Syngonium podophyllum (Arrowhead Vine)

Overview

Syngonium Podophyllum is a beautiful plant with vibrant colours and diverse cultivars. Understandably, it’s a plant that people everywhere absolutely adore. Here, I’ll be discussing:

1. Whether it is the right plant for your space
2. How to care for Syngonium podophyllum

Is this the right plant for me?

Whether Syngonium podophyllum is the right plant for you depends on the space it will occupy from a visual perspective, as well as whether or not its needs can be met.

Syngonium podophyllum usually begins as a bushier, more compact plant which will work in any space. However, it is important to consider that it will eventually come to take up quite a bit of space: its roots grow rapidly, and will require repotting to a larger pot very quickly. It will also eventually begin to creep out of the pot, looking almost like a vine (some cultivars will do so faster than others). You could also have their tendrils climb a trellis or moss pole to create a vertical effect.

Given its vivid colouration, a Syngonium podophyllum will look great in minimalist setups which draw the eye to the striking foliage. Thus, I would recommend pots in white, black, grey or beige, to help keep the focus on the plant itself. Other good options are red-toned terracotta pots, which would offer contrast with the green leaves of most Syngonium podophylla, and match the pink leaves of cultivars like the Syngonium podophyllum “Pink” or the Syngonium podophyllum “Strawberry Cream”. If you choose to purchase a Syngonium podophyllum albo-variegatum, a white pot would bring out the white in the leaves beautifully.

Syngonium podophylla make a nice statement on their own, but if you want to pair it with other plants, try to pair it with other plants with lighter coloured leaves, like a variegated spider plant, which I may write about in a future blog post.

It is also important to consider whether your space will accomodate to these plants. In general, Syngonia can tolerate a variety of light conditions. While they will continue to grow in low to medium light, they prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Basically, any room with windows will do, but you may need to position them closer to north and east facing windows and further from south and west facing windows. Syngonia also prefer moist soil, but hate to be left standing in water. If you have a habit of giving your plants a little too much love and attention (like we’re all guilty of), consider a terracotta pot, which will help wick up excess moisture in the potting mix.

If you’re a busy person who often forgets to water, try putting drainage and purification layers in a glass planter, and then adding potting soil above that to plant your syngonium podophyllum in. This helps retain moisture for longer, however the risk of overwatering is higher if you don’t manually tip out excess water the rises above the pebbles, rocks or clay beads you’re using as your drainage layer.

How should I care for this plant? (avoiding sinning against syngonia, see what I did there?)

Light: As stated above, most light conditions are tolerable. Try to provide bright, indirect sunlight. If you plan on growing in a room with minimal light, provide a grow light.

Watering: Syngonium podophylla love moisture, but hate having their roots submerged in water. Basically, stick half of your index finger into the soil and if it feels vaguely moist, but not sopping wet, the soil is okay, and you can afford to wait a bit to water, as this is the optimal growing condition. If the lower segment of your index finger only feels slight coldness in the soil rather than actual moisture, and the next segment feels bone dry, it’s time to water.

I grow my Syngonium podophyllum in a glass container, and the advantage of this is I can physically see the layers of soil from top to bottom in terms of how wet or dry they are. I would recommend this method to anyone not entirely sure of how to go about watering this plant.

Fertilising: Fertilise modestly. In fact, I think in the time I’ve owned my Syngonium podophyllum (7 months), I’ve only fertilised twice, and it continues to perform extremely well. In fact, I stopped fertilising because the second time I fertilised, a few of the smaller bottom leaves yellowed and fell off.

Propagation: bushy syngoniums grow in fan-like clumps. Simply remove a clump from the mother plant and pop it in water or potting mix.

General care tips:

• Try to avoid overly hot or cold temperatures. Syngonia like the same termperatures we do.

This plant is very easy to care for, and as long as you get the watering right, it will grow for you.