The Goldfish Plant, formally known as Nematanthus gregarius, is a popular houseplant named for its uniquely shaped, bright orange or red flowers that resemble tiny swimming fish. This tropical perennial naturally produces long, trailing stems, which, if left unmanaged, can become sparse and unattractive. Regular pruning is a simple, effective maintenance task necessary to maintain the plant’s health, encourage a dense, bushy appearance, and ensure a prolific display of blooms.
Understanding Why Pruning is Essential
Pruning directly counteracts the Goldfish Plant’s tendency toward “legginess”—the development of long, bare, or sparsely leafed stems. Removing the growing tips signals the plant to release growth-regulating hormones, which breaks apical dominance. This redirects energy into lateral buds further down the stem, promoting new side branches and creating a compact, full appearance. Since the plant primarily produces its distinctive flowers on new growth, pruning also increases the number of potential bloom sites. Additionally, pruning removes yellowing, damaged, or dead foliage, helping the plant direct energy toward healthy tissue.
Identifying the Best Time for Pruning
The most opportune time for substantial pruning is right after the plant completes a major flowering cycle. Pruning at this point allows the plant to recuperate and channel energy into producing new stems that will bear the next flush of blossoms. For indoor growers, this often coincides with late winter or early spring, just before the main growing season begins. Pruning during this active growth phase ensures cuts heal quickly and new shoots develop immediately. Conversely, pruning in late fall or winter is discouraged because slower growth means cuts may not heal quickly, stressing the plant and making it susceptible to disease.
Step-by-Step Pruning Methods
Before making any cuts, gather your tools and ensure they are sharp and sterilized with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution. Clean tools prevent crushing the delicate stems and minimize the risk of introducing pathogens into the fresh wounds. The specific technique you use will depend on the age and condition of your plant.
Pinching for Young Plants
For young plants or minor maintenance, a technique called “pinching” is sufficient. This involves using your fingers or shears to remove the soft, new growth at the very tips of the stems. Pinching off the terminal bud encourages the stem to branch immediately, promoting a fuller shape right from the start. This method is ideal for consistent, light shaping throughout the growing season.
Cutting Back Leggy Plants
When dealing with a mature or noticeably leggy plant, a more substantial “cutting back” is required to restore its shape and vigor. Aim to remove up to one-third of the total stem length, focusing on the longest, sparsest stems. Make a clean, precise cut just above a leaf node, which is the small bump on the stem where a leaf or pair of leaves is attached. Cutting above a node is essential because it triggers the dormant lateral buds located there to activate and grow into new branches. Distribute your cuts evenly across all sides to maintain a balanced appearance, and avoid removing more than one-third of the entire plant mass in a single session to prevent shock.
Post-Pruning Care and Using Cuttings
Immediately following pruning, the plant needs focused care to recover quickly and stimulate new growth. Give the plant a thorough watering to reduce stress. Since new growth requires energy, consider providing a light application of balanced liquid fertilizer two to four weeks after pruning to support the formation of new stems and leaves. The healthy stem sections removed can be easily repurposed to grow new plants. Goldfish Plants are readily propagated from four-to-six-inch stem cuttings, which can be rooted by placing them directly into moist, well-draining potting soil or by suspending them in water until small white roots develop.