Aeschynanthus ‘Mona Lisa’

Cultivated origin of Aeschynanthus ‘Mona Lisa’

‘Mona Lisa’ is a horticultural Aeschynanthus cultivar. The cultivar exists only in cultivation.

Wild Aeschynanthus species belong to the Gesneriaceae and occur across tropical and subtropical Asia, where many grow on trees or rocks in humid forest.

Care for Aeschynanthus ‘Mona Lisa’

• Set the light before buds develop: Give strong indirect daylight near a window. Gentle sun is usually manageable, but prolonged hot midday rays through glass can mark the broad leaves.
• Temperature: A range of 18–27 °C suits ‘Mona Lisa’. Move it to a warmer position if temperatures stay below 15 °C.
• Humidity: Keep humidity moderate and steady, with gentle airflow around the foliage.
• Keep the budding plant stable: Once buds are forming, keep the plant in a steady position and maintain a predictable watering cycle. Avoid repeated severe drying. Keep feeding matched to active growth.
• Check moisture below the surface: Once the upper part of the mix has dried, water the whole root ball and empty any water left in a cachepot. The large leafy plant can dry faster in bright, warm conditions, so use the mix itself as the guide.
• Use a loose potting mix: A bark-based potting mix should drain readily after a full watering. Keep the plant away from cold draughts and very hot radiators while the root ball is moist.
• Support: Allow the flexible stems to arch and trail from a hanging pot or shelf.
• Reset the shape after flowering: Feed lightly while new shoots are extending. If the outline becomes uneven, shorten selected stems after the main flowering flush and cut just above a healthy node.
• Repotting cue: Move to a slightly larger pot or hanging basket when roots fill the container and need more space. If the airy mix breaks down first, replace it with fresh mix in a suitable container.
• Propagation method: Root healthy young stem cuttings in suitable moist rooting mix and keep them warm while roots establish.

Problems That Often Show Up First on ‘Mona Lisa’

• Buds dry up or detach before opening: Check the watering history and recent changes in position. A plant that dried out too far during bud formation or was repeatedly moved can abort buds. Restore an even moisture cycle and keep the plant in a stable bright position while the remaining buds develop.
• Lower leaves yellow and the base of a stem begins to soften: Feel the substrate before watering again. Persistent wetness calls for a drainage and root check. Keep firm roots, remove brown mushy sections and repot into fresh open mix when decay is present. Use the root rot guide if root damage is confirmed.
• White waxy patches appear where leaves meet the stems: Check every leaf axil, especially inside the dense centre of the plant. Remove visible mealybugs and separate the plant from neighbours until repeated inspections stay clear. The mealybug guide covers follow-up treatment.

Aeschynanthus ‘Mona Lisa’ 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.

Who first published Aeschynanthus, and what does the name mean?

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.