When Does the Goldfish Plant Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Its Latest Blooming Season

The goldfish plant is also known as goldfish flower, hanging goldfish, kangaroo flower, and so on. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Nematanthus in the family Gesneriaceae, with a semi-woody base and dark green, rather thick leaves. It originates from the tropical jungles of the Americas, and its optimum growing temperature is 18-26°C. In ordinary homes it can be placed on a bright indoor windowsill or on a shaded balcony. Now let us take a look together at when the goldfish plant blooms!

When does the goldfish plant bloom?

The blooming season of the goldfish plant is usually in spring and summer, and the flowering period is long. Before it blooms in winter, it is best to give it appropriate sunlight exposure; it can be placed on a balcony or at a window, which will make the flowers bloom more brightly and abundantly. Its seedlings do not bloom in the first year, and only after two or three years can orange-red flowers be seen opening in the leaf axils at the tips of the trailing branches. When the flowers are in full bloom, the orange-red blossoms are especially attractive, hanging one after another on the branches; together with the green leaves, they look like little goldfish playing among the water plants.

Why does the goldfish plant fail to bloom?

1. Insufficient light: The goldfish plant likes a shaded environment, but light is essential for the survival of green-leafed plants. While enjoying the warmth of the sun, it accumulates nutrients for itself, and with insufficient light the plant grows poorly, so blooming is even less likely.

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 is very easy for the stems and branches to become soft and rot and die, and if the plant is infected by pests or diseases, it is very difficult for it to bloom.

3. Poor ventilation: The goldfish plant dislikes being kept in a stuffy environment most of all. If the growing environment has no circulating air, the leaves will gradually wilt and turn yellow, and normal growth will be inhibited. If this happens right during the blooming season, the flower buds cannot grow normally and it will be difficult for the plant to bloom.

How should the goldfish plant be grown so that it blooms?

1. Soil: Potted goldfish plants require a growing medium rich in humus, loose, and well-draining. A common mix is equal parts peat soil, perlite, and vermiculite, and the soil should be kept slightly acidic to favor growth.

2. Temperature: The optimum growing temperature for the goldfish plant is around 18-22°C. It is not cold-tolerant. If the minimum temperature falls below 10°C, the leaves of the goldfish plant will turn yellow, dry up, and even drop off. It also dislikes high temperatures; temperatures above 30°C will also cause leaf drop.

3. Light: The goldfish plant likes a shaded environment and must not be exposed to the scorching sun. Before it blooms in winter, sunlight exposure can be appropriately increased, which will improve the quality of the blooms. However, sunlight must not shine directly on the goldfish plant, otherwise the leaves will wither and even drop off and the plant will die.

4. Humidity: The growth of the goldfish plant requires sufficient water. During the peak growing season, the potting soil should be kept moist at all times. In winter, water again only after the soil about one centimeter below the surface has dried. But there must not be too much water, otherwise the roots are prone to rot.

5. Fertilizing: During the peak growing season, apply a diluted organic fertilizer solution once every 1-2 weeks. Before blooming, increase phosphorus fertilizer to boost the quantity and quality of the flowers. After the flowers fade, apply nitrogen-containing fertilizer. For those that have already begun to grow small plantlets, a top dressing mainly of nitrogen can be applied once every half month.