Goldfish Plant
Nematanthus — The Bright Orange-Flowered Trailer
Light
Medium to bright indirect — good light is essential for flowering. Will grow in lower light but rarely blooms; bright indirect triggers heaviest flowering. Avoid direct midday sun which can scorch the thick waxy leaves.
Water
Slightly reduce watering in winter to encourage spring blooming. Thick, waxy leaves resist wilting longer than thin-leaved plants — easy to miss underwatering signs.
Humidity
Prefers moderate to high humidity. Leaf edges brown in dry winter heating.
Temperature
18–27°C (65–80°F). Keep away from cold drafts and heating vents.
Difficulty
Moderate
Sizes
Tabletop · Mid-floor · Floor specimen
Goldfish plant, from the genus Nematanthus, is a compact trailing plant with small, thick, glossy dark green leaves and bright orange, pouch-shaped flowers along the stems. It's pet-friendly, and it blooms most heavily when given bright light and good humidity.
In the Office
It needs medium to bright indirect light to flower — it will still grow in lower light, but rarely blooms there. Direct midday sun can scorch its thick, waxy leaves, so bright indirect is the target rather than a sunny windowsill. Because those waxy leaves resist wilting, it's easy to miss the early signs of underwatering, so it needs a regular check rather than a wait-until-it-wilts approach.
Why Choose This Plant
Benefits for Your Office
- Pet-friendly, with no toxicity concerns for offices with dogs or cats onsite
- Bright orange pouch-shaped flowers add colour that most office foliage doesn't offer
- Trailing habit suits hanging baskets and elevated planters
- Blooms best with good humidity and bright light, rewarding well-lit spots with visible flowering
Where to Place It
Office Placement Ideas
- 1
Hanging baskets or elevated shelving — its trailing stems are shown off best above eye level
- 2
Bright spots near windows — flowering depends on good light, and it's rare in dim corners
- 3
Desks or side tables away from direct midday sun, which scorches its thick leaves
How to Care for It
Care Tips for Office Environments
- Prune after the main flowering period to shape it and encourage new bloom sites
- Pinch stem tips to keep growth bushy and increase the number of places it can flower
- If growth looks leggy, move it to more light rather than repeatedly pruning it back
- Check leaf axils for mealybugs — they hide well in the dense foliage
Want Goldfish Plant in your office?
Our team will recommend the right variety and size for your space, deliver and install it, and keep it thriving with ongoing care.