How to pinch and top the goldfish plant? Pruning methods illustrated

The goldfish plant (Nematanthus gregarius) is one of the flowering potted plants that many people like to grow, but some flower lovers find that the goldfish plant they grow easily becomes leggy, ruining its whole beauty. Actually, you can choose to top the goldfish plant, that is, pinch it, which not only prevents it from becoming leggy but also helps it enter the flowering period faster. ⟦4 <p>The goldfish plant is one of the flowering potted plants that many people like to grow, but some flower lovers find that the goldfish plant they grow easily becomes leggy, ruining its whole beauty. Actually, you can choose to top the goldfish plant, that is, pinch it, which not only prevents it from becoming leggy but also helps it enter the flowering period faster. Come and learn the topping techniques with the editor below!</p><p></p><p><strong>How to pinch and top the goldfish plant (illustrated)</strong></p><p>1. Choosing the time for pinching</p><p>Usually, May to June is chosen, but in individual cases it should also be determined according to the growth of the goldfish plant. Pinching should be done in the morning.</p><p>2. Choosing the pinching site</p><p>The topmost end of each branch of the goldfish plant.</p><p></p><p>3. The pinching method</p><p>Use scissors, preferably flower scissors specially used for pruning plants, to cut off the topmost 1/3 of each new shoot. After cutting, promptly deal with the leaves at the cut, which can be directly cleaned away, as this benefits the growth of new buds. But when pinching, do not cut its main stem. After pinching, it must not be placed in the sun to be exposed; move it to a place that is both shady and ventilated, and wait until no more liquid flows from the cut, then move it into the sunlight. Watering and fertilizing are the same, both should be done only after the cut has dried.</p><p></p><p>4. Points to note</p><p>Pruning of side branches: pinching will control the height of the goldfish plant, and this will also speed up the growth of its side branches, so in daily care you must be careful not to let its side branches become leggy, and prune them appropriately as well.</p><p>Number of pinchings: the number of pinchings should be determined according to the growth of the goldfish plant, but all pinching actions must be stopped before the goldfish plant's flowering period. The goldfish plant can bloom multiple times within a year, and the intervals between flowering periods also differ, so in daily care you must observe it often before pinching.</p><p></p><p><strong>How to prune the goldfish plant</strong></p><p>1. Pruning time</p><p>After the goldfish plant grows normally, pay attention to management to help it grow new branches, and pinch when it is ready to be pinched, so that it branches more. Generally, pinching can be done around two months after it survives, then its posture can be fixed and the pot filled with soil. After potting, when the new branches grow to a certain length, pinching can be done, making the branches and leaves spread out to form drooping branch shapes, which looks more beautiful and full of artistic sense.</p><p>2. Daily pruning</p><p>The pinching adopted when the goldfish plant is not leggy can be done branch by branch. This not only makes the plant shape look better as it grows, but the branches also become thicker and woody, which helps resist diseases and pests, and can also support the weight of the whole plant's branches hanging down. Most importantly, doing this increases the number of flowers.</p><p></p><p><strong>Why the goldfish plant does not bloom</strong></p><p>1. Insufficient light: the goldfish plant likes a shaded environment, but light is essential for green-leaf plants to survive, enjoying the warmth of the sun while accumulating nutrients for themselves, and with insufficient light the plant grows poorly, let alone blooming.</p><p>2. Improper watering: the goldfish plant likes a cool, dry environment, and has a short dormant period in winter, blooming after it wakes up. If watered too much, it easily causes the stems and branches to soften and rot and die, and if the plant is infected by diseases and pests it is very hard for it to bloom.</p><p>3. Poor ventilation: the goldfish plant most fears being kept in a stuffy environment; if the growing environment has no circulating air, the leaves will gradually wilt and turn yellow, and normal growth will be inhibited. If it happens to be in the flowering season, the flower buds cannot grow normally and it will be hard for it to bloom.</p><p></p><p><strong>Growth habits of the goldfish plant</strong></p><p>It likes high temperature, high humidity and a shaded environment. If it is placed in the sun for a long time, or if it is too dry or the winter temperature is too low, it will drop its leaves. The goldfish plant most easily loses its leaves in winter, and this is related to temperature. The suitable growth temperature for the goldfish plant is 18-22°C, and it fears low temperatures. If the temperature is below 10°C for two consecutive days, the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out, to the point that even a very slight vibration will make them fall off. Besides low temperatures, if the temperature continuously exceeds 30°C, it will also drop leaves. In summer's high temperatures, the goldfish plant grows very slowly or almost stops growing; at this time, appropriate shading measures should be taken so that it can grow vigorously and not drop leaves.</p><p></p><p>As described above, everyone should now understand how to top and pinch! Actually, if you want the plant to be more beautiful, you must pay attention to pruning and care, as this not only extends its lifespan but also makes it more beautiful and elegant!</p>