Having trouble growing goldfish plants? The soil mix is key, mix it this way for good growth and lots of blooms

If your goldfish plant isn't doing well, the soil mix matters a lot; mix it this way and it will grow well and bloom profusely

A gardening friend asked what kind of soil is best for growing goldfish plants.

The goldfish plant is said to be easy to grow, but it actually isn't, especially in summer. If grown outdoors, prolonged rain can easily cause root rot and also leaf rot. In summer, it grows rather slowly. Its soil fears waterlogging; if waterlogging occurs or it is rained on for a long time, root rot easily develops. In severe cases, rot starts from the roots and spreads directly to the stems, causing the whole plant to die. By the time you notice it, that plant is already done for.

Because the goldfish plant fears waterlogged soil, we need to put effort into the soil mix; the mix we give it must be loose and breathable. What kind of soil is best? It's a mix where, after watering, the soil can evenly absorb part of the water while all the excess water drains out through the bottom holes. This lets the potting soil dry out quickly within a few days. This kind of soil is the best for growing goldfish plants.

We can use peat soil, perlite and vermiculite, mixed in a 1:1 ratio; this provides both drainage and water retention. But all three of these soils cost money to buy. If you want to save money, you can use leaf mold plus river sand in a 1:1 ratio, which is also very good; don't use fine river sand, choose one with slightly larger particles if possible. Both of these soil mix methods produce soil that is loose, breathable, and contains nutrients. After watering, the amount of water retained in the soil is limited, and it drains well. It also dries very quickly, which is excellent for growing goldfish plants.

When growing goldfish plants, be sure to remember to water thoroughly in time when the potting soil is almost dry; don't water directly when the soil hasn't dried, as this easily causes root rot. You can insert a bamboo skewer and pull it out to check when you want to water. This is the most reliable way. There is also one more key point: when growing goldfish plants, ventilation must be good. Especially in summer and winter, poor ventilation easily leads to rotten leaves, black leaves and leaf drop. In these two seasons, if your indoor ventilation is very poor and you can't ensure good airflow, it's recommended to water the roots and spray the leaves with carbendazim once a month, which can effectively prevent this from happening.

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