Goldfish Plant - Nematanthus gregarius

Plant Overview

The Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus gregarius) is a charming trailing tropical prized for its glossy, waxy leaves and small, bright orange flowers shaped uncannily like tiny leaping goldfish. Grown in a healthy 4-inch nursery pot, it makes a lively addition to a hanging basket or high shelf where its cascading stems can spill over the edge. This is a fun, conversation-starting plant for anyone in Vancouver looking to bring a little whimsy to a bright windowsill.

• Live Plant
• Healthy Nursery Grown
• 4-Inch Pot
• Easy Care
• Indoor Plant

Botanical Information

Goldfish Plant belongs to the Gesneriaceae family, the same family as African violets, and is native to the coastal rainforests of Brazil, where it grows as an epiphyte or trailing groundcover in warm, humid conditions. The genus name Nematanthus comes from the Greek for "thread flower," a nod to the slender stalks that hold its pouch-shaped blooms.

Why You'll Love This Plant

Few houseplants combine such glossy, easy-care foliage with such a novelty bloom. The Goldfish Plant's small orange flowers really do resemble little fish caught mid-leap among the leaves, making it a favourite for plant lovers who want something a little more playful than a standard foliage plant, and it can flower on and off for much of the year given enough light.

Specifications

Plant Features

Small, thick, glossy dark green leaves grow densely along trailing stems that lengthen over time, making this plant well suited to hanging baskets or elevated shelves. The tubular, pouch-like orange flowers emerge from the leaf axils and give the plant its distinctive common name.

Plant Care Guide

Light Requirements

Bright indirect light encourages the best flowering, and a few hours of gentle direct morning sun is tolerated and often beneficial. Insufficient light will result in leggy stems and few, if any, blooms.

Water Requirements

Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between waterings, then water thoroughly. This plant's thick, waxy leaves store some moisture, so it is more forgiving of a missed watering than of consistently soggy soil.

Humidity

Goldfish Plant appreciates moderate to high humidity, reflecting its rainforest origins. In dry indoor air, a nearby humidifier or pebble tray helps keep foliage lush and encourages more reliable blooming.

Temperature

Keep this plant in a warm spot between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius, away from cold drafts. A brief cooler rest in winter, around 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, can actually help encourage the next flowering cycle.

Soil

Use a light, well-draining potting mix, such as a standard houseplant blend amended with perlite, to prevent the roots from sitting in excess moisture.

Fertilizer

Feed with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer every three to four weeks during spring and summer to support the plant's active growth and flowering, tapering off in fall and winter.

Repotting

Repot every one to two years in spring, moving up only one pot size, or refresh the top layer of soil if the plant is already a comfortable size for your space.

Pruning

Pinch or trim stem tips after flowering to encourage bushier growth and prevent overly long, sparse trailing stems.

Propagation

Goldfish Plant roots readily from stem cuttings placed in water or moist potting mix, making it one of the easier trailing tropicals to share and multiply.

Growth Rate

This plant grows at a moderate pace, with trailing stems lengthening steadily over each growing season.

Mature Size

Trailing stems can eventually reach 60 to 90 centimetres in length when grown in a hanging basket, though they can also be kept more compact with regular pinching.

Indoor Care

Goldfish Plant is best grown as a year-round houseplant across Canada, ideally in a hanging basket or on a high shelf near a bright window where its trailing stems have room to cascade.

Outdoor Care

In BC's climate, this plant can summer outdoors in a bright, sheltered, partly shaded spot, but it must come indoors before nighttime temperatures drop in fall, as it has no frost tolerance.

Flowering Information

Small, tubular orange flowers shaped like little fish appear from the leaf axils, most abundantly in spring and summer under bright light, though well-suited plants can produce sporadic blooms through much of the year.

Pet Safety

Goldfish Plant is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant database, making it a comparatively pet-friendly flowering houseplant, though it is still good practice to discourage pets from chewing on any houseplant.

Common Problems

Leaf drop or sparse flowering is most often linked to insufficient light. Soft or blackened stems point to overwatering, while wrinkled leaves suggest the plant has gone too long without water.

Pest Management

Watch for mealybugs and aphids, particularly around new growth and flower buds. Inspect regularly and treat any infestation with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Styling Ideas

The trailing habit and playful blooms make this a natural fit for macrame hangers, floating shelves, or plant stands where its stems can spill downward. Pair it with other trailing tropicals for a layered, textural display.

Perfect For

Hanging basket enthusiasts, bright kitchen or bathroom windows, and plant lovers browsing our flowering plants collection for something a little more unusual than typical bloomers.

Seasonal Care

Growth and flowering are most active from spring through summer, when regular watering and feeding support new blooms. A slightly cooler, drier rest period in winter can help set the stage for the next flowering flush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't my Goldfish Plant flowering? Insufficient light is the most common reason for sparse or absent blooms.

Is Goldfish Plant safe for pets? It is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA, making it a relatively pet-friendly choice.

How often should I water it? Water when the top inch of soil has dried slightly, avoiding soggy conditions.

Can I grow Goldfish Plant in a hanging basket? Yes, its trailing habit makes it especially well suited to hanging displays.

How do I propagate Goldfish Plant? Stem cuttings root easily in water or moist potting mix.

Does it need high humidity? It prefers moderate to high humidity but adapts reasonably well to average indoor conditions.

Why are the stems getting leggy? Low light and infrequent pinching both contribute to leggy growth.

How long do the stems get? Trailing stems can reach 60 to 90 centimetres if left untrimmed.

Can Goldfish Plant go outdoors in summer? Yes, in a bright, sheltered, partly shaded spot, but it must come inside before frost.

What pests should I watch for? Mealybugs and aphids are the most common issues.

Why Buy From Us

Every Goldfish Plant we ship is nursery-grown and hand-checked before it leaves our greenhouse, so it arrives healthy and ready to bloom. Our Vancouver-based team is happy to help with care questions as your plant settles in.

Order Yours Today

Add a playful, easy-care bloomer to your plant collection with a Goldfish Plant, shipped fresh across Canada.