Pachystachys lutea - Golden Shrimp or Lollipop Plant. 

Care of the Golden Shrimp Plant - Pachystachys lutea.

Increased humidity in the growing season especially, with a winter minimum temperature of 13C. Outdoors, the humidity can be increased with regular spraying in summer months. Indoors it is not easy to maintain such humidity unless grown under glass. Standing in a tray of wet pebbles or porous 'humidity' rocks help. Misting with an atomizing spray will not make for a regular high humidity.

Feeding Golden Shrimps

Feed regularly throughout the growing season, but reduce watering to a minimum in winter and cease watering unless in growing state/conditions. Most liquid feeds will be suitable, but not high Nitrogen. Tomato feeds are as good as any. Only feed when the plant has been suitable watered  and NOT when the compost it dry. If the compost is dried out, then water and feed the following day.

 After flowering remove flower bracts. Re-pot every spring in rich organic potting mix. Once flowering has stopped. or in the early spring.

Pruning

Trim back long growth for a tidy, compact plant. The plant - or shrub if grown outdoors - will soon recover and send out new shoots which will provide good flowering shoots later in the season.

Good for

The golden bracts and white flowers make this a feature plant for a full season, the foliage tends to look ‘tired’ so remove plant to an inconspicuous corner when flowering over. It is a superb container shrub on the patio during the warmer weather, but not to be left outdoors for winter.

A fine display on the Golden Shrimp Plant - Lollipop Plant

Problems with Golden Shrimp Plant

Either indoors or under glass, the shrimp plant attracts the normal range of troublesome pests - notably whitefly and red spider mite. Weekly inspection under the leaves will be a good idea.

Propagating Pachystachys

Softwood cuttings taken in the summer months do well, but will need a heated propagator where good humidity can be maintained. Otherwise cuttings can be rooted indoors via a pot of compost and airtight covering with a clear plastic bag. Do not place the rooting cuttings in direct sunshine.

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