How to Grow Shrimp Plant
Justicia brandegeeana
The shrimp plant thrives in bright indirect light or dappled sun. Plant in free-draining, fertile compost and water moderately, allowing the top centimetre to dry between waterings. Feed fortnightly in the growing season. Pinch out shoot tips regularly to keep the plant bushy and encourage the distinctive drooping bract spikes. In temperate climates bring indoors before first frost; it can bloom almost year-round in a warm conservatory or on a heated patio.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Reduce to monthly in autumn and stop in winter.
Watch For
- Aphids on soft shoot tips
- Red spider mite in hot dry conditions
- Whitefly under glass
- Root rot in waterlogged compost
Companions
Fuchsia, Impatiens, Begonia, Lantana
Care Requirements
Light
Bright indirect light or dappled sun; avoid harsh midday sun
Thrives in bright indirect light or morning sun with afternoon shade. Outdoors, dappled shade under a canopy works well. Direct midday sun bleaches the reddish-brown bracts and scorches leaves.
Watering
Moderate watering; allow top centimetre to dry between waterings
Water moderately throughout the growing season, allowing the top centimetre of compost to dry between waterings. Reduce watering in autumn and keep barely moist in winter. Never allow to sit in waterlogged compost.
Fertilizing
Balanced liquid feed every two weeks in spring and summer
Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Reduce to monthly in autumn and withhold entirely in winter when growth slows.
Pruning
Cut back by a third in spring; pinch tips through summer
Prune back by one third in early spring to rejuvenate the plant and encourage bushy growth. Pinch out the growing tips regularly through the season to stimulate branching and maximise bract production.
Growing Tips
Pinch for more bracts
Regularly pinching out the growing tips encourages side-branching and many more of the characteristic drooping bract spikes. Without pinching the plant becomes leggy and sparse.
Nearly year-round bloom
In a warm room or conservatory the shrimp plant can flower almost continuously. A cooler winter rest of 10-13°C with reduced watering encourages a stronger flush of growth and flowers in spring.
Bright light is key
Poor light leads to pale bracts and sparse flowering. Give the brightest spot possible short of harsh midday sun, which can bleach the bracts.
