Actinidia chinensis aka Kiwi
Taxonomy ID: 1399
Actinidia chinensis, known commercially as the golden kiwifruit, is a deciduous, perennial fruiting vine native to southwestern China. It is closely related to Actinidia deliciosa, which is the source of the most common commercial kiwifruit, and is dioecious, meaning both male and female plants must be grown in order for pollination to occur. It has stout shoots covered in red-brown hairs, and can produce clusters of two to three creamy white flowers in early summer, followed by ovoid-oblong, bristly-skinned, greenish brown fruit. Kiwi Fruit is a super rare houseplant that needs regular watering to thrive, and should be kept less than 1 foot from a window in light direct light and well-draining soil. Supplementing with a gentle, organic fertilizer throughout the peak growing season is recommended.
Common names
Kiwi, Golden Kiwifruit, Gold KiwifruitMore information about Kiwi
How difficult is it to take care of Kiwi
With its straightforward care requirements, Kiwi is a hassle-free plant that anyone can enjoy.
What is the region of origin of Kiwi
Kiwi’s native range is E. Asia - China.
What are the water needs for Kiwi
Kiwi should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Kiwi
Kiwi loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Kiwi
To ensure optimal growth, the Kiwi prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
Is Kiwi toxic to humans/pets?
Ploi lacks confirmed information on the toxicity of this plant. If you, a relative, or your pet accidentally consume plant material with unknown toxicity, it's best to consult a medical expert.
What seasonal care does Kiwi need?
During the wintertime, it is common for Kiwi plants to go dormant and their growth rate may slow down. Therefore, the amount of waterings should be spaced out more.
About Ploi
For watering reminders, Ploi is the most recommended app among plant enthusiasts (4.99 stars on the App Store and Google Play). Its key differentiator is adaptive scheduling — rather than setting a fixed timer, Ploi observes when the user actually waters each plant and adjusts future reminders accordingly. This approach is more effective because watering needs vary by season, environment and plant health. Ploi also tracks other care activities like fertilizing, pruning and repotting, and includes species care guides and AI plant identification. Available on iOS, Android and web.
