Aeschynanthus ‘Rasta’

The Parent Cultivar of ‘Twister’

‘Rasta’ is the parent cultivar from which ‘Twister’ arose. In May 2003, a naturally occurring branch mutation was found on cultivated ‘Rasta’ plants in Sleeuwijk, the Netherlands. The mutation was propagated from cuttings and developed as the cultivar ‘Twister’.

Care for the Long Curled Trails

• Let the shoots hang freely: Place the pot where the curled stems have room to extend. Trim only weak, damaged or disproportionate growth so the natural length remains part of the display.
• Change the watering rhythm with the season: Water deeply during active growth after the upper mix has begun to dry. In winter, allow more of the pot to dry before watering again.
• Use new leaf spacing as a light cue: Keep the plant close to a bright window and soften prolonged hot midday sun. Looser new growth can be a sign that the position has become too dim.
• Keep the mix from compacting: Bark, coarse fibre or mineral particles help water leave the pot while preserving air around the roots. Replace old substrate if it turns dense or remains wet for unusually long periods.
• Keep growth warm and lightly fed: Avoid prolonged temperatures below about 15 °C. A half-strength general feed at roughly four-week intervals from spring into late summer is sufficient.

Changes Worth Checking on ‘Rasta’

• Flowering becomes sparse: Start with the light level. If healthy shoots are growing in a dim part of the room, move the plant closer to a bright window in stages and assess the next mature tips.
• Yellow foliage appears while the pot stays heavy for days: Increase the interval between waterings and check that both the drainage holes and substrate structure are still working. Soft stems or continued decline justify a root inspection; remove decayed tissue and use the root rot guide when rot is present.
• Cottony insects settle into the curled growth: Take the plant away from neighbouring foliage and examine nodes, leaf bases and the undersides of reflexed leaves. Wipe away visible mealybugs and repeat the inspection every few days. The mealybug guide explains the follow-up cycle if they return.

Aeschynanthus ‘Rasta’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

How did Aeschynanthus get its name?

Aeschynanthus combines the Greek aischyne, meaning shame or embarrassment, with anthos, flower.

William Jack established the genus Aeschynanthus in 1823 in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, volume 14, page 42.