Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant Care: Easy Indoor Tips

I decided to give Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant Care a try after growing the Purple Star Lipstick Plant and coming away a little disappointed. It did flower, but the blooms were small, sparse, and mostly stayed near the top of the plant instead of trailing down the vines.

This Mona Lisa looked different right away. The leaves are thicker, larger, and more succulent-like, and the whole plant just looks stronger. It has not flowered yet for me, but from what I have seen and read, Mona Lisa is one of the better lipstick plant varieties for larger blooms and better flowering indoors.

So I repotted mine into a self-watering planter, filled it with coco coir, and hung it in my east window where it gets bright morning light. My Purple Star flowered in that same spot, so I am hoping this Mona Lisa will do even better.

🌺 What Is a Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant?

The Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is a variety of Aeschynanthus radicans, which is commonly called a lipstick plant because of its unusual tubular flowers. The blooms look like little tubes of lipstick as they open, and that is what makes this plant so fun to grow indoors.

It is a tropical trailing houseplant, so it naturally looks good in a hanging basket, on a shelf, or anywhere the stems can spill over the edge. With time, a healthy lipstick plant can trail a couple of feet or more, so it is one of those plants that can really fill out a window or plant corner.

See The Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 6″ Hanging Pot On Amazon

Mona Lisa is not a different species from Purple Star. It is a different variety or clone of the same general lipstick plant group. But that matters. Just like with other houseplants, different varieties can grow and flower very differently indoors.

🌿 Why I Am Trying Mona Lisa After Purple Star

I grew the Purple Star lipstick plant before, and honestly, it was a bit underwhelming. It did flower, so I cannot say it failed, but the flowers were small and not very impressive. They were also sparse, and most of the blooms stayed near the top instead of forming nicely along the trailing stems.

That made me want to try another variety before giving up on lipstick plants. When I found Mona Lisa, it looked like a better choice for what I wanted. The leaves were larger, thicker, and had a stronger look to them right out of the box.

This plant has a more succulent feel to the foliage, and it seems like it should hold up better indoors. It is also known as a good blooming variety, so I am hoping it gives me larger flowers and more of them once it settles in.

That is one thing I like about growing houseplants. Sometimes one variety does not impress you, but another one from the same plant family can be a whole different story.

🪴 My Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant Setup

My Mona Lisa arrived in good condition and was already set up as a hanging basket plant. The original pot had a bottom section to help keep it from dripping, which is a nice feature if you are hanging plants indoors.

But I decided to move mine into a self-watering planter. The planter has an inner pot and wicks, so the plant can draw moisture from the reservoir below. I like this setup for plants that enjoy steady moisture but still need good drainage around the roots.

For the growing medium, I used coco coir. Coco holds moisture well, but it also stays light and airy compared to heavy potting soil. You can also mix coco coir with perlite if you want extra drainage and air around the roots.

The plant came in pretty dry, so I watered it well after repotting and then hung it in an east-facing window. That spot gives it bright morning sun and good light without baking it all afternoon.

☀️ Light Requirements for Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant grows best in bright, indirect light. It wants enough light to support flowering, but it does not want to sit in harsh direct sun all day.

An east-facing window is one of my favorite spots for this plant because it gives gentle morning sun and bright light for the rest of the day. That is where I hung mine, and it is the same window where my Purple Star lipstick plant was able to flower.

A north-facing window can work too if it is bright enough, especially during summer. A west or south window may also work, but you may need to pull the plant back a bit or use a sheer curtain so the leaves do not scorch.

If the plant does not get enough light, it may grow leggy and produce fewer flowers. If it gets too much hot sun, the leaves can develop brown spots or scorched patches.

💧 How to Water a Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant likes steady moisture, but it does not like soggy roots. That is the balance you are trying to hit.

A good rule is to let the top inch or two of the potting mix dry before watering again. Then water thoroughly so the whole root zone gets moisture. If your pot has drainage holes, let the extra water drain away.

If you are using a self-watering planter like I am, keep an eye on the reservoir and the potting mix. The goal is moist, not swampy. Coco coir works well for this because it holds water but still gives the roots some air.

During winter, the plant may grow more slowly, so it will usually need less water. That is when you want to be careful not to keep topping it off if the plant is not using much moisture.

🌡️ Temperature and Humidity

Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant likes warm indoor temperatures. It is a tropical plant, so it grows best when your room feels comfortable and steady.

A range around 65 to 80 degrees works well indoors. It can handle slightly cooler temperatures, but if it gets too cold, you may see leaf drop or slower growth.

Try to keep it away from cold drafts, doors that open in winter, and heating vents that blast hot dry air. Sudden temperature swings can stress the plant and may affect flowering.

Humidity also helps. You do not need to turn your house into a greenhouse, but lipstick plants usually appreciate a little extra moisture in the air. A bright kitchen, bathroom, or grouped plant area can work well if the light is strong enough.

🪵 Best Soil Mix and Pot Setup

A Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant needs a loose, well-draining mix. Heavy soil can stay wet too long and may lead to root problems.

I used straight coco coir for mine because I like how it holds moisture while staying light. But a mix of coco coir and perlite is also a great choice.

The perlite adds more air space and helps water move through the pot faster. But I feel straight coconut coir is more efficient in a self-watering planter.

You can also use a good houseplant mix amended with perlite, orchid bark, or coarse material to improve drainage. The main thing is to avoid dense soil that packs down around the roots.

This plant is a natural fit for hanging baskets because the stems trail as they grow. Give it enough room to hang freely. A mature plant can spread and trail several feet, so do not tuck it into a cramped spot where the vines have nowhere to go.

🌼 How to Encourage More Blooms

The big reason most of us grow lipstick plants is for the flowers. Mona Lisa is supposed to be one of the better bloomers, but it still needs the right conditions to perform.

Bright indirect light is the biggest factor. If your plant is healthy but not flowering, the first thing I would check is light. A dim corner may keep it alive, but it probably will not give you many blooms.

Consistent watering also helps. Let it dry slightly between waterings, but do not let it stay bone dry for long periods. A plant that is constantly stressed from drying out or sitting wet may focus on survival instead of flowering.

You can feed during the active growing season with a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer. Some growers like a bloom-boosting fertilizer, but I would still keep it light. Too much fertilizer can build up in the pot and cause leaf problems.

Once mine settles in, I expect the east window to be a good test. My old Purple Star flowered there, so if Mona Lisa really is the stronger bloomer, this spot should give it a fair chance.

📍 Best Indoor Locations for Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant

The best indoor location for a Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant is a bright spot where the vines can hang naturally. This plant is not something I would cram on a crowded tabletop. It wants room to trail.

An east-facing window is my top choice because it gives morning light without too much heat. A bright north window can work too, especially if the room gets steady daylight.

You can also hang it near a south or west window, but keep it back from the glass if the sun is hot. Too much direct sun can mark up the leaves, especially in summer.

Good indoor spots include:

• An east-facing window with morning sun
• A bright bathroom with enough natural light
• A kitchen window where humidity is a little higher
• A hanging basket near a bright patio door
• A plant shelf where the stems can trail over the edge

⚠️ Common Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant Problems

Leggy Growth

Leggy growth usually means the plant wants more light. Move it closer to a bright window, but avoid blasting it with harsh afternoon sun right away.

No Flowers

If your Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant looks healthy but does not bloom, it may not be getting enough bright indirect light. Flowering plants need energy, and low light is one of the main reasons lipstick plants stay green but do not flower much.

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves can come from overwatering, poor drainage, or low light. Check the potting mix before watering again. If it stays wet for too long, the roots may not be getting enough air.

Shriveled or Soft Leaves

Shriveled leaves often mean the plant has gotten too dry. Lipstick plants like moisture more than many succulent-looking houseplants, even though the leaves can look thick and fleshy.

Brown Leaf Spots

Brown spots may come from too much direct sun, inconsistent watering, or leaf damage. If the plant is pressed against a hot sunny window, move it back a little.

Pests

Watch for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and thrips. Check the leaf joints and undersides of the leaves now and then, especially if the plant is growing in a crowded indoor plant area.

✂️ Pruning and Propagation

You can prune a Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant to keep it fuller and more balanced. If a vine gets too long or bare, trim it back lightly. This can encourage new branching and help the plant look thicker over time.

Do not be afraid to clean up damaged or weak stems. A little pruning is better than letting tired growth hang there and make the whole plant look rough.

Lipstick plants can also be propagated from stem cuttings. Take a healthy cutting, remove the lower leaves, and place it in a light propagation mix. Keep it warm and lightly moist while it roots.

🌺 Popular Lipstick Plant Varieties Worth Growing

Not all lipstick plants grow the same. Some bloom heavily, some focus more on foliage, and some just perform better indoors than others. After growing a few myself, I’ve definitely noticed a difference.

My previous Purple Star looked nice enough, but honestly it was underwhelming. It hardly flowered, and when it did, the blooms were small. That’s what pushed me to try Mona Lisa next. Even before flowering, I could already tell it was different. The leaves were thicker, larger, and the plant looked more vigorous right away.

⭐ Mona Lisa

This is often considered the best blooming lipstick plant for indoor growers. It grows fuller, flowers more reliably, and handles average house conditions better than many other varieties. If blooms are your goal, this is usually the one to start with.

You Can See The Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant On Amazon

🌿 Curly Lipstick Plant

Known for its twisted trailing vines, the Curly variety is grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. It’s decorative even when not blooming, but usually slower and less productive than Mona Lisa.

🌱 Rasta Lipstick Plant

Rasta takes the curly look even further with tighter spirals and more dramatic texture. It’s a collector favorite, but flowering can be inconsistent indoors.

💜 Purple Star

Purple Star has darker foliage and attractive purple undersides, but in my experience it stayed smaller and flowered less. It may do better with stronger light, but for bloom production, I’d rank it below Mona Lisa.

🖤 Black Pagoda

Technically a close cousin, Black Pagoda is often grouped with lipstick plants because of its trailing habit. Its patterned foliage is the main draw, and it’s one of the easiest to grow indoors.

If your goal is flowers, Mona Lisa looks like the strongest choice so far. If you want unique foliage, Curly, Rasta, or Black Pagoda might be more your style.

❓ Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant Care FAQs

Is Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant easy to grow indoors?

Yes, Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant can be easy to grow indoors if you give it bright indirect light, warmth, steady moisture, and a well-draining potting mix.

Does Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant need direct sun?

No, it does not need strong direct sun. Bright indirect light is better. Gentle morning sun from an east window is usually a good choice.

Why is my Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant not blooming?

Low light is one of the most common reasons. The plant may grow leaves in lower light, but it usually needs brighter conditions to flower well.

Can I grow Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant in a self-watering planter?

Yes, you can grow it in a self-watering planter if the mix stays airy and the roots are not sitting in soggy soil. Coco coir or coco mixed with perlite can work well.

Is Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant good for hanging baskets?

Yes, it is a great hanging basket plant. The stems trail as they grow, and a mature plant can become wide and full with enough room.

🌿 Final Thoughts

The Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant already feels like a better fit for me than Purple Star. The leaves are larger, thicker, and stronger looking, and it has the kind of trailing growth that should look great in a hanging basket.

Now the real test will be flowering. I have it hanging in my east window, where it gets bright morning light, and I am hoping that gives it what it needs to produce those red-orange lipstick-shaped blooms.

If you tried a lipstick plant before and it did not impress you, Mona Lisa may be worth another shot. Sometimes the variety makes all the difference.

See The Mona Lisa Lipstick Plant 6″ Hanging Pot On Amazon

Take good care of yourselves, happy gardening, and don’t forget — stay green.