The Syngonium, also known as the Arrowhead plant, is a tropical vining plant that can be found throughout Latin America and some Pacific Islands. They are very elegant plants best known for their unique leaf shape and diverse variegation. Generally, Arrowhead plant varieties have similar needs and are pretty easy to care for. A cutting with an exposed node will show roots within within a few weeks, given proper care and living conditions. Expect leaves to grow during the warmer months.
Central and South America
Araceae
The botanical name for the Arrowhead plant is Syngonium podophyllum. Other common names for this plant are Arrowhead Vine, Arrowhead philodendron, Goosefoot, Nephthytis, African evergreen, and American evergreen.
Other Arrowhead plant varieties include Berry allusion nephthytis, Exotic allusion nephthytis, Maria allusion nephthytis, Strawberry cream arrowhead vine, Painted arrow pehthytis, Holly nephthytis, Bold allusion nephthytis, Cream allusion nephthytis, Julia allusion nephthytis, Pink allusion nephthytis, and White butterfly arrowhead vine.
Toxic to pets and humans.
For healthy plants, we recommend that you add water to the glass every 1-2 weeks (or if you see that water levels have lowered) to replenish the water that evaporated or absorbed from the plants. Then, replace the water every 2-4 weeks.
Most tap water works great but distilled or filtered waters are recommended if available.
We recommend adding 1-2 of liquid nutrients to your plant’s water every month. If you see a new leaf or flower forming, you should add an additional drop of nutrients to further encourage and support new growth.
Arrowhead plants can be picky with their living conditions, but we know they typically thrive best in low-medium lighting. Bob allusion arrowhead plants are more variegated, so they'll need more light than normal. We suggest playing around with different areas in the home that have bright, indirect sunlight with partial shade throughout the day.
Syngoniums prefer to live in temperatures between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Like many tropical houseplants, these plants can live comfortably in normal indoor environments.
Stay away from extremes (anything below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit) because that can lead to health complications and slow plant growth.
Normal-high humidity levels is best for tropical plants like Syngonium, especially during the winter and fall. We recommend that you invest in a humidifier and run it for at least 1-2 hours a day to keep the humidifier levels balanced. Of course, you could always regularly mist your plant a couple times a day (depending on the dryness of your space).
A cool humidity hack we've heard of is to set a container of water near the plant, as the evaporating water will increase the humidity.
When propagating a Syngonium Bob Allusion in water, we've had success with the division method and submerging a node in water. The division method is just gently remove soil to break up the mother plant (original calathea planted in dirt) into two or more smaller parts, where both the crown and roots are left in tact. Some roots are more acclimated to growing in soil than water. If you're propagating using the division method, we recommend cutting off the dirt roots off because the new root system comes in looking cleaner and less messy (overall, more aesthetically pleasing). But, it's totally optional if you decide to leave the roots on.
Then you have our favorite propagation method, which is submerging a node in water. You want to first cut right below a node, closest to the stem. A proper cutting would have about 2-4 leaves still attached. With the proper care and attention, you should see new growth in about 4-8 weeks!
Identification: dramatic leaf drooping, leaves are limp or have no structure
Cause: Syngonium are tropical plants that naturally thrive with a lot of humidity. Without it, the leaves will begin to droop or go limp. On the other hand, this can be the case of lack of oxygen in the water. When plants that grow in water don't have enough oxygen, they can start showing signs in their roots and leaves.
How to treat:To fix low humidity, try incorporating the tips included in our care guide. For lack of oxygen, simply replace the water in your plant's glass and refill the glass every 1-2 weeks. After that, we highly suggest replacing the entire glass of water every 2-4 weeks.
Identification:Yellow or brown edges on the leaves, dry or soft leaves, sometimes drooping to the side
Cause: Yellowing of the leaves are pretty normal sign of aging in mature plants. But if your plant is still young and you're noticing a change in its leaves, it may be a sign of a health issue. If the leaves are turning brown and drooping to the side, your arrowhead needs more humidity. On the other hand, too much sunlight exposure can show similar symptoms but the leaves would be crispy or show leaf burns. If sunlight or humidity isn't the issue, yellowing leaves can be a sign of possible root rot. Root rot happens when their isn't enough oxygen in the water (and any enivornmental imbalance can make the issue worse).
How to treat:For low humidity, If the cause is root rot, you'll see darkening roots with a distinct sour smell. To treat root rot: remove the rotting roots and damaged leaves, soak in a hydrogen-water 1:1 solution, and change out the water. After, make sure to change the water every 2-4 weeks and you should see some improvement in no time!
