How to Prune Gold Fish Plant

Welcome to HealthyHousePlants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. If you’d like to support my show and get help growing your houseplants, check out my Patreon below. Today, I am going to do a pruning video, which was suggested by Connie Munos, a viewer. She had asked about pruning her goldfish plant, so I’m going to show you some tips for pruning a goldfish plant.

This is a plant that does need a little pruning, as there are some different issues going on with it. One really good thing about pruning your goldfish plant is that you have a better chance of it flowering for you. You also need to do other things to get it to flower, including fertilizing, and I do have a care video on this plant that I will link below, as well as any other videos I mention in this video. Right now, as mentioned, we’re going to focus on pruning this lovely goldfish plant.

The first thing you want to do when looking to prune is to look for any dead and dying foliage. I see some here that I am going to go ahead and prune out. You see, I found it here, and I am going to go all the way down to right beside the stem to get rid of it. You don’t want to cut it halfway because it will just continue to die back. You want this dead and dying foliage away from the plant because it attracts pests and diseases. Another reason is that the plant may still be putting energy into that dying foliage instead of growing new healthy growth and flowers.

When cutting, you want to cut close to the stem, but make sure you don’t cut into the stem. Leaving long pieces can waste time because the plant puts energy into them, and eventually, they’ll slough off. However, if you cut close to the stem near what are known as stem nodes, the plant will release auxins—growth hormones—which will create more leaves at that point. That’s why cutting close but not into the stem is important, as cutting into it could harm the plant and invite pests and diseases.

Now, I’m going back to pruning. There’s more dead foliage here, so I’m cutting it back to the stem. Here’s another one. You also want to look for stems that aren’t healthy. This one is droopy and bent, so I’m cutting it down all the way to the base of the plant, allowing the plant to put energy into the healthier stems.

As I go through, I’m looking for more dead or dying foliage. Sometimes it takes a little bit of searching. You may also find stems with missing leaves along their length, which doesn’t look good and is another reason to prune. Here’s another dead one that I’ll cut all the way back. I’ve found another droopy stem, but I’ll hold off on that for now.

When pruning a houseplant, don’t prune more than one-third of the plant at a time. If you do, it can cause the plant to go into shock, which could lead to death. Also, if you cut too much above the soil, the roots may die back, leading to root rot due to too much unused soil. I have a video on that, which I’ll link below.

After cutting, lift up the plant and turn it around to check for areas you might have missed. I just found another dead piece. It’s easy to think you’ve gotten everything, but then you’ll find more as you continue. Pruning is a slow and deliberate process.

Next, I’ll focus on shaping the plant. Shaping is important for an aesthetically pleasing plant. For goldfish plants, you want the vines to be a similar length and to cut back to the stem nodes, which promotes bushier growth. You’ll notice where I’ve cut before, and the plant has produced more stems from that point. Any yellowing leaves should be removed as well.

When cutting, cut close to stem nodes to promote double branching, which creates a fuller, bushier plant. This can also increase the chances of flowering. Be careful not to go too fast when pruning, as cutting too much can lead to strange growth patterns. Just like giving a haircut, you want to go slowly and check your work before cutting more. Cutting close to a leaf or a stem node will stimulate new growth and healthy leaves.

I’m cutting off just a little bit from a few healthy vines to encourage more growth. Sometimes you’ll find small dead pieces as you go, which you should remove, as they won’t benefit the plant. When looking at the plant, I want to make sure that none of the vines are too long or hanging down too much. If one is significantly longer, you can cut it back to a stem node to encourage even growth.

Finally, you want to turn the plant around to ensure even lighting on all sides. I noticed this plant had been getting more light on the front, so I need to make sure to turn it regularly to promote even growth.

The goldfish plant tends to grow a bit on the rangy side, which is typical for this type of plant. However, you want to maintain a balance between bushiness and the natural flowing look of a hanging basket plant. I just found another empty stem, which I’ll cut back to where it’s still growing.

At this point, I’ve pruned about a quarter of the plant, which is just enough without risking shock. I’m lifting the plant again to make sure everything looks balanced and that no vine is significantly longer than the others. Some may still be slightly longer, but overall it looks more uniform now.

That’s how you prune a goldfish plant. As mentioned, pruning should be slow and steady to avoid harming the plant. If you have any other indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, feel free to leave a comment. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. Don’t forget to check the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.

FAQs about Pruning a Goldfish Plant

What is the benefit of pruning a goldfish plant?

Pruning your goldfish plant increases the chances of it flowering and helps promote healthy growth by removing dead or dying foliage. It also helps shape the plant for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

When should I prune my goldfish plant?

It’s best to prune your goldfish plant when you notice dead or dying foliage or if the plant is becoming too leggy. Pruning encourages bushier growth and can improve the plant’s overall health.

How do I properly prune dead foliage on a goldfish plant?

When pruning dead foliage, cut all the way down to the stem, making sure not to leave any long pieces. This ensures the plant doesn’t waste energy on dying parts and instead directs it towards healthy growth.

What are stem nodes, and why are they important in pruning?

Stem nodes are small bumps along the plant’s stems where new leaves and branches grow. When you prune just above a stem node, growth hormones (auxins) are released, promoting new growth and making the plant bushier.

Can pruning too much harm my goldfish plant?

Yes, pruning more than one-third of the plant at once can put it into shock, potentially causing root dieback or even killing the plant. It’s important to prune gradually and avoid cutting too much at once.

How can I shape my goldfish plant after pruning?

To shape your goldfish plant, focus on trimming vines to similar lengths and cutting back to stem nodes to promote double branching. This will make the plant bushier and more uniform in appearance.

What should I do if my plant has missing leaves or unhealthy stems?

Prune any stems with missing leaves or unhealthy growth back to the base. This allows the plant to direct energy towards healthier stems and promotes fuller growth.

How can I prevent my goldfish plant from becoming too leggy?

Regular pruning and turning the plant to ensure even light exposure on all sides will help prevent legginess. Prune back longer vines to stem nodes to encourage branching and bushiness.

Is it necessary to remove yellowing leaves?

Yes, yellowing leaves should be removed as they are no longer healthy and can attract pests or diseases. Removing them will help the plant focus its energy on healthy growth.

Can pruning help my goldfish plant flower more?

Yes, pruning encourages more growth at the stem nodes, which can increase the chances of flowering. Combined with proper fertilization and care, your goldfish plant is more likely to bloom.

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