Black Gold clog plant (Black Gold goldfish plant) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Black Gold clog plant burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Needs bright indirect light to maintain its deep foliage color and produce abundant flowers. A bright east- or west-facing window is ideal. More shade than most Nematanthus cultivars is tolerated, but flowering declines markedly in low light. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering black gold clog plant: every 7–10 days in spring–summer, every 12–14 days in autumn–winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water when the top 2–3 cm of potting mix feel dry. The dark foliage can mask stress signs; check the soil regularly by touch. Ensure the pot drains freely after each watering.

Soil and pot

Black Gold clog plant grows best in light, free-draining gesneriad or epiphytic mix. A peat-free mix of coir, coarse perlite, and fine bark (2:1:1) provides the aeration this epiphytic hybrid needs. Avoid dense potting compost that retains too much moisture. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Black Gold clog plant sits happiest at around 50–70% humidity and 16–26°C (60–78°F). Moderate to high humidity is preferred. Average indoor humidity (around 50%) is acceptable if the plant is kept away from radiators and air conditioning vents. A pebble tray or room humidifier is beneficial in drier homes. If you keep the room above 16–26°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed black gold clog plant sparingly. Feed every 3–4 weeks in the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength. When buds begin to form, switch to a high-potassium formula (e.g., tomato feed) to boost flowering. Do not feed in winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on black gold clog plant in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Leaf color fading — The distinctive near-black foliage can fade to dark green if the plant receives too much bright direct light or too little light. Adjust to bright, filtered indirect light for best color.
• Bud drop — Moving the plant or exposing it to cold drafts while in bud causes flowers to drop before opening. Position in a stable, warm, draft-free spot once buds are visible.
• Root rot — Overwatering in a heavy compost causes root rot quickly. Use a fast-draining mix and a pot with drainage holes; let the top layer of soil dry between waterings.

Propagation

Take 8–10 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer. Strip the lower leaves and root in moist perlite or coir-perlite mix under a humidity dome at 20–24°C. Cuttings root in 3–4 weeks. Pinch growing tips of young plants to encourage bushy, well-branched trails. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Black Gold clog plant is pet-safe. Nematanthus 'Black Gold' is a hybrid within the genus Nematanthus (family Gesneriaceae). ASPCA lists goldfish plants (Nematanthus sp.) as non-toxic to dogs and cats. No toxic principles are reported for this genus. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Black Gold clog plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of black gold clog plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Black Gold clog plant watering schedule
• Black Gold clog plant light requirements
• Best soil mix for black gold clog plant
• Black Gold clog plant fertilizing guide
• When to repot black gold clog plant
• How to propagate black gold clog plant
• Black Gold clog plant growth rate & size
• Black Gold clog plant cold hardiness
• Black Gold clog plant temperature & humidity
• Is black gold clog plant toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is black gold clog plant toxic to cats?
• Is black gold clog plant toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Black Gold clog plant qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Black Gold clog plant is also commonly called Black Gold clog plant or Black Gold goldfish plant.

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