Goldfish Plant: How to Grow Indoors Any Time of Year

The Goldfish plant (Nematanthus wettsteinii) is a good plant that can adapt well to indoor conditions and thrive during fall and winter. It is a very attractive tropical plant with glossy, dark green leaves and striking orange flowers that resemble little goldfish.

The blooming time is from spring through winter with an abundance of heavy exotic flowers to brighten your indoor space. In addition, the flowers grow on vining stems that grow up to three feet long with two (2) to three (3) inch leaves that stand out against the dark green foliage making it perfect for a hanging planter.

They are also drought-resistant and easy to care for and are also known by the common name as the "guppy plant".

Displaying the Goldfish Plant

This Central American plant makes a wonderful decorative accent for the home to add vibrant color and interest as these plants may be orange, red, or yellow

When decorating your home or any interior space, make this exotic trailing plant more spectacular by displaying it in a hanging basket or place it on a pedestal so the striking foliage and blooms cascade over the sides.

This plant also can also be used as a centerpiece for the dining room table to add interest. Moreover, this plant has air-purifying properties, helping to keep your home or office environment clean and healthy as well as being non-toxic to pets and children, making them a safe choice for households with pets.

Goldfish Plant Care Tips

Light: Place your plant near a window with filtered sunlight or supplement with artificial grow lights if necessary, as these plants thrive in bright, indirect light which is required to encourage blooming.

Watering: Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. During the winter, allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. It's important to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot and death of your plant.

Always check the moisture level of the soil before watering. Make sure pots have drainage holes to prevent water from sitting in the roots. Use a moisture meter to monitor the moisture level of the soil and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Humidity: Provide moderate humidity. You can increase humidity by misting the leaves  daily with tepid water or by placing it on top of a pebble tray. However, a cool-mist room humidifier is more convenient and can maintain a consistent level of humidity around the plant unlike the time-consuming task of misting daily.

Fertilization: Feed plant a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength every two to four weeks during the growing season (spring and summer).

Temperature: Keep room temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and avoid exposing plant to cold drafts or extreme temperature fluctuations.

Soil: Use fast-draining soil that retains some moisture and not be soggy. A mix of potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or pumice is recommended. Always monitor the moisture level of the soil before watering.

Pruning: You can prune the plant throughout the year, but avoid heavy pruning during the winter. Keep leggy or overgrown stems trimmed to maintain a compact shape.

Repot: When you see roots that are beginning to grow out of the bottom of the pot or new leaves that are smaller than normal, it is time to move plant to a larger pot. Repot this plant at the beginning of spring in a clean slightly larger pot with fresh potting soil.

Propagation: To increase your goldfish plant collection, you can propagate the plant by stem-tip cuttings. Choose stem tips that are about two to three inches long and do not have flower buds. Dip stems in a rooting hormone to increase your odds of success. Place stems in moist soil then place newly planted cuttings in a warm, bright area and keep it humid until new growth appears. Pinching of new stems encourages bushiness and makes plant more attractive.

The Goldfish plant will make a great conversation piece that can be grown year-round to brighten your home with splashes of color.