Syngonium Plant: Good Luck Air Purifying Plant – Details and Care Tips
They are one of the easy to grow and hard to die indoor plants. They are pretty looking, and the foliage comes in different colors. The arrowhead plants are also said to purify the air thus making it one of the preferred indoor plants. The leaves display a variety of colors and patterns.
| Other Common Names | Arrowhead Plant, Tri-Leaf Wonder, Nephthytis, African Evergreen, Green-Gold Nephthytis, Goosefoot Plant, Five Fingers |
| Type | Indoor/Semi-Shade |
| Maintenance | Low to Medium |
| Flowering | Rarely flowers in indoors conditions |
| Light | Medium / Low Light |
| Water | Medium. Just keep the soil most. Do not over water. |
| Temperature | Warm humid climate |
| Soil | Well drainage soil |
| Fertilizer | Vermicompost, Cow dung manure, Seaweed liquid solution |
| Habitat | Mexico, South America, West Indies |
| Toxicity | Mildly poisonous if ingested |
| Common Diseases | Root Rotting, Bacterial leaf spot, Spider Mites, Aphids |
| Scientific name | Syngonium podophyllum |
Overview of Syngonium Plant
These plants belong to the family of Araceae and are one of the commonly grown house plants. They are native to Mexico, South America, and the West Indies.
They are creeping herbaceous plants. They are woody vines growing in trees to altitudes of 10–20 m or more. The leaves can change their shape depending on the stage of development. The plants usually do not branch, and the foliage is seen to grow opposite one another from the main stem. The plant stops growing once the inflorescence grows at the apical bud. Cutting off the apical bud ensures branching of the plant and makes it bushier. The genus is divided depending on the shape of the leaves. They have adventitious roots. The leaves of the young plants are arrow shaped whereas the ones it matures the leaves become lobed.
Uses/Advantage of Syngonium Plant
- It is used as an indoor ornamental plant.
- They are said to purify the air.
- The leaves are used in tropical medicine to treat stomach-ache.
- The plants are also used as ground cover.
- The white sap from the stem is used as a medicine to heal inflammation from bites.
- The roots and bark are said to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Special feature of Syngonium Plant
Syngonium absorbs contaminants into their leaves, and the toxins go to the plant’s root zone where they are converted into nutrients. Houseplants also emit water vapours which help the plant to take up the polluted air to the roots where the plant converts the toxins into plant food.
General Care for Syngonuium Plant:
Soil: Any normal well-drained potting soil with some capacity to hold moisture.
Light: They have very little tolerance to direct sunlight and the leaves may scorch and dry if exposed to direct sunlight. However, a low to moderate indirect light helps them to grow and spread. They prefer room temperature with humidity ranging between 40-60%.
Temperature: Can not tolerate very high temperature. Loves warm humid conditions.
Watering: The plants need adequate water to grow. Allowing the soil to dry out in between watering is preferred. However, dry soil for a longer period can cause the leaves at the bottom to dry out. During winters, the duration between the watering can be increased
Fertilizer: A normal house plant fertilizer can be added to the plant during the growing season.
Pruning: It is a creeper and can spread fast leaving an unappealing look. Regular pruning can maintain the shape of the plant. Pinching off the apical bud can also prevent the formation of the flower and also help in branching off.
Diseases and other Problems in Syngonium Plant:
Pests: They are mostly not affected by any diseases. However, aphids or spider mites can be seen feeding on them sometimes. This can be prevented by hose spraying water or by spraying soap water.
Root Rotting: Over watering can cause root rotting. Reduce the watering frequency and provide some indirect sunlight to the plant.
Propagation of Syngonium Plan
Propagation is done through stem cuttings during the spring or summer time.
Some of the plants also develop aerial roots, in such cases, a stem cutting along with the root can be planted. New growth is chosen with one or two leaves. The stem is cut few centimetres below the nodes. The cutting can be either planted into the soil after dipping it into the rooting hormone or can be placed in water for root development.
