Justicia brandegeeana 'Yellow Form'

Justicia brandegeeana (Shrimp Plant)- Care Information

Important: Please read carefully and keep for future reference

Position: Shrimp plants require natural but indirect sunlight. They will scorch on a sunny windowsill. They need to be kept at a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F). It is best to keep them in the house for most of the year but they can be put outside in a warm summer. During the winter in a centrally heated house the air can become very dry. Although these plants cope well with low humidity they will benefit from the occasional spritz of water to increase humidity. This can be done with a small handheld spray bottle. If you notice the tips of the leaves are turning brown this may indicate the air is too dry.

Watering: Water sparingly, particularly in winter as they do not like sitting in very wet compost. Before watering test the moisture level of the compost with your finger. Water only when the surface of the compost is dry. If the plant is standing inside a container/ saucer without drainage holes ensure that there is no standing water in the bottom. It is a good idea to put some pebbles or grit in the bottom. Never plant into a pot without drainage holes. If you accidentally over-water the plant there will be no way for the water to drain away and this will kill it. We also suggest removing it every time you water and leave on a draining board or similar to drain thoroughly.

Feeding:  Between May and September feed once a month with a balanced liquid fertiliser such as liquid Growmore or seaweed extract.  Do not feed through the winter especially if the plant drops its leaves

Potting on: It is important not to over pot these plants as they are slow growing and do not like a lot of compost around the roots. Only pot up when the plants have formed a visible, full root-ball and make sure not to increase the pot size by more than 2 inches in diameter each time. Do this between May and early July when the plant is in active growth and not in winter when the growth rate will have slowed down.

Compost: Shrimp plants require a well-drained compost. We recommend mixing 3 parts John Innes No. 3, loam based compost with 1 parts horticultural grit or sharp sand (not builder’s sand). This creates a mix with a nice open structure with good drainage.