Philodendron Lemon Lime vs Moonlight - Differences

The two plants look remarkably similar despite belonging to the same genus—Philodendron Lemon Lime and Moonlight.

It's easy to distinguish them if you see them together, even if you only know a little about them.

The color and shape of their leaves are the most noticeable visual distinction between them and us. In contrast to Moonlight's bright and elongated leaves, Lemon Lime Philodendron's heart-shaped leaves are paler. There are, however, a number of significant differences between the two. Unlike Moonlight, which has a self-heading growth pattern, Philodendron lemon-lime grows like a vine.

This article examines these two houseplants in more detail, highlighting the obvious differences between them.

Philodendron Lemon Lime Vs Moonlight: Quick Compare

	Philodendron Lemon Lime	Philodendron Moonlight
USDA Hardiness zone	10-11	10-11
Mature height	20" (0.5 m)	20" (0.5 m)
Mature width	10" (0.25 m)	20" (0.5 m)
Growth rate	fast	fast
Habit	vine	bush
Light exposure	indirect	indirect
Soil	well-drained	well-drained
Soil pH	6.4-7.3	6.4-7.3
Watering	1-2 times per week	1-2 times per week
Diseases	fungus	fungus
Pests	insects	insects

Philodendron Lemon Lime Vs Moonlight: Differences

Foliage Shape and Color

The Philodendron lemon-lime has long and heart-shaped leaves, respectively. It expands much more than the Moonlight variety.

Moonlight, on the other hand, is a closely related plant with leaves that are longer and longer. It might be challenging to tell these two species apart when their leaves are young if it weren't for the minute color variations.

In addition, the shades of the leaf colors vary, with Moonlight having a darker shade of green and appearing brighter. Its foliage appears more vibrant due to a waxier and shinier cuticle.

On the other hand, the philodendron lemon-lime has leaves that are more matte than glossy and are paler with a neon color hue.

The young leaves of both plants have various color schemes when they are fully grown, though. Moonlight's young leaves are typically bright yellow when they are mature, but they retain their brightness as they turn a darker green.

Lemon-lime leaves, on the other hand, are typically yellow with a pink undertone that turns lemon yellow as the leaves ripen.

When fully grown, they turn lemon green. They differ from most houseplants in that their leaves lack any kind of variegation or slits.

Read More:

• Philodendron Golden Goddess vs Lemon Lime - Are They The Same
• Lemon Lime Philodendron Care & Propagation Guide

Growth Pattern

Lemon lime prefers to climb, so it requires a sturdy pole or plant to support it. It can grow up to 20 inches tall. Moonlight grows differently and can grow to a similar size, despite self-heading.

Pruning

Pruning both plants is essential to control their height and growth. Both pruning techniques can be slightly different due to their distinct growth patterns.

Moonlight calls for preventative pruning, which entails removing old, diseased, or dried-out leaves from the base. Due to their small annual growth, you won't need to prune them as frequently.

However, because lemon-lime grows so quickly, it needs to be heavily pruned in order to control its vertical growth.

After every pruning, I advise using hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the wounds and hasten the healing process. The plant would recover more quickly if fungal infections were avoided.

Requirements for Growth

Because they belong to the same genus, both plants have nearly identical characteristics and growth requirements. As a result, replacing care in either plant is not too difficult. A few distinctions do, however, stand out.

Structure and Height

Since Moonlight's leaves are wider than its elongated counterparts, they are a little bit bigger than those of Lemon Lime.

The leaf of Moonlight measures 6 inches in diameter and 10 inches in length. On the other hand, a mature Lemon-Lime leaf is between 5 and 6 inches wide and 8 inches long.

Both plants have a lot of foliage, but the lemon-lime seems to have more leaves than the lime.

Even though this isn't an exact representation of plant structure, one can still make this comparison.

Soil Requirements

These plants need to be grown indoors in potting soil because they are purely ornamental. But there isn't much room for disagreement because they both come from the same genus and have similar soil needs.

Both plants need soils that are nutrient-dense in organic matter, have good drainage, and hold a lot of water.

Make sure the soil is not too compacted to prevent any root issues. The soil needs to be slightly acidic for both of these plants to thrive.

Water can be used as a suitable growth medium for both, but it is advisable to make sure that it has the nutrients needed for ongoing growth.

Temperature

It's best if the weather stays warm and humid because philodendrons prefer it. Both plants thrive at temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The foliage would become discolored as a result of the physiological processes being slowed down by the lower temperatures.

Excessive heat can harm both plants if they aren't properly watered. They will transpire at a high rate as a result of the high temperature, which will cause them to lose more water than they take in. The plants will droop as a result of this.

Low Light Will Inhibit the Food Production

Most plants require light for long-term growth and food production. Furthermore, since they are grown indoors, it is acceptable to put them close to windows or other openings so they can get some direct sunlight.

Keeping them in the shade will typically prevent photosynthesis, which will slow their growth.

Fertilizer Application

If the soil doesn't have enough nutrients to support the plants' long-term growth, fertilizer should be added to the soil medium.

It is a good idea to use a fertilizer that is all-purpose and has a 10:10:10 nutrient ratio. The most typical fertilizers, those high in nitrogen, encourage the growth of foliage.

However, it's important to keep in mind that too much nitrogen can harm a plant and possibly prevent it from fruiting or flowering. For the growth of roots, budding, and flowers, phosphorus fertilizers are also necessary.

Water Requirement

In controlled environments, both plants flourish. They also have numerous stomata openings to allow water to evaporate due to their broad leaves. Thus, it contributes to maintaining soil moisture, which in turn encourages growth.

However, because it hinders proper aeration, we wouldn't advise keeping the soil moist.

Furthermore, if the leaves have too much water on them, fungi and bacteria can grow on them, endangering the roots.

If this happens, the leaves might turn ugly and lose their aesthetic appeal.

Related Questions

What Are the Famous Philodendron Plants?

In addition to Lemon Lime and Moonlight, other well-known philodendron plants include Philodendron Pink Princess, Philodendron Birkin, Philodendron Prince of Orange, Philodendron Brasil, Philodendron Burle Marx, Philodendron Erubescens, Philodendron Gloriosum, Philodendron Black Cardinal, Philodendron Imperial Red, and Philodendron Xanadu.

What Are the Rarest Philodendron Plants?

The Philodendron Spiritus Sancti is the most uncommon variety of the philodendron plant. Different-colored Philodendron Hastatum, Philodendron Pink Princess, Philodendron Mamei, Philodendron Golden Goddess, Philodendron Joepii, and Philodendron Billietiae are also difficult to locate.

Is Lemon Lime and Moonlight Rare?

Moonlight Philodendron is the less common of the two. It is simpler to spread lemon lime than self-heading Moonlight because it grows into a vine.

Is the Neon Pothos the Same as the Lemon Lime Philodendron?

Not at all. While Philodendron Lemon Lime is the name given to two philodendron plants in the cultivars Hederaceum and Domesticum, Neon Pothos is a member of the Arum family. However, Philodendron hederaceum, or Lemon Lime resembles a neon Pothos in appearance.

Philodendron Lemon Lime Vs Moonlight: Bottom Line

While Moonlight is a self-heading philodendron, Philodendron Lemon Lime has a growth pattern resembling a vine. The leaves of the lemon lime are shorter and longer, and they are golden yellow in color.

Many traits between Moonlight and Philodendron Lemon-lime are found in the philodendron family. However, the plants can be easily distinguished from one another due to their distinct growth structure and external appearance.

The Lemon Lime Philodendron grows taller and needs to be pruned frequently. Moonlight, however, hardly ever needs to be pruned. Like Moonlight, Lemon Lime requires assistance in order to ascend, unlike Moonlight.