Overview

Introduce a fascinating and vibrant addition to your indoor plant collection with the red shrimp plant live. Known scientifically as Justicia brandegeeana, this captivating perennial is named for its distinctive, arching flower bracts that resemble cooked shrimp. Originating from Mexico, the shrimp plant is cherished for its continuous bloom cycle, often displaying its showy red or maroon ‘shrimp’ year-round under optimal conditions. Our live plants arrive 5 to 7 inches tall, ready to thrive in your home or office. It’s a remarkably adaptable and low-maintenance plant, making it an excellent choice for both novice gardeners and seasoned plant lovers seeking an easy care perennial with a unique visual appeal. The shrimp plant brings a tropical flair to any setting, creating a focal point with its unusual and colorful inflorescences.

Key Benefits

The red shrimp plant live offers numerous advantages, making it a highly desirable choice for indoor gardening enthusiasts:

• Unique Ornamental Appeal: Its distinctive, shrimp-like red bracts provide continuous visual interest and are a guaranteed conversation starter, adding an exotic touch to any room.
• Long Blooming Season: Unlike many flowering plants, the shrimp plant can bloom almost continuously throughout the year, ensuring your space is always filled with color. This makes the indoor shrimp plant a consistent source of beauty.
• Easy to Grow: This plant is remarkably forgiving and requires minimal attention, making it perfect for beginners or those with busy lifestyles. Its resilience contributes to it being an easy care perennial.
• Compact Size: Growing to a manageable height of 5-7 inches, it’s ideal for windowsills, desks, or small spaces, fitting perfectly into diverse interior designs.
• Air Purification: Like many houseplants, the shrimp plant contributes to a healthier indoor environment by helping to filter airborne toxins and improve air quality.
• Pet-Friendly: The red shrimp plant live is generally considered non-toxic to pets, offering peace of mind for households with curious animals.
• Versatile Placement: Thrives equally well in pots indoors or as part of a sheltered outdoor display in warmer climates, providing flexibility in its use.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red shrimp plant live is straightforward, ensuring a rewarding experience with this beautiful perennial. For optimal growth, provide bright, indirect light. A south- or west-facing window with filtered light is ideal, as direct, harsh sunlight can scorch its leaves and bracts. While it can tolerate some shade, insufficient light will result in fewer and less vibrant ‘shrimp’ blooms. When considering shrimp plant care, consistent watering is key. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, especially during the active growing season. Reduce watering frequency in cooler months. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.

This plant thrives in a well-draining potting mix, ideally one formulated for houseplants with good aeration. A standard peat-based potting mix amended with perlite or coarse sand works well. Maintain average room temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C) and moderate to high humidity. While it tolerates average household humidity, it will appreciate occasional misting, especially in dry environments, or placement near a humidifier. Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Pruning is beneficial to maintain a bushy shape and encourage more blooms; simply pinch back leggy stems. Watch out for common pests like spider mites or mealybugs, which can be treated with insecticidal soap. For those wondering about Justicia brandegeeana, following these simple guidelines will ensure a healthy and thriving plant.

Size & Details

This offering includes one red shrimp plant live, meticulously cultivated to reach a healthy height of approximately 5 to 7 inches tall from the base of the pot. Each plant is grown in a nursery pot, ensuring it has established roots and is ready for transplanting into your preferred decorative container upon arrival. The plant exhibits a bushy growth habit, typically spreading to a similar width as its height, creating a compact and attractive specimen. Expect a moderate growth rate, with new ‘shrimp’ bracts appearing frequently under proper care. This indoor shrimp plant is shipped in its nursery pot, carefully packaged to protect its delicate structure during transit, ensuring it arrives in excellent condition, ready to flourish in its new home. It’s an ideal size for tabletops, shelves, or as a vibrant accent in a mixed plant arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: Your red shrimp plant live will arrive 5 to 7 inches tall. With proper care, it can reach up to 1-2 feet tall indoors, though regular pruning can keep it more compact and bushy.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While it can be grown outdoors in warm climates (USDA Zones 9-11), it is primarily cultivated as an indoor shrimp plant in most regions, thriving in controlled household environments.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The red shrimp plant prefers bright, indirect light. Avoid harsh, direct sun, which can scorch its foliage. A few hours of morning sun or filtered light throughout the day is ideal.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the shrimp plant is considered an easy care perennial. It’s quite forgiving and suitable for both beginner and experienced plant enthusiasts if its basic light and watering needs are met.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive healthy and well-packaged in its nursery pot, typically 5-7 inches tall, with established roots, ready for you to place in your chosen container.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Justicia brandegeeana is known for its prolific blooming. Your plant may arrive with existing bracts or will begin to produce them soon after settling into its new environment, often blooming continuously.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: As a tropical plant, it prefers temperatures above 60°F (15°C). It is not frost-tolerant, so it should be brought indoors or protected when temperatures drop.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for shrimp plant care? A: A well-draining potting mix is essential. A standard houseplant mix amended with perlite or orchid bark for extra drainage works very well.
• Q: Do I need to fertilize my shrimp plant? A: Yes, fertilize your indoor shrimp plant monthly during its active growing season (spring and summer) with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer to encourage robust growth and continuous blooming.
• Q: Is the red shrimp plant pet-safe? A: The red shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeeana) is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it a safer choice for homes with pets.