How to Grow Lipstick Rasta Hoya Plants

The lipstick rasta hoya plant is native to the rain forests of Malaysia. The vines of the plant appear as dreadlocked hair from a distance, and the blooms resemble a tube of red lipstick when they begin to blossom. The plant grows well in a hanging basket for a colorful display. The leaves of the lipstick plant turn to a burgundy color on the undersides in the summer. A lipstick plant is easy to care for.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Lipstick rasta hoya plant
• Hanging container
• Potting soil
• Peat moss
• Water
• Fertilizer

1. Fill the container with a sand-based potting soil that has peat moss or other organic compost mixed in. Add water to the soil until drainage occurs from the bottom of the pot. Place the plant in the soil deeply enough to cover the roots.
2. Place the pot in an area that will receive at least four hours of light every day. Light that is coming from the east or west is ideal. Direct sunlight should be avoided. The plant can be placed outdoors if it is warm.
3. Water the lipstick plant regularly. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out between watering. Mist the leaves of the plant occasionally with warm water to promote humidity.
4. Use a general purpose fertilizer on the plant every two to four weeks. Fertilizing can be suspended during the winter months.
5. Prune the lipstick plant once a year after blooming is done. Cut stems that are scrawny down to 4 to 5 inches to cause fuller growth.

Tips & Warnings

• The lipstick plant is tropical so cold temperatures should be avoided. The temperature around the plant should be no less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Do not repot the plant more than every two or three years. The lipstick plant prefers to be root bound and this will encourage blooming.

• Insufficient lighting will stop the lipstick plant from blooming. Use artificial lighting if natural light is not readily available.

• Even though the lipstick plant enjoys water, over-watering will cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off the plant. When the soil dries out, slightly new growth will occur.

• The lipstick plant is prone to mealy bugs, mites and aphids. Eliminate aphids with warm water that has a mild soap added to it. Wash the leaves of the plant thoroughly. Buy an insecticide at any garden supply store to combat mealy bugs or mites.

• A high level of salt in the soil can cause root damage and kill the lipstick plant. If this is a problem, exchange the soil in the container with fresh soil.