Originated from tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Aeschynanthus (Eschinantus) are epiphytic plants, in other words the ones which do not grow on the ground, but hung on large forest trees.

It is characterized by the presence of numerous strains flexible, long and climbing, with elliptical leaves, dark green, fleshy and rigid, distant from each other.

Flowers budding in summer are red – bright orange, are grouped and very decorative.

The plant looks accommodated, with a height and a diameter of up to 60 cm. Blooming period is from June to September. Aeschynanthus is a difficult plant to cultivate, needing lots of light and heavy watering.

With the transition from spring to summer, the plant must be watered more increasingly. It is very hot, and it is desirable to spray daily.

From mid-spring to mid autumn, it is recommended to administer a diluted liquid fertilizer. This plant needs more light, but should not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

The ideal temperature in summer is around 21-27 degrees Celsius.

When blooming period is over, shorten the stems with a third of their length. In winter the plant stops taking fertilizers and lessen the amount of water so that the earth is just damp.

Multiplication of these plants is made in spring by taking off branches with a length 5-10 cm. Insert the cut end of the cuttings in a powder containing hormones, then plant them in a mixture identical to that used for growing plants mature, adding sand to promote drainage coarse. To produce rooting, the plant requires a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

The plant may be contaminated by lice and co senile flour; pulp produces formations on the underside of leaves and armpits. In this case, remove the fluffy formations with a brush dipped in denatured alcohol and repeat the operation after two weeks – bugs should disappear.

Some of the species are:
Javanensis Aeschynanthus-
Its flowers arise from a cup-shaped calyx;
They are bright red and bright yellow inside, are hollow and slightly curved. The leaves are small, slightly toothed, oval, dark green.

Aeschynanthus lobbianus-
Presents long stem and small deciduous, elliptic, fleshy, dark green leaves. Its flowers, in the budding summer, are tubular, bright red colored, with the inside yellow – cream.

Aeschynanthus speciosus –
is a smaller species, high up to 35 cm, with light green leaves and red – bright orange flowers.

Aeschynathus Pictures Gallery
[Not a valid template]