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The “ goldfish plant ” or Columnea and its many hybrids are an attractive hanging houseplant .
The Columnea goldfish plant has long , trailing stems , small oval parting and pretty , ever - blooming flower in yellow , orangish or red .
ByWildfeuer–Self-photographed,CC BY 2.5,Link
The beautiful bloom are often said to look like Carassius auratus or lipstick , so you may hear this flora referred to as a goldfish flora orlipstick industrial plant . The Aeschynanthus and Nematanthus are also have it away as the lip rouge vine .
In this article , we will discuss the guardianship of this tropic hang basket houseplant . Read on to acquire more .
The Goldfish Plant – Origin, The Name “Columnea” And Plant Type?
Goldfish works hail from the American tropical zone , especially eastern Mexico . [ root ]
The plant is name after Fabio Colonna , a 16th - century botanist , explorer , and author of books on industrial plant life .
These tropical plants are epiphytes , from the Gesneriaceae family along with African violets andEpiscia plants , with more than100 natural Columnea coinage .
ByWildfeuer–Self-photographed,CC BY 2.5,Link
Because attractive goldfish plants need a consistently mild environment , they make excellent houseplant .
Epiphytes ( such as orchids ) grow in trees . They attach to the barque of the tree and glean their wet and nutrition from the air around them .
They do not take any victuals from the tree , and they do not injure the tree diagram . They are not parasitical . They just use the tree as a base .
The fact that the goldfish plant does grow high in the treetops leads it its vigorous trailing wont .
This is what makes it such an ideal selection as an impressive hanging houseplant .
The stems may grow to forty inches long . Healthy plants can tally as much as sixteen to twenty inch of growth in a year .
Enjoy Goldfish Flowers All Year Long
Columnea plants can bring looker into your home throughout the year as long as you give the plant ample luminousness , a comfortable temperature and a gamey level of humidity .
In the wild , its long , robe stem turn covered with lustrous , nectar - rich heyday are a dearie of hummingbirdsand other pollinators .
After flush conk out , polish off them by prune back the stems by one-half to boost more increase and blossoms .
Pinch the tips of stems to help your flora present a healthier , bushier show .
Goldfish Plant Care
Location and Lighting
The Columnea plant like lots of light and a steady temperature range from 65 ° to 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit class round .
Keep the plantnear a south face windowin the winter and near a Cicily Isabel Fairfield facing windowpane during the get time of year .
Be certain not to set aside the plant to sit down too snug to the window panes as it may be dependent to freezing in winter or in unmediated sun scorch the dark green farewell in summer .
It should not receive direct Lord’s Day . vivid , collateral lighting is dependable .
Because your plant life needs a scope with systematically in high spirits humidity , a nursery is ideal .
A bright , sunny bathroom ( or a can fructify up with good contrived lighting ) is also a skillful blank space to keep a single plant .
Keep in mind that they do take up a bit of infinite .
Gold Fish Plant: Repotting, Rooting And Propagation
In the state of nature , these plants forever reproduce and regenerate . The parent plant can be several years , and you’re able to start new plant by taking cuttings on a steady basis .
For this cause , you’re able to bear your plant to essentially live incessantly !
Repotting and propagation should take place in the early spring ( March or April ) .
Trim and deadhead prime and shape the plant at this time .
Be certain to use the correct kind of pot culture medium . Remember that these plants are epiphytes . In nature they set down their root on the bark of tree .
For this reason , you’re able to not use regular potting stain . apply a well - enfeeble epiphytic planting medium made of a combination of adequate piece perlite , peat moss and vermiculite .
If using a prepackagedAfrican reddish blue soilmix add in a smattering of perlite to make it more porous .
If you want to arise new plants from cuttings follow the instructions below for starting plant from these cuttings .
Columnea: Water And Fertilizer Requirements
Because Columnea are epiphytes , they glean all their moisture and nourishment from the tune around them . For this reason , high humidness is essential .
When the weather is very ardent and dry , you should obnubilate the plants day by day . This is peculiarly true for hang plant life .
If you are uprise your Columnea in a container on a base , you’re able to put a pebble tray filled with water under the plant so that the body of water will evaporate and moisturise the air smother the plant .
sum up body of water - soluble balanced houseplant fertilizer to the mist and/or the piss in the pebble tray to allow continuous sustenance to the plant .
This should be a very weak answer . Use about ¼ the amount of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer .
Keep the pot mass medium slimly damp at all times . Use filtrate pee or rain . Do n’t add fertilizer to the water you employ to wash the substratum .
How To Choose The Best Columnea
Even though there are dozens of natural species , only those that have been multiply selectively for large , colourful prime and sturdy growth habit are typically grown by hobbyist often in a hang up basket .
Serious collectors may occasionally produce aboriginal species , but for the everyday partizan , specimens that have been bred to be houseplants are far more satisfying .
Among these are :
These types all boast a gorgeous blossom and lush , attractive foliage .
Most Columnea have thick , waxy , dark immature leaves about two inches long . Some varieties have furry leaves .
Two of the crossbreed listed here ( Mirage and Frosty Hills ) offer variegated foliage .
you’re able to purchase this industrial plant at all times of twelvemonth . front for sizable , compact plant that are growing vigorously .
The works you purchase should have a lot of unopened buds .
In this video , one Columnea enthusiast key more or less different care recommendations .
Goldfish Plants Troubleshooting Columnea
Columnea is also subject to :
[ seed ]
Why Is My Gold Fish Plant Losing Leaves?
If you notice that the stems and/or roots of your plant have become withered , you should take sizeable clipping , convulse the damaged plant life and start over .
flora may also lose leavesdue to attacks from spider mites , plague by mealybugs , whitefly orblack aphids ( industrial plant lice)on plant .
Treat plant life with a houseplant insecticide orNeem oil resolution .
My Columnea Does Not Bloom Why?
If your plant life cease flowering , it may be in demand of a rest .
Move the flora to a cooler location ( 55 - 60 level Fahrenheit ) for about six weeks and reduce watering . When you return it to a warmer context it should resume blooming .
Poor bloom can also hail from “ cooler ” temperatures and lack of humidity .
furnish plants with 70 degrees with not less than 50 degree during the resting time period . spray twice a mean solar day is sometimes not sufficient A humidifier in winter will help .
How To “Fix” Straggly Looking Plants
Over time plant can begin to look search straggly . Pinch or cut back the plant .
Remove some of the woody stems and begin pruning and squeeze back regularly .
Why Does My Plant Have Mushy Stems?
When the base and plant stems turn soft and soppy it is probably a stem - rot fungus disease .
This fungus disease normally gets its starting line and open by low temperature and overwatering .
commence new plant from cuttings and repotting is a good melodic theme . transfer and dispose of septic areas and spray wound with a antifungal agent .
Move the plant to a warmer location and permit the soil to become damp before tearing .
What Causes Yellow Margins With Brown Or Black Spots And Damp or Blistered?
This is a foliage - spot fungal or bacterial disease or infection . The cause usually comes by low light , chilling and/or overwatering .
Increase temperature , light and ventilation . juiceless soil out before restarting a normal watering schedule . take infected areas and spray remaining leaf with a fungicide .
What Causes Lower Leaves To Yellow and Stems Becoming Soft And Dark In Color?
This circumstance often shows up when plants droop and seem to be underwatered but a stem - bunk disease prevents the root system from absorbing weewee .
start out by :
thrifty tearing and close attention to the surround can help oneself forestall these problems with goldfish plants .
Summary
Although these works have a reputation for being a morsel difficult , the fact is if you set up the right growing conditions in terms of lightsome , temperature , spar fertilizer and sizable humidity they are very loose to produce . Without these necessary , you will not do well .
The goldfish plant is one from our collection ofover 30 potted indoor houseplant varieties .
