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Lipstick or Goldfish Plant - Which To Choose?

14 years ago

Hi everyone,

I mostly grow hoyas, but I have a mother in law's tongue, a crown of thorns and a Thanksgiving cactus to add to my houseplant list. Now, I'm thinking of adding a lipstick vine or goldfish plant to the list. I just have two questions. Which one is easier to grow and which one blooms most often?

Brad AKA Moonwolf

Featured Answer

moonwolf_gw
Original Author

8 years ago

I will if I get the chance. The one plant that still eludes me is Ceropegia woodii/String Of Hearts. Running out of room for plants. I still have three Thanksgiving Cacti outside to get their flower buds (two have buds so far). I'm even having trouble figuring out where to put them once I bring them back inside.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

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Comments (13)

cyberdancer
14 years ago
Moonwolf, by Goldfish plant, do you mean Columnea or Nematanthus?

In my experience Lipsticks bloom more easily for me, then Nematanthus and Columnea is just a little more difficult for me.But hey, every ones growing conditions are different.

cyberdancer
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Cyberdancer, I meant Columnea.

I'm leaning towards getting a lipstick plant if I find one.
They're so pretty! I know Exotic Angel sells them so I'll look next time I go to Lowe's and Home Depot.

Brad AKA Moonwolf
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If it's a lipstick (aeschynanthus) it can take getting established before it blooms, and two years isn't really unusual. As to how long it will bloom, that depends on the variety. Some are pretty much constant bloomers if they're happy, and some are seasonal. It's not necessarily so that goldfish (nematanthus) has small shiny leaves, tho' I guess the ones you're mostly likely to find at the big box stores. Found one at a local nursery last year with quite large not-shiny dark green leaves with a big red blotch on the back. Really nice, and something I hadn't even seen on a mail-order list. (Champagne Jam, I think--the label just said Champagne.)
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How funny...I came here to learn about goldfish plants after just seeing some for the first time in years & Lilpanda only yesterday was looking locally for a store that carries them. Home Depot in East Palo Alto (101/University Ave., by IKEA) had about five goldfish plants in stock earlier this week - hanging in the plant section inside the store, on the aisle that's closest to the outside garden center. Listed at $18.99 - which might sound pricy for a houseplant, but this is one that (in addition to being hard to find) is completely foolproof. I got one as a gift 20 or years ago, & it's hardy, healthy & has happily continued on, no matter how little attention it gets. (I think it's actually still in its original pot.) It's understandably a bit branchy - but I now know that's an easy thing to fix. p.s. HD has a 10% price beat guarantee policy, so if you go there by 7/1, bring along an Orchard Supply ad, as they're having a 25% off all plants sale this weekend.
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Moonie, your plant could be a Nematanthus, but it's not the common Gold Fish Plant with orange goldfish shaped flowers. There is a Gesneriad called, Downy Leaf Gold Fish, (strigillosos,) which could be the plant you have. Either way, is it getting a lot of sun? Its cousin, Lipstick Plant won't bloom unless it gets direct west light. Also, Nemanthus like being slightly root-bound. If the pot is too large, it'll grow leaves in place of blooms. What type of fertilizer were you using? Toni PS: I like your Nemanthus better than the common type.
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The one on the left is an aeschynanthus and the one on the right is a nematanthus. Really the term "lipstick plant" should only refer to the types of aeschynanthus (lobbianus, pulcher, 'Pullobia', radicans etc.) that have those longish tubular waxy calyxes, from which the corollas emerge, like a lipstick. The one you have has a very small calyx so I just call them aeschynanthus. Nematanthus are getting stuck with "lipstick" now that EA is marketing plants galore, with bad names ad naseum. Oh well, whatch gonna do? They both are fairly high light plants that like to be kept evenly moist. Both are epiphytes and both like intermediate conditions. Nematanthus grow outdoors here, as they take temperatures down to about 32 or less in winter (for short periods of time over night). Most aeschynanthus are much more tender. Jon
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larry_b
14 years ago
Hi,

I am assuming you're talking about the two plants Aeschynanthus (lipstick) and Columnea (goldfish). Sometimes Nematanthus is called a goldfish plant. Sometimes it's called a guppy plant. This is an instance where using latin names keeps things from getting confusing.

Enough on the soap box. Most Aeschynanthus get much larger than most Columneas. The smaller Aeschynanthus tend to be branching and not vining or trailing. Also, many of the smaller ones do not have that "lipstick" quality. I think most Aeschynanthus bloom seasonally, but that could depend on the variety. Columneas can also bloom seasonally, but the hybrids are almost all ever blooming.

Personally, if you ask my opinion, if you have not grown either of these I would suggest that you choose a Columnea. Columnea "Aladin's Lamp" and Columnea "Early Bird" would be my suggestions. They are both easy to grow. Aladin's Lamp gets a little larger then Early Bird and it does take some rest periods occasional. Early Bird is practically nonstop and blooms even when the plant is small. That's another thing about Aeschynanthus. They tend not to bloom until they get bigger and older.

If you would like to see pictures of either and/or purchase one you can go to Rob's Violets. I have bought from them before and they are a first class operation.

I hope this helps,

Larry
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Larry, thanks for the link. I've been to the website before looking at hoyas. The plants are beautiful! I'll have to look for them.

I hear Violet Barn's plants (hoyas anyway) are small and I'm looking for something a little larger that what people said the size of their hoyas were. Other than that, they were fine with what they recieved.

Brad AKA Moonwolf
tlbean2004
8 years ago
What did you finallu end up with?
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
8 years ago
I bought some kind of Lipstick Plant that was from EA years ago. I don't have it any longer. It never flowered for me anyway.

Brad AKA Moonwolf
laticauda
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Wow, 2010. lol

Lots of Brads and Freds on this gardenweb.
Sans2014
8 years ago
Try the Lipstick plant again, they are quite resilient, but like brighter light to bloom.
Sans2014
8 years ago
my neon pothos is sitting on a chair at the moment waiting for a home on a shelf, LOL!
tlbean2004
8 years ago
Will my thanksgiving cactus get buds just sitting on a shelf?

I never though to put it outside.

Its one of my more neglected plants.......
moonwolf_gw
Original Author
8 years ago
It should. Some people never move theirs and get flowers each year. Other people cover theirs at night or put it in the closet for 12 hours to get it to set buds.

Brad AKA Moonwolf
laticauda
8 years ago
Mine are growing in long summer day length (artificial lighting) so I don't think I'll get flowers this year unless I stick them outside.

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