How to Grow Lemon Lime Maranta -The Ultimate Guide

The Lemon Lime Maranta is one of the most unique plants in the world. As a prayer plant, it’s moving and shifting throughout the day, so there’s always something interesting going on. They’re usually relaxed and open in the daytime and close up during the evening. 

What makes these plants so great is that they’re easy to grow, are great to keep indoors, are versatile in terms of where you put them, on the floor, or suspended in the air, and since they’re non-toxic, they’re also super safe around pets. 

They’re the quintessential “perfect plant,” but it can be a bit difficult to grow for people that don’t exactly know what they’re doing. 

This post is going to be a complete guide on Lemon Lime Maranta. How to grow it, how to care for it, and how to deal with any possible problems too! 

How to Grow Lemon Lime Maranta

Growing the Lemon Lime Maranta isn’t extremely complicated; granted, you do it using the correct growing method. 

Below are some of the ways that the Lemon Lime Maranta can be grown. 

Growing Lemon Lime Maranta from Seed

While most plants are usually grown from seed, the Lemon Lime Maranta isn’t usually grown this way. That’s because coming by the viable seed of this plant is fairly difficult, and even if it’s found, growing it from seed takes about two years. 

However, those that want to go this route would have to plant their seed in moist soil and keep watering it to keep it slightly moist all the time. The soil should stay between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit consistently for the seeds to be able to sprout. Most people find this method the hardest one, but there are other methods too.

Growing Lemon Lime Maranta from propagation 

Propagation is one of the best ways to grow the Lemon Lime Maranta. For this, only a plant that’s around a year old is going to be ideal. Take a pair of sharp gardening scissors and cut the plant at a stem that has 2 or 3 leaves on it. 

Take the cutting and either place it in water or moist potting soil. Soil is the best bet here as the plant can easily begin to grow. The only thing to keep in mind here is that the crowns of each plant should be around 3-4 inches beneath the soil. Once the stem has been planted, just mist the soil frequently to keep it moist and make sure it remains in a cool environment. Within a couple of weeks, the plant’s roots should begin to spread, and once the plant is in the earlier stages of growth, it can be moved to the main garden or its forever pot if that wasn’t the case already.

Growing Lemon Lime Maranta from Air layering 

A zero effort way of growing Lemon Lime Maranta is by air layering. This is when a fresh pot of soil is placed next to a Lemon Lime Maranta that’s already growing. That’s easy because this plant can easily keep growing even if it’s on the floor. A stem from the existing plant would be able to take root in the new pot and grow from there. 

Caring for the Lemon Lime Maranta:

Once the Lemon Lime Maranta starts growing, it’s going to require specific conditions to grow properly. 

Soil

The Lemon Lime Maranta doesn’t need super fancy soil. All houseplant potting mixes would work well here because they’re rich in nutrients. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is that the soil is well-draining, so the root doesn’t accidentally end up rotting. 

PH 

Apart from the soil being rich in nutrients and well-draining, it also needs to have a PH of 5.5 to 6.0, about the middle ground in terms of acidity. It’ll allow the plant to grow as fast as possible.

Light

The Lemon Lime Maranta plants like sunlight, but in moderation. They can’t be kept in direct sunlight because their lives are fairly sensitive and can burn. However, they benefit greatly from filtered sunlight or indirect sunlight. So place them at the furthest end of the room, away from the window, or place a curtain or something to make sure it’s not getting too much direct sunlight, and the plant will grow just fine! 

Water

One of the most crucial aspects of this plant’s growth is that it’s never dry. It wants its soil to always stay cool and moist. So it does need frequent watering. If it’s getting a little difficult to figure out when the plant is too dry, get a plant moisture meter to accurately water the plant. This way, it won’t be under or overwatered and will be able to thrive.

Temperature and Humidity 

The ideal temperature for the lemon-lime maranta to grow is the 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit window. Any higher and the plant will scorch, and any lower and its growth will get stunted. As for humidity, this plant loves a lot of it. Maintain humidity of at least 65% around the plant to grow as well as possible.

Fertilizer 

The lemon-lime maranta doesn’t need too much fertilizing, but if the growth is slowing down, start adding fertilizer to it once a month as summer ends until before winter begins. This will give the plant the boost it needs to keep things growing properly. 

Size 

The Lemon Lime Maranta isn’t exactly the tallest of plants. It only grows around one foot in height; after that, it begins to spread outwards. That also makes it a great hanging plant because it’ll just begin to cascade down to the floor. 

Growing Tips for Lemon Lime Maranta

• Use room temperature water to avoid drastically changing the plant’s temperature overall.
• When potting, add layers of materials like rocks, gravel, and sand to create an appropriately draining system. That way, even if the plant is accidentally overwatered, it won’t pool up in one place and affect the roots.
• Mist well, but not too often that it develops fungus or other bacterial infections. 
• If the plant is getting a little dull, bring it over to receive a couple of hours of very light morning sunlight.

Common Problems with the Lemon Lime Maranta and how to treat them 

While Lemon Lime Maranta usually just needs to get strong enough that it starts to grow, there are a couple of problems that the plant might run into that should be dealt with immediately, so the problem doesn’t get worse. 

Leaf Problems

Lead problems are usually the first ones to arise here. If the plant isn’t doing well, its leaves will make it obvious so the problem can be fixed. One of the most obvious warning signs is leaves that are either curling inwards or turning brown. This means that the plant is either getting far too much water, or the water isn’t right. If the tap water it’s being watered with is too high in chlorine or has salt, the plant won’t be able to grow properly. Try switching the water to filtered water instead and see if that improves the condition at all. If it does, install a water filter in your home and use it to water the plant going forward.

Mealybugs

Because of how moist the plant needs to stay to grow properly, paired with the fact that the leaves are also on the stickier side, it creates the perfect breeding grounds for mealybugs. These are the bugs that tend to leave a white, powdery residue behind. This type of bug can easily spread across other plants, too, and take over the entire garden. To avoid that from happening, frequently check all of the plants inside the house to make sure there aren’t any signs of mealybugs anywhere. If there is, get a cotton ball, soak it in alcohol and run it across the plants in the areas that the bugs are in. This will kill them immediately and won’t leave the area a viable place for the bugs to spread further.

Root Rot

Root rot is one of the most common problems that plants that need a lot of water tend to go through. It can be a little difficult to figure out just how much water the plant actually needs and when it’s time to stop. When that happens, people often just overwater the plant drastically or underwater it. Either way, unless the plant is being watered exactly how much it needs to be, the roots will get compromised. Use a moisture meter, or just stick a finger, 1 inch into the soil to see if it’s still moist. If it is, don’t water it any further. If it isn’t, you’ll know that it’s time to give it a little spritz. This way, the roots will have moisture, but they’ll still be able to breathe and grow just fine.  

FAQs

Is Maranta Lemon Lime considered toxic or poisonous to any species?

No, the Lemon Lime Maranta is non-toxic. So it’s completely safe to keep it indoors with people, children, and pets. 

Is Maranta Lemon Lime invasive?

That depends on the living conditions of the plant. In areas that are too hot or humid, the plant can get a bit invasive, so pruning it at appropriate times is the best bet, so the plant does grow, but does it where it’s supposed to be.

Is Maranta Lemon Lime difficult to grow?

For those that are growing the plant from seed, it might be a long strenuous journey because they take years to even sprout. However, growing it through propagation or air layering is fairly easy.

Will Maranta Lemon Lime get flowers?

The Maranta Lemon Lime does have a flower, but it almost never blooms indoors. That’s also why it’s so hard to find its seeds. However, those that are growing outdoors or in the wild,

may have flowers.

Can Maranta Lemon Lime be grown indoors?

Yes, since the Maranta Lemon Lime loves indirect sunlight, so it’s very easy to grow this plant

indoors. However, it does just as well outdoors in the shade as well.

Why has the Maranta Lemon Lime stopped closing its leaves?

Part of why this plant is called a “praying plant” is that it opens and closes its leaves. If it stops doing that, it’s a clear sign that something is wrong. This is usually when the plant isn’t getting adequate sunlight. It’s either getting too much direct sunlight or not enough sunlight altogether. Either way, move the plant around to the point that they want, and it’ll be that much easier for the plant to grow exactly how it needs to! 

All Set to Grow Lemon Lime Maranta

Lemon Lime Maranta might be one of the most beautiful plants out there, but they don’t get there without proper care. But caring for a Lemon Lime Maranta isn’t particularly difficult. They just need their owners to stay a little mindful of what they’re doing, and with it, they’re able to grow and thrive and will stay alive for decades if cared for properly.

How To Grow Philodendron Gigas – A Complete Guide

Philodendron Gigas is one of the most sought-after plants in the world. They’re a bit hard to come by because of their popularity, but those that can manage to find one or just their seed can add a beautiful touch of greenery to their home. 

This post will cover everything one needs to know about growing a Philodendron Gigas in their home. This isn’t a plant that’s too difficult to care for, but the right care techniques will get it to the point where it really thrives! 

What are Philodendron Gigas?

The Philodendron Gigas is from the Araceae family. That means that it’s going to have huge, thick, and velvety leaves that are super bright and vibrant, with light green veins running through the actual leaves themselves. 

One of the most unique things about this plant is the fact that its leaves don’t start out the beautiful green the plant is actually known for. It starts off more of a copper color and even turns back at one point. The final form of the leaves, however, is the bigger, greener leaves that are in a long heart shape.  

This is a plant that does well outdoors and indoors too. If the goal is to have the plant’s flowers bloom too, it’s important to keep them outdoors because the plant can’t really get the environment and the nutrients it really needs to help the flowers bloom. However, some Philodendron Gigas have also bloomed indoors too, but the process takes several years. 

How to Plant Philodendron Gigas?

There are a few different ways to grow the Philodendron Gigas plant. The two main ones are the seed method and the propagation method. 

Growing Philodendron Gigas from seed:

Growing the Philodendron Gigas from seed is a much slower method but is also usually more accessible for people that can’t get the plant as a pre-grown specimen and have to do all of the work from scratch. 

For this method, the seeds have to be planted around ⅓ of an inch under the soil. They don’t need any pre-planting prep or soaking time. They are ready to go straight out of the packet. 

The only care required until the seeds sprout is to make sure the soil is usually moist to the touch and at around 68 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s fairly cool outdoors, so it might be best to plant it in the fall or just keep it indoors where the temperature can easily be controlled. A thermometer might be best to keep check on the temperature here.

It will take a couple of weeks for the seedling to sprout. After it does, continue to water it and once it’s grown enough that it can be handled without it breaking, move each of the sprouted plants to their own little pot so the roots can grow and spread without having to compete with the plant next to them. 

Growing Philodendron Gigas through Propagation:

Since Philodendron Gigas seeds aren’t very easy to come by, most people grow them by borrowing a healthy Philodendron Gigas stem from a plant that’s already in its later stages of growth. The stem can be taken from a healthy houseplant or one from the wild. 

The only important aspect here is that there is at least 3 inches of stem still there. Take that stem and put it in a container with water in it. It’ll take a couple of days or weeks for new roots to sprout. Once they do, the plant can be moved over to a pot and will continue to grow there. 

Growing Philodendron Gigas – Plant Requirements 

The “Giga” in Philodendron Gigas isn’t just a name. It’s because this plant grows to be pretty massive compared to its original, tiny seedling size. 

On average, a Philodendron Gigas plant will grow to be around 4 feet tall. If they grow exclusively indoors and are taken care of the right way, they can even grow longer than that and climb their way up to the ceiling! 

Here is exactly the care each Philodendron Gigas plant needs to grow as healthy as possible. 

Soil

Plants are as good as the soil they’re in. That’s why it’s important to plant them in soil that’s actually going to be good for them. Use soil that’s got good drainage and is high in nutrients for the Philodendron Gigas. If this type of soil isn’t available in the area the plant is being grown in. It’s best to buy nutrient-rich soil to add to the pot before planting the seed or the roots to the plant as a better chance of growing as well as possible. 

It’s also important that the soil both drains well and is able to stay moist after watering. So soil that’s too dry won’t work. However, it’s also important that it’s not so moist that it water logs because that will just ruin the roots, and the plant won’t be able to grow at all. 

The healthier the roots, the better the growth will be!

Water

The Philodendron Gigas thrives only when it’s getting enough water and nutrients. It’s best to water the plant every 4-7 days, depending on how dry the environment it’s in is. An easy way to know if the plant is due for water is by checking the top one inch of the soil. If it’s dry when you touch it, it’s time to water it. 

Some people have trouble figuring out when to water their Philodendron Gigas. For them, it’s a great idea to use a moisture meter because it’ll allow them to know exactly how much moisture the plant needs at which point of the week. 

The plant will need less water in the wintertime than it will in the peak of the summer as the levels of humidity change, and the soil dries out a lot slower in comparison. 

Light

The Philodendron Gigas does enjoy sunlight, but it can’t be direct. With indirect sunlight, the leaves can very easily end up burning, which can eventually kill the entire plant. 

For the plant to really thrive, it’s best to expose it to bright but indirect sunlight. It will need a moderate amount of light exposure every day to ensure that it grows. If it’s getting too much sun, it’ll just burn. On the other hand, if it’s getting too little sun, it just won’t grow properly.

If the room that the plant is in can’t get indirect sunlight, a light cover might help! Otherwise, just place the plant at the furthest end of the room, as far away from the windows as possible. That way, it will get plenty of indirect sunlight because of all the light bouncing around the room throughout the day but won’t burn because no light actually touches it directly. 

Temperature and Humidity 

Philodendron Gigas are moderate, tropical temperature plants. That’s why it’s important that the plant isn’t exposed to extreme temperatures of any kind. 

The temperature that the plant will do best in is the 65 and 80 F range. Any hotter than that, and the plant will stop growing, and any lower, and it’ll actually start to wither and have permanent damage to deal with. This type of damage would mean that the affected leaves would just have to be cut because there’s no way around the damage that’s already done. 

That also means that the people that want to plant this need to live in moderate temperatures or keep the plant indoors to protect it from the elements. 

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Gigas has different fertilizer needs according to the area it’s being grown in and the time of year. In the spring and summer times, the plant is going to need a good amount of fertilizer. A once a month update on that front might be best. 

In the wintertime, it’ll need fertilizer a lot less often. Some plants won’t even need any throughout the winter months altogether. Generally, the warmer it is and the more light it’s exposed to, the more fertilizer it’ll need to keep growing properly.

Pruning 

One of the best things about this plant is that it’s a grower. The vines from this plant will naturally grow and spread. However, those that are trying to keep this plant under a certain length would need to make sure they’re keeping the length under control by pruning the very tops of the plant itself. The great thing is that the pruned sections don’t need to go to waste. They can be used to propagate a whole new plant in a different pot as well. 

If any of the leaves of the plant are beginning to scorch, rot, or yellow, it’s best to cut those off, too, so the dead parts of the planet do not end up consuming too much energy, and the leaves that are actually healthy have the best chance at growing.

Cleaning 

Because the Philodendron Gigas have leaves that are very velvety, they end up being the perfect breeding grounds for dust particles. If left on its own, the plant will just continue to gather dust and debris. Not only is that particularly unsightly, but it’s also going to get in the way of photosynthesis because it’ll just end up clogging the plant up. 

To avoid that from happening, give the plant a good wipe with a damp, soft cloth. Be extremely gentle so as to not damage the plant as a whole and keep it in the state that it continues to grow properly.

Things to Keep In Mind While Growing Philodendron Gigas 

Now that the basic care requirements are out of the way, here are some of the things to keep in mind while growing a Philodendron Gigas plant.

Overwatering 

One of the things that this plant just can’t deal with is overwatering. If the soil doesn’t have appropriate drainage or the plant is just being watered far too often, the pot will become waterlogged, and the super damn soil will take the roots with it. That’s why it’s essential to only water the plant as much as it needs. Any more than that would be too much. Prevent water stress and only water the plant enough to keep things moist. 

Plant Lice

Even though the Philodendron Gigas only needs to be watered once every couple of days, it’s still important to check up on the plant as frequently as possible to make sure there are no inconsistencies out there. One of the inconsistencies you might notice is bugs! Bug-like plant lice can choose a plant like this and just take over in hundreds before someone would notice. That’s why it’s best to keep a check on the plant and wipe it regularly so no bugs make their way onto the leaves and call it home!

Wipe the plant with a water and soap mixture to keep things super clean while the leaves grow. That way, no bugs will be able to set up their colonies in the plant, and it’ll stay as healthy as possible as it grows. 

Lack of Support

The Philodendron Gigas is a vining plant, so it needs to be able to grow up. If the plant seems to be dropping a little bit, add some support ropes or a post in the middle that the plant can just wrap itself around as it grows. That way, it’ll grow healthy and won’t droop all over the place.

All Set to Grow Philodendron Gigas!

The Philodendron Gigas is a plant that really relies on its owner to know how to take care of it. Even though it’ll be able to survive with a newbie owner that doesn’t really know what they’re doing, making sure the plant really gets to thrive, it’s important to know how to really put in the effort and care for it.

With all of the care instructions packed in one place in this guide, any new plant power, or one that’s been in the game for years, would be able to grow happy, healthy Philodendron Gigas for their home!