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Nematanthus gregarius
Nematanthus gregarius comes from afar, from Latin America, but it quickly spread to many latitudes, as far as Italy. It is an evergreen perennial with drooping stems, no more than half a meter high. Its leaves are quite small, oval in shape, slightly fleshy and dark green in color that remains throughout the growing season. Its scientific name has been replaced by a more common name, namely: goldfish plant. It gets its name from the shape of its flowers, which vaguely resemble goldfish in both shape and color. Flowering occurs in the summer season, and its small flowers exude a delicate aroma. It is an easy-to-grow plant that is well suited to apartment living.
goldfish
The goldfish plant has adapted well to indoor life mainly because it fears the cold, for this reason during the winter season it must be kept indoors, but in the spring it can also be moved in the garden. However, it is important to remember that the plant should be placed in a bright place but not exposed to direct sunlight which could damage it and spoil its flowering. As for watering, they must be regular (especially in the period from March to October). During this period, it is also possible to add fertilizer for flowering plants to the water. However, it is important to check the soil well before continuing, Nematanthus gregarius prefers short periods of drought to stagnant water. During the cold period, however,
Cultivation of Nematanthus gregarius
As we have already said, growing the goldfish plant is not particularly complex. However, some attention should be paid to the quality of the soil in which it is planted. Nematanthus gregarius, in fact, prefers a soft and light soil (mainly composed of peat, fertile soil and sand) but above all well drained. The plant must be transplanted during the autumn season, on average every 2/3 years, taking care to choose a container a little larger than the previous one, to allow better development of the root system. With regard to pruning, however, it is advisable to shorten the stems slightly after flowering. By respecting this small precaution, the plant will retain uniform foliage on the underside over time.
Once you have learned how to best cultivate this plant, watch it grow and flourish, it is also important to know how to protect it from diseases that could attack it, ruin it and cause its death. In general, it is a fairly resistant plant that is not attacked by pests. Its main enemy, in fact, is water stagnation. If the irrigations are too abundant, the soil does not have time to fully absorb the water and this could lead to the development of root rot which, in a short time, could lead to the death of Nematanthus gregarius. For this reason, it is a good idea to always check the soil before watering. If it is still very wet it is better to postpone it to the next day. Now you know all the secrets to raising your goldfish in the best possible way!