Maranta Lemon Lime - A Burst of Citrus Colour
If you're looking for a prayer plant that brings energy and brightness to your indoor space, the Maranta Lemon Lime delivers in spades. With its vibrant lime green and yellow veining streaking across soft green leaves, this variety looks like sunshine captured in foliage. It's a cheerful, lively plant that brings a pop of citrus colour to any room.
But this isn't just a pretty face. The Lemon Lime is often considered the most beginner-friendly of the prayer plant varieties. While its Red Vein cousin can be a bit particular, and Calatheas are notoriously demanding, the Lemon Lime tends to just grow and grow with minimal fuss. It flowers readily with basic care, rewards you with fresh new leaves regularly, and generally asks for very little in return.
Like all prayer plants, the Lemon Lime performs its characteristic daily movement. Watch as the leaves lie flat during the day to absorb available light, then fold upward at night as if in prayer. This nyctinastic movement is fascinating to observe and adds an interactive, almost living sculpture quality to your plant collection.
The Foliage
The leaves are the star of the show. Each oval-shaped leaf displays a base colour of soft, muted green with bold lime green to yellow veining that follows the classic herringbone pattern. The veins radiate outward from the central midrib in sweeping curves, creating an almost hand-painted effect. Darker green edges frame each leaf, adding depth and contrast to the citrus tones.
The overall effect is fresh and vibrant without being overwhelming. It's the kind of plant that brightens a corner without clashing with your decor. The leaves grow to around 10-12cm long on established plants, and the foliage has a lovely soft texture.
With good care, you may be rewarded with small, delicate flowers that appear on thin stalks among the foliage. While modest compared to the spectacular leaves, these blooms are a sign of a happy, thriving plant.
Light Requirements
The Lemon Lime Prayer Plant is wonderfully adaptable when it comes to light. It thrives in bright indirect light but also tolerates medium to lower light conditions well. In its native habitat on the Brazilian rainforest floor, it grows in dappled shade beneath the tree canopy.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can bleach out those beautiful colours and scorch the leaves. If you notice your plant's leaves curling during the day, it may be getting too much light. Move it back from the window or provide some filtering.
If your plant stops moving (no longer folding at night), it's telling you something is wrong. Check the light levels, watering, and look for pests.
Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Marantas don't like to dry out completely, but they also don't appreciate sitting in soggy soil. Water when the top centimetre or two of soil feels dry. In winter, you can let it dry out slightly more between waterings.
These plants can be sensitive to chemicals in tap water. Brown leaf tips are often a sign of mineral buildup. Consider using filtered water, rainwater, or leaving tap water to sit overnight before use. Bottom watering works well for Marantas and helps prevent water sitting on the foliage.
Humidity
While the Lemon Lime appreciates humidity, it's more tolerant of average household conditions than many of its prayer plant relatives. That said, crispy brown leaf edges typically indicate the air is too dry.
Boost humidity by grouping plants together, placing on a pebble tray with water, using a humidifier, or positioning in naturally humid rooms like bathrooms or kitchens with good light. Regular misting also helps, particularly when heating or air conditioning is running.
Temperature
Warm, stable temperatures between 18-27°C are ideal. Avoid temperatures below 15°C, cold drafts, and sudden temperature changes. Keep away from air conditioning vents, heating ducts, and draughty windows.
Potting and Soil
Use a well-draining mix that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged. A blend of quality potting mix, perlite, and some peat or coco coir works well. Adding a small amount of orchid bark improves drainage further.
Marantas have relatively shallow root systems and don't mind being slightly pot-bound. Choose a pot with good drainage holes to prevent water accumulating around the roots.
Feeding
Feed with Growth Technology Foliage Focus at 3ml per litre every 2-4 weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). This variety responds well to regular feeding with lush, vibrant growth.
Take care not to over-fertilise, as Marantas can be sensitive and may develop burnt leaf tips. Reduce or stop feeding in winter when growth naturally slows. Organic amendments like worm castings are a gentle alternative if your plant proves sensitive.
Display Options
The Lemon Lime's spreading, gradually trailing habit makes it versatile for display. It looks stunning in a hanging basket where the foliage can cascade, or on a shelf where it can spread outward. The bright citrus tones make it a natural focal point on a desk, coffee table, or plant stand.
Rotate the plant weekly for more uniform growth, as it will naturally lean toward the light source.
Perfect For
- Beginners seeking an easier prayer plant variety
- Pet owners wanting safe, colourful plants
- Those who enjoy interactive, moving plants
- Adding a pop of colour to lower light spaces
- Hanging baskets and trailing displays
- Bathrooms and kitchens with good light
- Anyone who has struggled with fussier Calatheas
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this easier to care for than other prayer plants?
Yes! The Lemon Lime is often considered the most forgiving of the Maranta varieties. While the Red Vein can be more particular about humidity, and Calatheas are notoriously demanding, the Lemon Lime tends to adapt well to typical household conditions and grow happily with basic care.
Why are my leaf edges turning brown?
Brown, crispy edges typically indicate either low humidity or sensitivity to tap water chemicals. Try increasing humidity around the plant and switching to filtered or rainwater. Ensure the plant isn't positioned near heating or cooling vents.
My plant has stopped moving. What's wrong?
If your Maranta stops its daily praying movement, it's a sign something needs attention. Check that it's receiving adequate light, isn't over or underwatered, and inspect for pests. Once the issue is resolved, the movement should resume.
Will my plant flower?
The Lemon Lime readily produces small, delicate flowers with good care. These appear on thin stalks among the foliage and, while modest, are a lovely sign of a thriving plant. No special treatment is needed to encourage flowering.
Is this plant safe for my pets?
Yes! Like all Marantas, the Lemon Lime is non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it an excellent choice for pet-friendly households.
Please Keep in Mind
The Lemon Lime Prayer Plant has a spreading, trailing habit as it matures. You can prune to maintain a more compact shape if desired, and the cuttings can be propagated in water.
Leaf colour intensity can vary with light levels. Brighter indirect light will produce more vibrant yellow-green veining.
This plant is pet safe, making it an excellent choice for households with curious cats and dogs.
If you are from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase this plant, we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
