Columnea 'Chocolate Soldier - Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant - 4 Inch

Ed's Plant Shop  |  SKU: CC04W

Size
$19.99
Taxes, discounts and shipping calculated at checkout.

Description

Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant: Unique Foliage and Bold Blooms

The Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant (Columnea hirta), also known as the Goldfish Vine, is a charming and distinctive houseplant that features dark, velvety leaves with a chocolate hue and vibrant orange blooms shaped like little goldfish. This eye-catching combination of colors and textures makes it a standout in any indoor garden, whether you’re looking for a trailing beauty or a compact tabletop plant.

Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant Profile

  • Botanical Name: Columnea 'Chocolate Soldier
  • Common Name(s): Chocolate Soldier Columnea, Chocolate Soldier Plant, Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant, Goldfish Plant
  • Family:  Gesneriaceae
  • Native Range: Southern Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica 

Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant Care Guide

  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Light: Bright, indirect light
  • Water: Allow the top 25%-30% of the soil to dry out before watering. Green leaves fall when the plant is too wet or too dry.
  • Humidity: High
  • Temperature: 65-85F
  • Pruning: Prune as needed to remove brown or dead leaves
  • Feeding: Fertilize every two weeks during spring and summer  with a basic plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Fertilize monthly in fall and winter.
  • Propagation: Stem tip cuttings
  • Growth: : Keep in a small pot and in a very bright location to encourage it to flower. 
  • Pests: Look out for aphids and mealy bugs
  • Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets

Fun Fact About the Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant

This plant is a relative of the African Violet and thrives in similar conditions, loving bright, indirect light and warm, humid environments. The blooms of the Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant are long-lasting and tend to flower prolifically when properly cared for, bringing joy to plant lovers who appreciate its quirky look and resilience.

Cultivar History of the Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant

Originating from Central and South America, the Chocolate Soldier Goldfish Plant has adapted well to indoor cultivation, thanks to its tolerance for moderate household conditions. This plant’s unique leaf coloration and striking blooms have made it a favorite among indoor gardeners. As part of the Gesneriaceae family, it shares traits with other popular houseplants like the lipstick plant, but its distinct “goldfish” flowers set it apart, giving it a whimsical appeal that brightens any room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping

How do you ship your plants?

We carefully package each plant with love by hand right from our shop in Brooklyn. Extra steps are taken to ensure that every leaf arrives in pristine shape by using polyfill and encapsulating the plant in a protective paper sleeve. The soil is also hydrated before shipping so that the plant has plenty of water for it's travel to your doorstep. We offer several shipping speeds, so please choose the one that you feel comfortable with depending on your location. 

Will my plant look like the one on the website?

Awesome question, we're glad you asked. Given the nature of our plant shop, we're constantly moving plants in and out of the shop, making it difficult and borderline impossible to keep an exact picture of each plant. In addition to the constantly rotating crop, we often grow in batches of 6, 12, or sometimes more! With this quantity we are unable to take a photo of each and every plant. The photos that we attach to each product listing is going to be of a plant that represents the average size and fullness of that set of plants. Some may be slightly larger or smaller, but in general, similar.

Do you include heat packs with your plants?

We offer Heat Packs for sale separately from the plants in 40, 60 and 72 hour increments. Please add a heat pack or two to your order if you live in an area where your order may be affected during transit by cold temperatures. We are not responsible for orders that are placed and damage is incurred to the plant if a heat pack is not purchased.

Which heat pack should I choose?

Heat packs come in three different increments, so please choose the appropriate hour increment depending on the speed of shipping that you choose during checkout. For example, if you choose a cheaper shipping option that will take longer, please select the 72 hour heat pack. If you've chosen a shorter method of shipping, the 40 or 60 hour increment would work! We like to encourage our customers to always get more than you need, just to be on the safe side!

How long will it take to receive my order?

Standard shipping normally takes 3-5 days. Next day shipping is available on all domestic orders (for an additional charge). International shipping times depend on the products and destination (estimated at checkout).

Do you offer express shipping?

All orders are shipped 5-8 business days from the date it is placed. Please note that as a small plant shop, we do everything in our power to get orders out as fast as we can in the order that they come in. If you have circumstances that require expedited fulfillment, please connect with you and we can potentially offer options. 

What countries do you ship to?

We ship our selection of rare, healthy, and unique houseplants all across the United States including California. At this time, due to customs and agricultural limitations, we are unable to ship plants internationally from the United States.

Returns and Refunds

How do I return a product?

Items must be returned within 30 days after receiving your order. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, be unworn/unused, have any tags still attached, and include all the original packaging.

How long will it take to receive my refund?

Refunds are processed within 7 days from when we receive the item(s).

What should I do if my plant arrives in poor shape? 

In the extremely unlikely event that your plant arrives in less than perfect condition, you're covered by our 15-day plant health guarantee. Simply snap a photo of your plant and send it over to us. We'll happily take a peek and offer suggestions on how to perk it back up, offer a store credit, or send a replacement. We like to make it as easy as possible!

Can I return or exchange a plant?

At this time, we do not accept returns on plants. In extreme circumstances where a return of a plant is necessary, the customer is responsible for the return shipping and a refund will only be issued if the plant arrives back to us in living condition.