Indoor-flowersing Syngonium plants are tropical specimens. The arrow-shaped leaves of Syngonium species are appealing, and they come in green, pink, yellow, or white hues. Syngonium podophyllum is the most common species of these plants. These vining plants, sometimes known as arrowhead plants, goosefoot, or American evergreen, add to the beauty of any indoors setting. These tropical plants may be grown at home with care.
How to care for Syngonium: In medium to bright light, but not directly exposed to sunlight, arrowhead plants (Syngonium podophyllum) flourish. Grow in well-draining soil, water when the potting mix is mostly dry, keep the temperature between 60°F and 80°F (15°C – 26°C), and humidity between 50% and 70%. During the growing season, fertilize monthly.
The most commonly grown species from the genus Syngonium is Arrowhead plants (Syngonium podophyllum). These houseplants are commonly known as Syngonium by the majority of people. As a result, the names of the various plant species allude to arrowhead cultivars from the same species. The reason arrowheads are named arrowhead philodendrons is because they are related to Philodendron plants.
The leaves of arrowhead plants are diamond-shaped and grow on trailing vines. Climbing plants may grow as tall as 32 to 65 feet (10 to 20 meters) in their natural habitat of tropical rainforests. Syngonium, a fast-growing plant that grows to 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) and has a spread of up to 2 feet (60 centimeters), is an indoor plant species.
Syngoniums do not bloom indoors very often, despite the fact that they are a kind of flowering plant. The attractive colorful foliage of most tropical plants attracts people to grow them. Arrowhead plants with dusty pink leaves, green with creamy-white variegation, and multicolored leaves with hues of green and pink are found in certain varieties.
Types of Syngonium (Arrowhead Plants)
There are various cultivars of Arrowhead plants. Syngonium podophyllum ‘Emerald Green’ is seen in the photograph, and it’s one of the best indoor arrowhead plant varieties.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Pink Allusion’—The leaves of this kind of arrowhead have a lustrous green color with pink streaks and veins.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry Cream’—This arrowhead cultivar has virtually entirely pink leaves, with just a few green flecks. In bright light, the leaves are vivid and vibrant.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘neon robusta’ – Another cultivar that is easy to care for and stunning in any home decor. It has rosy-pink and green leaves.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Imperial White’—Variegated leaves of this stunning variety are dark green and dazzling white. It looks a lot like the ‘Albo-Variegatum’ cultivar and is one of the most rare types of arrowhead plant you can find.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Holly’—This arrowhead plant has large white leaves with green border that are also known as Holly Nephthytis.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Berry Allusion’— Light-green arrowhead-shaped leaves with hints of pink and cream make this an easy-to-grow variety of plant.
- Syngonium podophyllum ‘Painted Arrow’—With vividly colored creamy-white and green leaves, another variegated arrowhead plant.
How to Care for Syngonium Plants
Pink syngonium arrowshead plants are a hardy houseplant that thrives in most indoor environments and comes in a variety of colors. To encourage bushier growth, you can prune the plant. Instead, dangle a hanging basket over its trailing vines. Arrowhead plants may also grow several feet up a moss pole to create a lovely visual highlight, and they are vigorous climbers.
Indoors, syngonium plants are typically easy to maintain. There are a few things your plants need in order to thrive, however. The greatest techniques for caring for your arrowhead vine plants at home are explained here.
Light to Grow Syngonium Indoors
When growing arrowhead plants, avoid direct sunlight since they are a non-fussy houseplant. The majority of arrowheads with pale pink, yellow, or white foliage need bright, indirect sunlight. You may grow the leafy plant in a shaded area or a room with low light if you have a darker-colored variety.
If the lighting is insufficient, several Syngonium podophyllum cultivars may be damaged. If the trailing vines become straggly and have few leaves, you may identify the symptoms of insufficient light. The plant’s development may cease, and some of the leaf vibrancy may fade as you observe.
Direct sunlight is another factor to consider when it comes to good lighting for a Syngonium. Arrowhead plants, which are native to the rainforest, develop as groundcover plants or climb up trees. In any event, they thrive in dappled light. The plant’s delicate leaves can be scorched by the sun, causing them to turn green, pink, or yellow.
On an east-facing or north-facing window sill, or in a west or south-facing room away from the window, the optimum places to cultivate Syngonium plants are. Because they flourish in humid circumstances and aren’t choosy about light, arrowhead plants make fantastic shower plants. These plants may also be grown in a shaded corner of the room in swinging baskets.
How to Water Arrowhead Plants
After the top soil has dried, water your Syngonium plant, then allow the water to drain out of the roots. As the top layer of soil dries out, you only need to water the plant once. You’ll have to water the plant as frequently as once a week or more in the summer. Water occurs less often throughout the winter months, when development slows.
Poke your finger approximately an inch (2.5 cm) into the soil to determine if arrowhead plants need watering. Now is the time to water your Syngonium plant if the soil is dry. Give the soil a good soak. Wait a few days before watering if the potting soil feels clammy or clammy. For watering houseplants, allow the top layer of soil to dry thoroughly.
Drenching the potting mix is the finest way to water arrowhead vines. Fill the pot with enough water to run out the bottom. The roots can get hydrated and nourished thanks to this watering method. Your plants might display symptoms of over-watering even if you are watering them often if you don’t do this. When it comes to watering arrowhead plants, here are a few guidelines:
- If you want to water houseplants with filtered or rainwater, wait 24 hours after leaving tap water out to allow chemicals to dissipate.
- Always hydrate plants with room temperature water.
- Watering plants excessively with a little quantity of water risks mold or fungus gnats in the soil, so avoid watering them often.
- When and how often to water arrowhead plants should be determined by soil dryness.
The Best Potting Soil for Arrowhead Plants
Syngonium plants prefer a pH level of between 5.5 and 6.5 in well-drained acidic soil rich in nutrients. Nutrient-rich, well-drained potting soil is desired. Sitting in overly wet or soggy soil is the worst thing for an arrowhead plant. A mix of potting soil, peat moss, and perlite is the best potting combination.
The proper potting soil should resemble its natural environment in terms of ingredients. Peat moss, for example, provides important minerals and nutrients. Peat also helps the roots retain enough moisture to survive. Perlite, charcoal, or bark chippings, for example, aid in the soil’s mobility and drainage. The following are a few ways to determine if you should replace your potting soil:
- In comparison to how fast it should grow, the arrowhead plant isn’t growing as quickly.
- The drainage holes in the plant pot take a long time to empty.
- The potting mix’s surface collects water.
- Since moisture can’t evaporate as quickly, you’ll need to water plants less frequently.
You’ll learn how to repot an arrowhead vine with a fresh potting soil later in this article.
Temperature Requirements for Syngonium Plants
When the temperature is warm enough, arrowhead plants flourish indoors and outdoors. Between 60°F and 80°F (15°C and 26°C), grow your Syngonium plants on an even temperature. It’s best to avoid letting the room temperature fall below 65°F (18°C) for faster growth.
You’ll have to water the plant more frequently in a warm room. Try to avoid temperature extremes to keep your plant from being stressed and causing the leaves to droop. Arrowhead plants should not be exposed to chilly breezes, such as drafts through open windows or air-conditioner airflow. The plant should not be placed near hot radiators during the winter.
If the weather is warm enough, arrowhead vine plants will grow outdoors. If you reside in USDA zones 10 through 12, you may place these creeping vines as ground cover for shaded regions. If you’re in a temperate area, you may also bring your plants outside during the summer.
For remembering how to grow arrowhead plants outdoors, just remember the following tips:
- Out of direct sunlight, put the arrowhead plant pot or hanging basket.
- When the nighttime temperature drops below 60°F (15°C), bring the container indoors.
- As arrowhead plants are poisonous, keep them away from pets or children.
Proper Room Humidity Levels for Healthy Syngonium Plant Growth
Growing tropical plants like Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum) indoors requires high humidity levels of at least 50%. Houseplants like Syngonium thrive in humid climates and need a humidity level of at least 50% but preferably 60%.
You may mist the plant leaves, sit the plant on a pebble tray, or utilize a room humidifier to enhance the humidity of indoor conditions. To ensure that your Syngonium arrowhead cultivar thrives, here are the best ways to increase humidity:
- Misting twice-weekly—Distilled or filtered water should be poured into a spray bottle. gently hydrate the leaves by creating a fine mist over the arrowhead plant.
- Humidify using a pebble tray—In a wide dish that is at least a few inches deep, layer decorative stones. Place the container on the pebbles and half-fill the tray with water. Make sure the water isn’t contacting the pot’s bottom directly.
- Room humidifier for houseplants—If you add a humidifier to your tropical plants, you can adjust the humidity level easily.
- Wipe the leaves—Weekly, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. The leaves will be humidified and household dust cleaned off thanks to the moisture.
How to Fertilize Arrowhead Plants
A diluted, balanced houseplant fertilizer should be applied to syngoniums once a month. During the growing season, arrowhead plants are minimal feeders, and they just need a nutrient and mineral boost. Because the plants are dormant and don’t need any food, don’t feed them in the autumn and winter.
A water-based, half-diluted plant fertilizer is suitable for you to use. After watering the plant, apply fertilizer every four weeks. You can also repot the plant in the spring using slow-release granules.
Pruning a Syngonium Plant
To create a dense appearance, prune your Syngonium plant. The vines of arrowhead plants may grow to be 6 feet (1.8 meters) long when cultivated indoors. If you’d like to put the plant on a desk or tabletop, pruning may also help to encourage bushy growth. If the stems have gotten lengthy and unkempt, pruning can also improve its look.
When the stems are robust in the spring, always trim them. The stems will grow to the length you specify above the node. At the cut stem, new growth will emerge. Snip off any extra stems as they appear to keep the bushy appearance.
How to Propagate Arrowhead Vine Plants
The best way to propagate arrowhead plants is to root stem cuttings in water. All you have to do is trim a section of the plant just above the roots, with at least 3 or 4 leaves on it. Wait a few weeks for roots to develop after placing the stem cutting in a jar of water. Place the plant in medium to bright light after transferring it to a small pot and misting it.
How to Repot All Types of Syngonium Plants
To avoid arrowhead plants from becoming rootbound, repot them every two years. You may examine the plant’s roots for signs of sickness while transferring to a bigger pot, which encourages faster, healthier development. If your plant is growing too large for your room, you can also divide it at the roots. This is what you should do when repotting an arrowhead plant:
- If the Syngonium plant is already in a pot, gently remove it.
- If necessary, remove all of the soil from the roots and untangle them.
- Fill your new container with potting mix and place your plant in it, choosing a bigger size up.
- Fill the remaining area with potting soil and adequately wet it.
Is Syngonium Plant Species Toxic?
Yes, all parts of arrowhead plants contain deadly chemicals. Calcium oxalate crystals can be found in all forms of Syngonium. Humans or animals may experience gastrointestinal discomfort, saliva, and oral swelling if they consume a portion of the stems or leaves. Therefore keep the plant out of children’s reach. Arrowhead plants are poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Pests and Diseases Affecting Arrowhead Vine Plants
Spider mites and mealybugs can infest Syngonium plants, as shown in this picture. Both of these insects can drain the life out of your plant, causing it to wilt and die. By keeping humidity levels high, you can prevent these common plant pests. Try using insecticidal soap to eliminate pests on your houseplants if you notice any symptoms of infestation. This article also contains additional information on how to get rid of pests without pesticides.
The majority of arrowhead plant diseases are root rot, which affects their development. By watering your plants correctly, you can avoid rotting roots. Only when the top 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) is dry does water arrowhead plant survive. Next, thoroughly soak the soil. After the soil dries, you should water the plant again. This might happen every week or more in the summer, but every other month in the winter.
A harmless white mold might develop on damp soil if it is left untreated. To learn how to get rid of white mold on plants, read this article.
FAQs on Growing Syngonium Podophyllum (Arrowhead Vines) Indoors
Why are arrowhead plant leaves turning yellow?
If your arrowhead vine leaves begin to turn yellow, watering issues are most likely to blame. Syngonium plant leaves may lose their color if there is too much water or not enough hydration. Check the moisture in your garden and adjust your watering schedule as needed.
Why are brown tips appearing on arrowhead plant leaves?
Brown patches on the Syngonium leaves may indicate a lack of humidity. Bump up the plant’s humidity levels to resolve the problem. Also, keep the arrowhead plant away from air vents and radiators.
How to speed up arrowhead vine growth?
In the winter, arrowhead plants naturally slow down. You should check your care methods if their growth appears sluggish throughout the growing season. Raise the humidity of the Syngonium plant by shifting it to a more energetic location. To replenish nutrients and feed the Syngonium podophyllum plant with a monthly balanced household fertilizer throughout the growing season, you may also repot it.
Do arrowhead plants flower indoors?
Indoor blooming of Syngonium podophyllum is uncommon. Syngoniums produce blooms that resemble anthurium blooms when they are growing outside. Spath flowers, which are modified leaves and spike-like blooms like other aroid plants, make up the arrowhead blossom.