Aeschynanthus, blooming in a burst of fire

Bright red to orange-red flowers flare out from long, trailing evergreen stems, which is why aeschynanthus is so often hung in a basket or left to spill over a rock wall. Native to tropical Asia, it flowers indoors from late spring to early autumn, provided it gets plenty of light without direct sun and a room kept genuinely warm.

Aeschynanthus at a glance

Name	Aeschynanthus
Family	Gesneriaceae
Type	perennial, indoor plant
Height	12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm)
Exposure	well-lit
Soil	rather acidic
Foliage	evergreen
Flowering	late spring to early autumn

Planting, care, watering and repotting, are parameters that influence and lead to successfully growing aeschynanthus.

Planting, repotting aeschynanthus

It is recommended to plant the rhizomes in spring in a blend of garden soil and heath soil.

• The tubers must be flush with the surface to ensure they won’t rot.

Many species are epiphytes, meaning they usually grow on trees, like orchids. For these, prefer orchid potting mix.

Repot in spring, generally mid-spring does the trick.

• Completely replace the soil with brand new soil mix.
  Use flower plant soil mix blended in with heath soil.

Favor a bright spot but without direct sunlight, especially during the hottest hours.

You can put saintpaulia in the immediate vicinity of this plant because they both share the same growing conditions.

Propagating aeschynanthus

Aeschynanthus is easily propagated, it’s a chance to make new plants and why not share the joy they bring with friends.

• Divide its rhizomes in spring. Select those that are already bearing a few leaves.
• Plant these rhizomes in pots filled in with soil mix.
• Keep these cuttings near light, but not in direct sunlight.
• Water regularly but not too much.

• Cover the pot with a clear bag or propagator lid and keep it somewhere warm, since cuttings from most tropical houseplants tend to root more slowly, or may rot, in cool conditions.
• Since each cutting produces only its own stems, potting three or four rooted cuttings of a trailing houseplant such as pothos or philodendron together gives a fuller result than planting just one.

Pruning and caring for aeschynanthus

Remove wilted flowers often to spur appearance of new buds.

If your plant is not blooming, it is probably because not all ideal growing conditions are brought together.

• Ensure that it has enough light to grow well.
• Aeschynanthus loves heat. It may be that the location it sits in is scoured by drafts of air, or that the temperature in the room isn’t warm enough: minimum 72°F (22°C) to bloom.

Place in bright light and don’t let it catch a cold in winter.

 

Watering indoor aeschynanthus

Even though it is native to the Asian tropics, Aeschynanthus doesn’t need too much water.

It is most important to water more during the blooming which is from late spring to early autumn, and have a rather drier period during the winter months.

That is how to best mirror the 2 major seasons in tropical areas: monsoon season and dry seasons.

So this means watering twice a week in summer, with liquid fertilizer added in every 10 or 15 days. Over the rest of the year, water sparingly, not more than once a week. This dry dormant state, while still receiving a lot of light, is what will guarantee reblooming.

• Water regularly but not too much between late spring and early autumn-mid-autumn.
  Also mist the leaves during this span of time, to recreate the proper moisture level.
• At the end of the blooming season (mid-autumn), slowly reduce watering and stop it completely when the leaves have died.
  Let the plant hibernate by placing it in a darker, cooler room (about 60°F (15°C).
• Come late winter/early spring, start watering again and place your plant in a more luminous, warmer room, 65 to 72°F (18 to 22°C).
• As early as May you can even bring it outdoors if you wish, still not in direct sun but all the while maintaining proper light.
• Since Aeschynanthus is quite fragile, avoid moving it around too often.

Fertilizing aeschynanthus

Aeschynanthus need fertilizer during the entire vegetation phase, from late spring to early autumn.

This will ensure you have a beautiful blooming during this entire period.

• More or less every fortnight, provide liquid flower plant fertilizer.

early autumn, slowly stop adding the fertilizer and stop it completely in mid-autumn.

• Always pour the feed onto compost that is already damp, since fertiliser applied to a dry root ball can scorch the fine roots.
• For flowering plants generally, gardeners often choose a fertiliser higher in potassium than nitrogen, since excess nitrogen tends to encourage leafy, elongated stem growth at the expense of blooms.

Aeschynanthus after flowering

Once the flowers have died off, you must reduce the watering until the leaves as well have also withered and died.
Once there are no more leaves left, transfer your aeschynanthus to a cool, shaded and rather dry spot.

Ideal temperatures for this rest phase are around 57 to 60°F (13 to 15°C).

At the end of winter, repot the tuber in new soil mix and begin watering regularly again.

As soon as the first buds appear, water abundantly and there you go, your aeschynanthus is ready for a new cycle of blooming.

The aeschynanthus year: watering, warmth and feeding

Aeschynanthus follows the two seasons of its tropical homeland: a wet, warm growing spell and a dry, cool rest. Here is what changes from one period to the next.

Respecting the dry, cool pause is what earns the next flush of flowers.

All there is to know about the aeschynanthus

Native to Asia and more specifically the tropical areas of China, India and Malaisia, Aeschynanthus thrives indoors particularly well in our temperate climates where it bears abundant flowers from late spring to early autumn. Many varieties are trailing and hanging, making them perfect for an indoor suspension or to decorate a rock wall.

Although we would of course like its blooming to last longer, it’s already a great joy to see the beauty of its bright red or orange red flowers.

Caring for it is relatively easy if the guidelines mentioned above are properly followed.

• Feel free to give it a lot of light while avoiding direct sun.

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