Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime'

Origin and background of Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime'

‘Lemon Lime’ takes its name from the lime-yellow vein network that replaces the red lines associated with ‘Fascinator’. These bright veins are the distinguishing feature of the cultivated form.

Its parent species, Maranta leuconeura, comes from wet-tropical forest in central and eastern Brazil. There it spreads close to the ground through underground stems. Small flexible joints at the leaf bases change the angle of each leaf through the daily light cycle. ‘Lemon Lime’ retains this low forest-floor habit, while its lime colouring was developed in cultivation.

Growing prayer plants indoors

• Arrival rhythm: Keep Maranta ‘Lemon Lime’ in steady warmth and avoid reacting to normal evening leaf elevation as though it were wilting. Let the plant settle before repotting.
• Light: Use bright filtered or indirect light. Strong direct sun can bleach the lime-green pattern and scorch the blade, while deep shade produces weak elongated stalks.
• Watering: Maintain even light moisture, watering once the upper layer is becoming drier and draining the pot fully. Severe drying rolls the leaves; constant wetness deprives the roots and rhizomes of air.
• Water quality: Where mineral-rich tap water causes recurring brown margins, switch to lower-mineral water and periodically flush the substrate.
• Substrate: A fine organic mix with reliable aeration supports the shallow spreading root system. Wider pots are often more useful than deep oversized ones.
• Warmth and humidity: Stable frost-free warmth suits the plant. Moderate to high humidity supports the thin leaves. Keep the surrounding air moving gently so wet foliage dries.
• Feeding and renewal: Apply dilute fertiliser during active growth and less during slow periods. Remove dead foliage at the base and propagate from healthy divisions or stem sections to keep the cultivar true.

When growth starts to go wrong

• Evening leaf elevation: The daily rise of the leaves is normal and should not trigger extra watering. Check moisture directly.
• Lime pattern fading: Long weak leaf stalks and greener leaves suggest insufficient light. Bleached tan areas, by contrast, point to excessive direct sun. Move weak, open growth gradually into stronger filtered light; move a bleached exposed plant back from direct sun and assess later leaves.
• Leaves rolled in daylight: Possible causes include drought, hot sun, very dry air and roots damaged in wet mix. Check both moisture and root firmness before responding. Water a dry throughout root ball thoroughly, but inspect and correct damaged roots when the mix at the bottom of the pot is damp; remove heat or sun stress without adding water automatically.
• Crisp tips and edges: Irregular watering, mineral salts, strong fertiliser, low humidity or root injury may be involved. Flush the mix only when drainage is reliable and salt buildup is likely.
• Yellow lower leaves in a wet pot: Restore drainage and air around the rhizomes rather than increasing humidity. Remove trapped water from the cover pot.
• Pests on new and mature leaves: Look beneath the blades for mite webbing and pale specks. Thrips leave silvery feeding marks with black dots on emerging foliage, while mealybugs form white cottony clusters around the joints. Confirm the pest, isolate the plant and treat the lower surfaces, joints and emerging foliage with a product labelled for that organism.
• Irregular mosaic: The lime markings remain aligned with the leaf pattern. Isolate unfamiliar mottling that develops with misshapen growth, dying tissue or spread to neighbouring plants.
• Leaf spots: Brown or water-soaked lesions that enlarge after the foliage remains wet point to leaf spot rather than normal colouring. Remove affected blades and keep irrigation off the foliage.

Maranta leuconeura ‘Lemon Lime’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Maranta leuconeura: where the name comes from

Maranta commemorates Bartolomeo Maranta. Leuconeura combines Greek leukos, meaning white, with neuron, meaning nerve, and refers to pale venation.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Maranta in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 2; Charles Plumier had proposed the name.

Charles Jacques Édouard Morren first described Maranta leuconeura in 1874 in Annales de l’Horticulture Belge et Étrangère, volume 24, page 323.