Shrimp Plant (False hop) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Shrimp Plant burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Wants bright light with a little gentle direct sun to keep the bracts richly coloured; the bracts and leaves bleach in harsh afternoon sun. Indoors, an east, west, or lightly shaded south window is ideal. RHS recommends partial shade in sheltered positions outdoors. 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 shrimp plant: when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in summer. 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. Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged during active growth; reduce watering in winter. Leaves drop if the soil stays either too wet or too dry. Drought-tolerant once established outdoors, but containers dry faster and bloom best with steady moisture.

Soil and pot

Shrimp Plant grows best in rich, humus-heavy, well-drained potting mix. Thrives in fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil. A peat-free houseplant mix amended with compost and a little perlite works well; outdoors it tolerates chalk, clay, loam, and sand provided drainage is good. 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

Shrimp Plant sits happiest at around 40-60% (moderate to high) humidity and 16-29C ideal; keep above 10C (60-85F ideal; keep above 50F). Appreciates above-average humidity as a tropical species. In dry indoor air, group plants, sit the pot on a pebble-and-water tray, or run a humidifier. Low humidity and dry heat invite spider mites. If you keep the room above 16 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 shrimp plant sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser (around 10-10-10), starting as new growth begins. Ease off in autumn and stop in winter while growth slows. Over-feeding produces lush foliage at the expense of bracts. 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 shrimp plant in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Leggy, sparse growth — Stems naturally stretch and flop with age. Pinch growing tips regularly and prune hard in late winter or early spring to force bushier growth and more bracts; very old plants are best replaced from cuttings.
• Bracts fade to pale or greenish — Too little light dulls the signature shrimp colouring, while scorching midday sun bleaches it. Aim for bright light with only gentle direct sun for the richest red-bronze bracts.
• Leaf drop — Leaves fall when the soil swings too wet or too dry, or after a cold draught. Keep moisture steady, ensure good drainage, and protect from temperatures below 10C (50F).
• Spider mites — Fine webbing and yellow stippling on leaf undersides, worst in hot, dry indoor air. Raise humidity, rinse the foliage, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat to break the cycle.
• Whitefly — Tiny white flies scatter when disturbed and excrete sticky honeydew that fuels sooty mould. Use yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, treating undersides of leaves thoroughly.
• Leaf spot — Dark blotches from fungal leaf spot can appear in damp, crowded conditions. Improve airflow, avoid wetting the foliage when watering, and remove affected leaves.

Propagation

Easy from softwood stem cuttings in spring or summer: take a 10-15 cm (4-6 in) tip with at least one node, strip the lower leaves, optionally dip in rooting hormone, and root in a moist sand/perlite or peat-free mix kept warm and humid. Roots usually form in about 6-8 weeks. 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

Shrimp Plant is mildly toxic to pets. Justicia brandegeeana is not individually listed in the ASPCA toxic/non-toxic plant database, and the genus Justicia (Acanthaceae) has no ASPCA-listed members, so its safety is not formally established. (Note: the ASPCA's "Shrimp Cactus" entry is a different plant, Schlumbergera russelliana, not this species.) No toxic principle is documented, but as an unverified plant treat it as mildly toxic, prevent nibbling, and verify with your vet before trusting it around pets. 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.

Shrimp Plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of shrimp plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Shrimp Plant watering schedule
• Shrimp Plant light requirements
• Best soil mix for shrimp plant
• Shrimp Plant fertilizing guide
• When to repot shrimp plant
• How to propagate shrimp plant
• Shrimp Plant growth rate & size
• Shrimp Plant cold hardiness
• Shrimp Plant temperature & humidity
• Is shrimp plant toxic to cats & dogs?
• Getting shrimp plant to bloom

Related guides

Shrimp Plant is also known as Shrimp plant, Mexican shrimp plant, False hop, and Shrimp bush.

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