Lemon Lime Maranta Is the Easy-to-Grow Houseplant You Need—Here's How to Grow It

Lemon lime maranta is an evergreen perennial that has symmetrical bright green markings on its foliage. Like other varieties of Maranta leuconeura, this plant has the unique habit of folding its leaves each night, giving it the nickname of lemon lime prayer plant.

It grows best in warm conditions with bright, indirect light and moist but well-draining soil. It’s known to be a low-maintenance houseplant with striking good looks.

Lemon Lime Maranta Care

Follow these essential care requirements for growing lemon lime maranta:

• Choose a pot with drain holes and plant in a well-draining soil mix.

• Place in a spot that receives bright, indirect light.

• Water regularly and don’t allow the soil to dry out.

• Feed regularly during the spring and summer months.

Light

Lemon lime maranta does best when it receives indirect light, rather than direct sun. It’s also tolerant of low light conditions but it should receive sun for at least part of the day for the best growing habitat.

Soil

This plant requires well-draining soil but the specific soil composition is less important. A typical houseplant soil mix will work fine.

Acidic or neutral soil is preferred. You can improve soil acidity by adding about a tablespoon of coffee grounds to the soil monthly.

Water

During the active growing season, you’ll need to regularly water lemon lime maranta to keep the soil moist. This plant is not considered very drought-tolerant so don’t let the soil dry out completely. On the other hand, don’t water to the point of causing soggy soil.

Lemon lime maranta enters dormancy during the winter months when humidity and light levels drop. You’ll notice that the plant drops its leaves and the stem shrivels. Reduce watering frequency and ensure that the plant still receives bright, indirect light.

Temperature and Humidity

Lemon lime maranta does well with temperatures between 60°F and 80°F and moderate-to-high humidity levels.

Fertilizer

Feed a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer to lemon lime maranta during the spring and summer growing months. Dilute the fertilizer to half-strength and apply every two to four weeks. In the winter, reduce feeding to once per month.

Propagating Lemon Lime Maranta

A mature lemon lime maranta can be propagated to produce new plants. It’s most common to propagate by means of division, which is easiest to do when you’re repotting the plant.

It’s best to repot and propagate when the plant is at peak vitality—usually during the spring or summer. Follow these steps to propagate lemon lime maranta:

1. Gather a garden knife and a pot with new soil mix. Gently loosen the plant from its existing pot. Shake off the soil until you can clearly see the root system.

2. Using the garden knife, separate the plant into two or more plants, ensuring that each resulting plant will have plenty of roots and at least a few stems.

3. Pot the new plants separately in a container with new soil mix.

4. Place in a warm location with bright, indirect light. Water regularly to maintain soil moisture.

Potting and Repotting Lemon Lime Maranta

Lemon lime maranta isn’t especially fast-growing and might only require repotting every other year or so. Indicators that it’s time to repot include roots protruding from the pot’s drainage holes or halted growth (don’t confuse a lack of growth with the plant’s dormancy period). In addition, if the soil is no longer draining freely, it could be a sign that you need to repot to refresh the soil.

Pick a pot that is just a few inches larger in diameter. Ensure you choose a container with drainage holes.

To repot lemon lime maranta, loosen the plant from its existing pot. Gently shake off the old soil, using your fingers as needed. Fill the new pot with soil mix and plant the maranta to a similar soil depth as it was in the old pot. Water the plant.

Common Pests

Maranta plants are prone to invasion from pests like spider mites and fungus gnats if the plant’s conditions become out-of-balance. Spider mites are more likely to occur when the environment is overly dry. Treat with neem oil.

If conditions are too moist or humid, then fungus gnats might take up residence in the pot with your lemon lime maranta. Allow the soil to dry out and take steps to kill the adult gnats and any larvae.

Common Problems With Lemon Lime Maranta

Lemon lime maranta is not overly fussy but to take proper care of this plant, you need to balance its water intake, humidity levels, and light and temperature levels. If not, problems can develop and you may see these symptoms appear:

Leaves Turning Yellow

If the normally bright green leaves of the lemon lime maranta start to yellow, it’s most likely a sign that the plant is receiving too much water or too little light. Check the soil and ensure that it’s not overly saturated.

You may need to inspect the roots to determine if they show any signs of root rot, which usually manifests as brown, squishy, and stringy roots with a foul odor.

If you’ve been carefully managing the watering schedule for your maranta, it could be that the plant is receiving insufficient light. Although the lemon lime maranta can tolerate low-light conditions, if it doesn’t receive at least some indirect light each day, it can begin to show pale leaves and growth can be stunted.

Try moving the plant to a location with more bright light, like near a north- or east-facing window or a table or shelf that is several feet away from a south- or west-facing window.

Leaves Turning Brown

If the leaves of your lemon lime maranta are turning brown and crispy it may be an indicator that the humidity in the environment is too low.

Place the pot on a pebble tray with water (ensuring that the bottom of the pot doesn’t rest in the water) or use a humidifier in the vicinity of the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are lemon lime maranta rare?

Compared to other types of prayer plants, lemon lime maranta are more rare. They’re not as widely available through nurseries but you can find them for sale commercially if you shop around.

How big do lemon lime maranta get?

A mature lemon lime maranta will grow to a height of about 12 inches. The plant has individual leaves that also grow to about 12 inches, giving it a full appearance in its pot.

Should I mist lemon lime maranta?

It is important to ensure that lemon lime maranta has sufficient humidity in its environment, but misting isn’t the best option for raising humidity levels. It can cause fungal growth and lead to gnat problems. It’s better to raise the humidity level by using a pebble tray or humidifier.

Read the original article on The Spruce.