How funny...I came here to learn about goldfish plants after just seeing some for the first time in years & Lilpanda only yesterday was looking locally for a store that carries them. Home Depot in East Palo Alto (101/University Ave., by IKEA) had about five goldfish plants in stock earlier this week - hanging in the plant section inside the store, on the aisle that's closest to the outside garden center. Listed at $18.99 - which might sound pricy for a houseplant, but this is one that (in addition to being hard to find) is completely foolproof. I got one as a gift 20 or years ago, & it's hardy, healthy & has happily continued on, no matter how little attention it gets. (I think it's actually still in its original pot.) It's understandably a bit branchy - but I now know that's an easy thing to fix. p.s. HD has a 10% price beat guarantee policy, so if you go there by 7/1, bring along an Orchard Supply ad, as they're having a 25% off all plants sale this weekend.

Oh ok. I have a variegated lipstick plant and it had been having a hard time in the sun. I just moved it to a shadier location. Maybe i can get it to flower next year. It seems that even though i have bright windows, my plants always lean toward it and get leggy. So if i want them to look nice i have to set them outside in the warmer months. I also have a "mona lisa" lipstick vine and those leaves get big!

Ty - they are not goldfish - they are Nematanthus - that's my boring diehard point of view! If you use "Nematanthus" when you do your google search - you will get significantly more useful information. Anyway - regarding your question. Yes - both these plants belong to the Gesneriad family - and the culture is similar. Nematanthus is hardier, can take more sun, but both do not like to have wet feet - standing water in a saucer - should be splashed out in half an hour after watering. Regarding brown spots on the flowers. I am thinking that it is probably a natural thing - the flowers are relatively long lasting, but if they were open for a month - that's probably their normal time to die and fall off. For Nematanthus to bloom - you need to give it a good light - midday sun is too much, but morning and afternoon sun is good - and the AV fertilizer - usually 1/2 of recommended amount is enough. Some of the varieties are seasonal bloomers - they do their thing for 2-3 months - and then stay green, But it is a lovely attractive durable plant even out of bloom. It is easy to propagate- if the stems become too long - just trim the tips and stick them back into the soil. If the soil stays humid -they will root.

Yes, that's the stigma. At its base is the ovary because it is the female part of the flower. Stamens carry the pollen and they are the male parts.