Maca (Lepidium meyenii)
Care, watering, light and tips for Maca on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Maca
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a biennial herbaceous plant native to the Peruvian Andes, renowned for its highly nutritious taproot. Its leaves form a ground-level rosette, and it produces small, whitish flowers. This plant is ideal for high-altitude, cold-climate gardens, or for cultivation in large outdoor pots.
Native range
Central Andes of Peru, specifically in the Bombón plateau and the Junín mountain range.
Care tips
Maca requires full sun and well-drained, sandy or loamy-sandy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It is tolerant of cold temperatures but needs regular watering, especially during root formation, avoiding waterlogging. A common mistake is attempting to grow it in warm or humid climates, where its development will be poor.
How to save a dying Maca
- Warning signs
- Yellow or wilting leaves, soft/black stems, stunted growth.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. If waterlogged, repot into dry soil. If dry, water lightly.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and poor drainage, causing root rot. Also extreme heat and direct sun.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't completely rotted and you act quickly.