Various plants can be found commercially as ornamental hops, including the perennial real hop Humulus lupulus and the annual Japanese ornamental hop Humulus japonicus. Here, however, we are talking about the Beloperone or Justitia brandegeana.
The Beloperone is perennial as a houseplant
Both names are common for indoor or ornamental hops. This plant belongs to the bear's claw family and is not related to hops at all, only the pretty inflorescences look similar to real hop blossoms. Ornamental hops are usually traded as houseplants and can last for many years. To keep it from getting out of shape over time, you can prune it in the spring.
How long does my ornamental hop last?
In order for your ornamental hops to show their colorful inflorescences for several years, they need a lot of light. However, it does not tolerate the blazing midday sun so well. Therefore, it needs a little shade on a south-facing window at midday. If he gets little light for a long time, then the colors of the inflorescences fade.
For a long life you should take good care of the ornamental hops. This is not a big effort with this plant. It just needs regular watering and a little fertilizing about once a week. Its root ball must never dry out completely.
Do ornamental hops need special winter care?
In winter, do not fertilize and limit watering. The ornamental hops also like to stand a little cooler at around 15 °C during this time. If indoor hops hibernate too warm, they sometimes drop their leaves, but sprout again in the spring.
The same can happen if you overwater the ornamental hops in winter. If you cut it back to half its size in spring, the ornamental hop will grow nice and bushy and compact.
The essentials in brief:
- lasts many years
- needs a lot of light and air, but no direct sun
- loses the bright coloring of its inflorescences in the shade
- actual flower very inconspicuous
- should be watered regularly
- Root ball should never dry out completely
- likes to be cooler in winter
- may be cut back by half in spring
tips
You can enjoy your indoor or ornamental hops for many years if you place them in a bright, not too warm place and water them regularly.