How to grow a goldfish plant? Master these care methods and tips

The goldfish plant, also called kangaroo flower or goldfish flower, loves a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is highly adaptable, fairly drought-tolerant and not very cold-tolerant.

Temperature

The goldfish plant grows best at 18-26°C. In most homes it can be placed on a bright indoor windowsill or on a shaded balcony. In hot, humid conditions the goldfish plant easily develops stem and branch soft rot and dies. The growing medium must be loose and well-draining, must not contain lime, and is best slightly acidic. During winter dormancy, the temperature should be kept at 15°C.

Watering

In spring, summer and autumn, water the goldfish plant more generously and regularly spray the surrounding ground with clean water; never splash water on the leaves. In hot summer weather, it is best to place the pot in a shallow tray of water. These measures all help prevent leaf drop caused by dry air. The goldfish plant should also be watered a little more before flowering in winter and spring, so the flowers open fully and the colors are bright.

Pruning

Proper pruning of the goldfish plant is also very important, or pinch out the growing tips when the plant is not leggy; you can pinch each branch one by one, and you can do it when the leaves at the branch tips are visible to the naked eye. This not only makes the plant shape more attractive, but the branches also thicken and become woody, which helps resist disease; there are also more forks, so the branches are less likely to fall over, and most importantly the chances of flowering increase.

Light

Apart from needing fairly ample sunlight in winter, the goldfish plant needs more shade in the other seasons. In spring, summer and autumn, shade it from 60%-70% of the sunlight, or hang it in an outdoor shade house, or in a cool, ventilated spot under the shade of a large tree, where it receives plenty of scattered light and no direct sunlight. This kind of environment is very suitable for its growth.

Fertilizing

Do not fertilize the goldfish plant while it is flowering. After the flowers fade, prune and reshape it, and apply more nitrogen-containing fertilizer. During the growing period, apply a dilute organic fertilizer solution once every 1-2 weeks to make it grow vigorously; before flowering, apply extra phosphorus fertilizer to help it form more buds and flowers and enhance its ornamental effect.