Hi, are you able to possibly tell me what is causing this issue with my shrimp plant - (see pics attached)?

Looks like it is a fungus issue but I am not sure how to treat it since I have been spraying with neem oil as a fungicide/pesticide every couple weeks for a couple months.

Also, I have attached a pic of the full plant and you can see it is blooming profusely but the leaves overall are very sparse?

I was curious if I should chop/trim it way back but if so what is the best way to do that?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Mark

Personally, I think your Shrimp Plant looks great. It has a lot more leaves than mine ever had. Any plant that's blooming like your's is doesn't need to be fixed. If you want, you can prune it back but that would mean pruning all the flowers off too.

The spots are probably caused by the Neem oil. If your plant doesn't have a problem, why are you treating it with Neem oil every month?

I know Neem is all the rage right now but its really not as wonderful as all the hype would lead you to believe. It doesn't actually kill insects but reduces feeding and interferes with breeding.

hmm, if you look at the pics you will see all the leaves have sorta brown spots like fungus which is my concern. Also my plant has tons of blooms but hardly any leaves and the leaves that it has are all affected by whatever the brown spots are. This is my first time having this plant and I have only had it less than a year but when I google pics of these plants they are way more full of healthy leaves.

Mark - Your Shrimp Plant is not a good plant to keep outside in Texas. It must be protected from any direct sun and temps much above 75 degrees F. It is generally sold for use indoors in a moderately sunny window, but where it is also protected from heat.

Fortunately, it does respond well to pruning. I suggest that you prune yours back as much as you can stand and then move it inside to a moderately sunny window. It should develop new leaves with a healthy green color starting on each stem just below where you make the pruning cuts.

There is no visual evidence of pests or fungus, so discontinue the spraying with Neem.

Thanks WillC but then what are all the brown spots on the leaves?

The spots are the discoloration likely caused by the excess light and heat. Those leaves are permanently damaged and will eventually die back. That's why I recommend that you prune.

I disagree that your plant will do better indoors. They do require some afternoon shade but outdoors is best. To get the bushy plants you see in photos, you will have to prune.

I grew them in CA where summer temps were often in the 110 degree range and they never suffered. I didn't prune them often so mine were leggier than yours is but that really is their nature.

I suspect the spots are due to an over use of Neem. If you move your plant indoors, the flowers won't be as vibrantly colored.