Beloperone guttata (Mexican Shrimp Plant) Indoor Care, Propagation and Growing Problems

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Mexican Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata) flourishes in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soils coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Beloperone guttata also called Red Shrimp Plant, Shrimp Plant or False Hop is one of the popular flowering plants with weak branching stems and a reddish-yellow spike from which white flowers emerge.

The spike is made up of reddish-yellow bracts and short-lived white flowers which emerge sequentially. Red Shrimp flowers from spring through summer.

The common name, 'Red Shrimp Plant', is in reference to the layered (overlapping) bright reddish-yellow bracts which resemble a shrimp's layered scales.

Mexican Shrimp plant is similar to Golden Shrimp Plant (Pachystachys lutea) which features yellow bracts instead of reddish.

The name, 'Beloperone', comes from, 'Belos', greek for 'arrow' and 'perone', greek for 'bond' in reference to arrow-shaped leaves as they emerge from the stems.

Beloperone guttata has been renamed to Justicia brandegeeana in honor of the American botanist Townshed Stith Brandegee (1843-1925) who studied plants of California and Mexico.

Botanical name: Beloperone guttata
Synonym: Justicia brandegeena
Family: Acanthaceae
Common names: Mexican Shrimp Plant, Red Shrimp Plant, Shrimp Plant, False Hop

Origin

Beloperone guttata also called Justicia brandegeeana is native to Mexico, hence the common name. The plant has been naturalized in Florida, USA.

Size

Mexican Shrimp Plant can grow to a height of about 1-3 feet and the same width. The leaves are oval, light-green and about 1.5-3 inches long.

Flower

The inflorescence is made up of flowers which emerge from bracts (modified leaves) that form off the stems. They start off white but change color to somewhere between pale-pink to salmon with exposure to sunlight.

Is Mexican Shrimp Plant poisonous?

There are no reported cases of poisoning by Mexican Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata), however, it should not be eaten.

Where to Buy

Mexican Shrimp Plants are a great addition to your plant collection. They are readily available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Beloperone guttata Care Indoors

Mexican Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata) grows best in bright light with 4-6 of direct sunshine, average temperature of 18-24⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Beloperone guttata requires regular pruning to keep it neat, to reduce pest and disease infestation, to encourage bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is only needed when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Mexican Shrimp Plant thoroughly during the growing season and allow two-thirds of the soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.

Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Do not allow the soil for Red Shrimp Plant to dry out completely as it can lead to wilting and leaf drop.

Ascertain that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and loss of the plant.

Light Requirements

Mexican Shrimp Plant grows best in bright light with 4-6 hours of morning or evening sunshine to enhance bracts color. Keep it away from too hot direct sunshine as it can scorch the leaves.

If light is not enough, the plant will become leggy with wide spaces between the leaf nodes and will not bloom. You may grow Beloperone guttata under grow lights where the natural lighting is not sufficient. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Turn the pot regularly to ensure that the Shrimp Plant receives light on all sides for even growth.

False Hop Plant can also be grown outside under direct sunshine but it needs to be acclimated gradually before being exposed to direct sunshine to avoid sunscorch.

Temperature and Humidity

Average temperature of 18-24⁰C is ideal for Mexican Shrimp Plant. Keep it away from drafty conditions as cold temperatures can cause leaf drop.

Average to above average humidity of 60-70% is ideal for Shrimp Plant. The plant thrives in warm, humid conditions like in its natural environment. To increase humidity especially where the room temperatures are very high, set the pot on a wet pebble tray to avoid brown leaf tips and edges. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Fertilizer

Feed Mexican Shrimp Plant with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during the growing season to promote flowering. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn.

Potting Mix

The best potting mix for Mexican Shrimp Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most all purpose potting mixes are ideal.

Repotting

Repot Mexican Shrimp Plant at the beginning of the growing season into a pot one size larger than the current only when root-bound as it blooms best when pot-bound.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining soil to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant.

Do not repot a Shrimp Plant that is in flower as the repotting shock can shorten the flowering period. The large plants can be divided at repotting to propagate new plants. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

Pruning

Prune Mexican Shrimp Plant by removing dead blooms and leaves to maintain the plant neat and discourage pest and disease infestations.

Cutback the stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth as the plant becomes straggly and unattractive with age. Cutting back also promotes flowering as blooms emerge from the stem tips. Read more on how to prune houseplants.

Propagation

Mexican Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings or by plant division.

1. How to propagate Mexican Shrimp Plant from stem cuttings

Take a 4-6 inches stem cuttings from a healthy Mexican Shrimp Plant. Strip off the lower leaves of the cuttings and coat the lower part of the stem with a rooting hormone.

Carefully insert the coated cuttings in moist, free-draining soil and ensure the rooting container has adequate drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Cover the set up with a clear plastic bag or sheet to create a greenhouse effect to hasten rooting. A warm and humid environment is needed for rooting to happen.

Place the set up in bright light but away from direct sunlight to avoid cooking the cuttings.

Maintain the soil moist through out until the cuttings are rooted. Rooting should occur in about 6-8 weeks and is indicated by new growth.

Once rooted, remove the plastic cover a little every day over a period of 2 weeks to acclimate the new plants to normal indoor growing conditions.

Allow the new Red Shrimp Plant to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.

2. How to propagate Mexican Shrimp Plant by plant division

Water the Mexican Shrimp Plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

Carefully divide a large Mexican Shrimp Plant into sections while ensuring each section has enough roots.

Pot these sections into individual pots in moist, free-draining soil.

Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist until the new Red Shrimp Plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.

Beloperone guttata Problems and Solutions

Mexican Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata) growing problems include leaf drop, wilting, brown leaf tips and edges, yellow leaves, lack of blooms, pests and diseases and are all due to improper care. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Pests

The common pests in Mexican Shrimp Plant are aphids, whiteflies and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Diseases

Mexican Shrimp Plant is prone to leaf spot disease and root-rot disease which are prevalent in overwatered soil coupled with poor air circulation. Isolate the affected plant and treat it appropriately for these diseases. Avoid wetting the leaves as you water the plant and ensure that there is good air circulation. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil.

Dropping leaves

There are four possible reasons for dropping leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant. One possible reason for dropping leaves is dry air. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.

The second possible reason for dropping leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant is incorrect watering; either overwatering or underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly to maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season. Reduce watering during the cold period but do not allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the right way.

The third possible reason for dropping leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant is improper feeding; either overfeeding of underfeeding. Feed the plant every 3-4 weeks during the growing season with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer but do not feed during the cold season. Read more on how to feed houseplants.

The fourth possible reason for dropping leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant is too cold temperatures due to cold drafts. Keep the plant away from draft windows and doorways, air conditioners and other cold drafts to maintain an average temperature of 18-24⁰C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Yellowing leaves

There are two possible causes of yellowing leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant. One possible cause of yellowing leaves is overwatering or soggy soil. Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season and allow two-thirds of the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lessen watering during the cold period to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not let it dry out completely. Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil if free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil.

The second possible cause of yellowing leaves in Red Shrimp Plant is underfeeding. Feed the False Hop with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during the growing season but do not feed in the cold season.

No blooms (flowers)

The are three possible causes of lack of blooms in Mexican Shrimp Plant. One possible reason why Mexican Shrimp Plant will not flower is too little light. Move the plant to a brighter spot where it can receive bright light with some morning sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

The second possible reason why Mexican Shrimp Plant will not bloom is feeding it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer which promotes foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Feed plant with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during the growing season to promote flowering.

The third possible reason why Mexican Shrimp Plant will not bloom is underwatering resulting in too little moisture in the soil. Water the plant thoroughly during the growing season and keep the soil moderately moist through out. However, reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Wilting and drooping leaves

Underwatering is the cause of wilting and drooping leaves in Mexican Shrimp Plant. Water the plant thoroughly and maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season. Decrease watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Brown leaf tips and edges

Two reasons are responsible for brown leaf tips and edges in Mexican Shrimp Plant. One reason for brown leaf tips and edges is dry air (low humidity). Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity or use a cool mist humidifier.

The second reason for brown leaf tips and edges in Red Shrimp Plant is soggy soil. Maintain the soil moist but not soggy by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining (drains easily).

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