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| Young growth on old plant (R), Young growth on young plant(L) |
We have hanging baskets of the common Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus
lobbianus) in various stages waiting for them to flower/sell.
The group held over from their non-flowering summer are first
to bud. The group that were propagated
from new growth – a pair of leaves that rooted and branched with new shoots are
growing well but no buds.
The middle group are last year’s baskets, cut back short and
allowed to branch with new growth. These
budded and will flower second.
So, in order to budding ---- uncut old branches, old growth
cut back with new shoots, and last, new propagations.
The flowering response of Lipstick is not precise. The only thing I know for sure is it’s a function
of age. Young shoots don’t flower.
But now I know that young shoots from old growth will flower
sooner that young shoots from young growth.
So, how will this discovery help speed up production?
1. If you have baskets that stop flowering in the
summer heat, cut them back hard. The new
growth will flower by Christmas.
2. If you’re propagating cuttings in cell packs, don’t
worry about keeping them moving. You can
hold them in cell packs, which take less space, to let them get age. The shoots will reward you with faster
flowering when potted up.
If you are a homeowner with one
Lipstick hanging basket, it would make sense to cut it back 1/3 at a time for
three months so you would always have flowers forming.
---Too
complicated?
Then, just
know to keep your old plant and cut it back in Summer. It will flower faster than if you start a new
basket.
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| Old growth on old plant(R), Young growth on old plant (L) |
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