What Causes the Lipstick Plant Blooms to Drop Off?

Light and Temperature

• When grown in a shady location, especially during spring, the lipstick plant may not bloom or may drop young blossoms. Give it lots of indirect sunlight, watch how it responds and adjust the amount of light it receives accordingly. The correct temperature is important to the plant as well. Studies at the University of Florida show that lipstick plants grown in an area where the air temperature remains at 70 degrees F bloomed sooner than those in warmer temperatures. They also found significant tissue damage in lipstick plants subjected to temperatures below 50 degrees.

Moisture

• The lipstick plant not only requires moisture at its roots but in the air as well. Native to moist rainforests, humidity is vital to the plant. Low humidity levels cause the plant to drop flowers, which may turn black before dropping. Invest in a humidifier and place it in the same room as the lipstick plant. When you water the plant, allow the water to come to room temperature before applying it to the soil at the base of the plant. Water often enough to keep the soil slightly moist -- never soggy.

Container and Soil

• Lipstick plants do best when grown in a hanging container that allows the plant to flow over the side. It will not bloom or will drop flowers if its roots have too much room to roam. When the lipstick plant is pot-bound it ceases to put energy into root and foliage growth and produces strong flowers. Use a well-drained planting medium to keep the moisture from collecting around the plant's roots. In nature, the lipstick plant is an epiphyte that grows on trees, not in soil. An ideal medium consists of 2 parts of peat moss to 1 part sand or vermiculite.

Disease

• Botrytis blossom blight (Botrytis cinerea) is a disease that occurs when conditions are cool and damp at night and warm in the daytime. If the flowers are covered with a gray, tan or green dusty material, suspect botrytis blight. Apply a fungicide every week to manage an infection. If the plant is in bloom, dilute the fungicide to half the recommended strength.