How to Propagate Golden Shrimp Plant? A Detailed Guide to Common Methods and Techniques
Golden shrimp plant (Pachystachys lutea) is an evergreen subshrub of the family Acanthaceae, with swollen stem nodes, opposite leaves, and long oval leaves with prominent veins. It gets its name from the yellow spike inflorescences at the tips of its stems, whose bracts are layered in overlapping tiers and from which small white flowers emerge, resembling the body of a shrimp. In the south it is used for bedding displays. In warm regions it can be planted in gardens, while in the north it is grown as a greenhouse potted flower, making it an excellent potted flowering variety.
Under greenhouse conditions, golden shrimp plant can be propagated by cuttings throughout the year, but for home growing, cuttings should be taken in spring from April to May. This is because cuttings root quickly and survive easily at this time, and they can bloom by autumn.
Golden shrimp plant is mainly propagated by cuttings, which can be done during the growing season, and the best time for cuttings is April. Each node of the golden shrimp plant's stems and branches has about one pair of latent axillary buds, and the axillary buds in the middle of the branches are mature and have strong sprouting ability. Cut cuttings 3-4 cm long and insert them into a seedbed or cutting pot, cover with plastic film or glass, and water carefully to keep the substrate moist. They will root after one week, the axillary buds will sprout and grow after 20 days, and after one month they can be potted up. When potting up, choose sturdy opposite paired forked seedlings.
The cutting substrate can be a half-and-half mix of vermiculite and sand. For a small number of home cuttings, the cutting substrate can be placed in a large wide-mouthed flower pot. Insert the cuttings to a depth of 1/3 to 1/2 of their length, water thoroughly after inserting, cover with plastic film to retain moisture, and place under a shade shed, maintaining the optimum rooting temperature of 20°C to 25°C. They will root in 7 to 10 days, and after 20 days they can be transplanted into pots.
Before taking cuttings of golden shrimp plant, prepare the growing medium first. For pot culture, use a mix of leaf mold and peat soil with 1/2 vermiculite or 1/3 river sand, and add a small amount of base fertilizer. It should be loose and well aerated; avoid heavy, sticky soil.
Cuttings of golden shrimp plant should be selected from sturdy, plump branches with short internodes, cut into sections 9 cm to 12 cm long, with the cut made 0.5 cm below a node. It is best to use a sharp knife to make a smooth cut, and it is even better if the cutting has a heel. Remove the lower leaves and keep the top leaves. Cut vigorous growing branches 8 cm to 10 cm long with about 3 to 5 nodes, keep only 2 to 3 leaves at the tip, and make the bottom cut preferably 0.2 cm below a node.
When taking cuttings, insert the golden shrimp plant cuttings 3 cm to 4 cm into the soil, press the base gently with your fingers so that it fits closely with the growing medium, then water thoroughly with a fine watering can and place in a semi-shaded spot. After cutting, water frequently and spray water mist near the cuttings to keep the potting soil moist and maintain air humidity around the cuttings. At a room temperature of 20°C to 25°C, roots will appear in about 20 days, and by autumn they can develop into larger plants and bloom.