Syngonium podophyllum

Origin and Habitat of Syngonium Podophyllum

Syngonium podophyllum is a member of the Araceae family, which includes other popular houseplants such as Philodendron and Monstera. The plant is native to tropical rainforests in South America, Central America, and Mexico, where it grows as an epiphyte or a hemiepiphyte on trees and other plants.

Habit: Generally slender vining/climbing evergreen plants that can grow up to 10 to 20 m tall producing arrowhead shaped leaves of solid green to more commonly variegated types with green and white, green and creamy yellow and newer varieties with varying degrees of different shades of pink. Plants are usually displayed climbing up some type of trellis or allowed to hang down.



Temperature: Plants grow best between 15 to 30ᐤ C and temperatures below 4ᐤ C will result in the death of the plant. Avoid placing plants in windy or drafty locations which can lead to less attractive plants as the leaflets can get tattered.



Light Exposure: Plants will grow well in medium to bright, indirect light but are capable of surviving in low light locations in which the plants will grow very slowly. Plants with darker solid green leaves are more able to withstand lower light locations; variegated plants put in the same low light conditions will likely lose their variegation and revert to solid green leaves.



Watering: Syngoniums like a moist growing medium but not soggy; water only when the top 3 cm of soil feels dry to the touch. Always check the soil moisture first but as a rule of thumb watering once a week in the rainy season, once every two or three weeks in the cold dry season and usually twice a week in the hot dry season. In addition, regularly misting the leaves in the hot dry season will help keep the foliage looking great.



Fertilising: Plants need to be fertilised with a well balanced fertiliser at half strength once to twice per month. Over fertilizing plants can make them more susceptible to pest attack so one must be careful to keep a closer eye on plants fertilised twice per month.



Pruning/Repotting: Remove yellowing or dry dead leaves as necessary. Pruning out the growing tip will cause more branching and a bushier plant. Repotting is generally necessary when roots start to grow out the bottom of the pot and repotted into a new pot one size larger.



Pests/Diseases: Pest Control: Syngonium podophyllum is susceptible to pest infestations, such as spider mites and mealybugs. While a few fungal and bacterial pathogens cause leaf spot and blight issues as well as stem rot of the plants.