, the Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant requires bright, indirect light. Place it near an east or west-facing window where it can receive several hours of bright light without direct, harsh sun, which can scorch its leaves. While it can tolerate lower light, flowering will be significantly reduced. As for watering, the soil should be kept consistently moist but never soggy. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but avoid letting the plant dry out completely, especially when it’s actively blooming. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure good drainage. The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 65-80°F (18-27°C). It is not frost-tolerant and should be protected from cold drafts.

The Aeschynanthus plant care also emphasizes humidity. Being a tropical native, lipstick plants suffer in low humidity. To combat this, misting the leaves regularly is beneficial, especially in dry indoor environments or during winter months when heating systems are running. Alternatively, place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water, ensuring the pot does not sit directly in the water. Use a well-draining potting mix, ideally one formulated for African violets or other epiphytic plants, to provide the necessary aeration and moisture retention. Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce feeding in fall and winter. Pruning can be done after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth, which will lead to more blooms. Keep an eye out for common pests like spider mites or mealybugs, and treat promptly with insecticidal soap if detected.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant, a live specimen potted in a 2.5″ Pot. The plant is carefully cultivated to ensure a healthy start in your home. While exact measurements can vary slightly due to natural growth, you can expect a compact plant ready to establish itself and begin its trailing growth. The stems will gradually lengthen, making it perfect for a lipstick plant hanging basket, eventually trailing up to 2-3 feet or more under optimal conditions.

The plant typically ships in its nursery pot, with soil, ready for placement in your chosen decorative container or hanging basket. Expect to see its first captivating bicolor flowers within a few weeks to months of arrival, provided it receives the appropriate light and care. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its development over time. This plant is intended for indoor cultivation in most climates, making it a versatile choice for plant enthusiasts across various USDA zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get and what size pot does it come in? A: The Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant is a trailing variety, with stems that can grow several feet long (2-3+ feet) over time. It typically arrives in a 2.5″ Pot, which is a great size for transplanting into a decorative pot or hanging basket.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? How much sunlight does it need? A: This is primarily an indoor lipstick plant in most climates. It thrives in bright, indirect light, such as near an east or west-facing window. Avoid direct, harsh afternoon sun, which can burn its leaves.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While it has specific needs regarding light and humidity, it is generally considered moderately easy to care for. With attention to its watering and light requirements, even beginners can succeed with Aeschynanthus plant care.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: Your Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant will arrive as a live, healthy plant, typically potted in its nursery pot with soil. We package carefully to ensure it reaches you in the best possible condition, ready for its new home.
• Q: How often should I water my Lipstick Plant? A: Water your lipstick plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. It prefers consistently moist, but not soggy, soil. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
• Q: How long until it blooms? When is the best time to plant? A: With proper care, your plant can bloom at any time of year, with consistent flowering being a key benefit. It can be planted or repotted any time indoors, as long as conditions are favorable.
• Q: What are the humidity requirements for this plant? A: As a tropical plant, the Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant prefers high humidity. Misting regularly, using a pebble tray, or placing it near a humidifier can help meet its humidity needs.
• Q: Can I put my lipstick plant in a hanging basket? A: Yes, absolutely! This plant’s natural trailing habit makes it an excellent choice for a lipstick plant hanging basket, allowing its beautiful stems and flowers to cascade gracefully.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for a Bolero Bicolor Lipstick Plant? A: A well-draining potting mix is essential. A mix formulated for African violets or epiphytic plants, which typically contains peat, perlite, and bark, works very well.
• Q: Will the ‘Bolero Bicolor’ variety always have red and orange flowers? A: Yes, the ‘Bolero Bicolor’ cultivar is specifically known for its distinctive red and orange tubular flowers, creating that captivating bicolor effect. This coloration is a stable characteristic of the variety.