Warneckii Lemon Lime

The Warneckii Lemon Lime does well in moderate light, but will thrive in high light and it’s pretty forgiving for a forgetful plant owner.  Here are some tips to keep it growing:

Watering

Like its relatives, it prefers its root zone on the dry side; so make sure the soil dries out between waterings.   See our watering guide for more information.

Light

Although it’s been billed as a low-light plant in the past, the Warneckii Lemon Lime needs moderate light, and bright light if you want to maintain its crisp lime-green, white, and gray leaf variegation.  So, place your Lemon Lime next to an east, west, or south window, or give it a nice spot on a bright porch, and it’ll be happy.  Like other plants grown for indoors, do not expose this plant to direct sunlight or it will burn the leaves very quickly.

Nutrition

The Lemon Lime will not need to be fed during the first 6 months after it has shipped. During this time, it will use the residual nutrients from nursery production. After 6 months, it can be fed quarterly with a complete fertilizer formulated for interior plants. Please refer to our nutrient guide for details.

Cleaning

The Warneckii Lemon Lime, with its numerous trunks and wide leaves, does attract dust, but it’s pretty easy to clean.  We recommend a cleaning regimen with water and a light soap solution – just use a rag dipped in the solution and stroke the leaves from the stem to the apex.  Depending on your environment, this is a once-per-quarter recommendation.

Pruning

Most of the pruning on the Lemon Lime will be the simple removal of its older leaves that may become spotted, yellow, and/or brown.  They can be easily tugged off from the stem, or by making a cut in the apex of the leaf and pulling the two sides of the leaf apart.  For otherwise healthy looking leaves with some brown tips, use sharp scissors and trim off the brown leaf margin being careful to maintain the natural shape of the leaf.

Bugs

The Warneckii Lemon Lime can attract mealybugs, and sometimes mites and scale – but this is rare.   Mealybugs are the the main pest, so keep it clean.  Look for the little white cottony mealybugs at the base of the leaves and on the stems; mites will hide on the bottom side of the leaves and produce webs.  If you see either of these, simply wipe them off or break out the spray bottle with a light soap solution and spray them daily ’til they’re gone.

Trouble

In good light, this plant will not give you any trouble – provided you water it occasionally.