Syngonium podophyllum “Neon Robusta” (arrowhead plant)

Arrowhead plant, arrowhead vine, goosefoot plant

The natural range of the arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) extends from Mexico to Brazil. A member of the arum family, it is a popular garden plant in tropical and subtropical regions. It is also a popular houseplant in cooler climates.

Besides the Syngonium podophyllum “Neon Robusta” shown here, there are many other cultivars available. With white-green, yellow-green, reddish, mottled or spotted leaves.

The arrowhead plant is a climber, its shoots can reach several meters in length.

Syngonium Neon Robusta

How to care for Syngonium podophyllum “Neon Robusta”

Lighting & temperature

Semi-shady to partially sunny locations with morning sun, late evening sun and winter sun are welcome. Syngonium podophyllum “Neon Robusta” can spend the midsummer weeks in a semi-shady spot in the garden or on the balcony.

Purpurtute

The arrowhead plant copes well with room temperature all year round, but should not be exposed to temperatures below 59 °F (15 °C) for long periods in winter. Overwintering at 59 to 68 °F (15 to 20 °C) is possible.

Watering & soil

The root ball should always be slightly moist but not dripping wet.
It may dry on the surface. If water is occasionally left in the saucer or planter for a few hours, this is not a problem. Prolonged drying out of the soil will lead to brown leaf edges.

The arrowhead plant has no special requirements for its soil. It grows well in mixtures for indoor plants or other container plants, herbs and vegetables.

Can the arrowhead plant be grown in water?

Syngonium Water Plant

The arrowhead plant is not an aquatic plant, it cannot survive submerged, i.e. if all parts of the plant are under water. However, it can be kept well in a glass of water for some time. I cannot yet say how long it will survive this form of cultivation. I had the closely related Monstera delciosa in a small aquarium for several years.

Feeding

Syngonium podophyllum “Neon Robusta” does not need to be fed in the first year after purchase or repotting.

After that, it can be given liquid fertilizer occasionally from spring to fall. Or slow-release fertilizer such as sticks, granules or pellets in spring and/or summer.

Arrowhead plant Neon Robusta

scindapsus pictus – satin pothos, silk pothos

the genus scindapsus contains approx. 20 members, native to southeast asia. the climbing plants are suitable for growing in a hanging basket or training up a wall. from scindapsus pictus, known as satin pothos or silk pothos are different cultivars available.

care

the satin pothos does best on a bright to light shaded place without direct sunlight. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. if placed to dark the leaves can loose their variegation.

scindapsus pictus can be planted in a good regular mix. keep it moist but not wet and avoid overwatering such as drying out. drying at the surface will be tolerated.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. if placed colder at this time it needs less watering (but not drying out) and a fertilizer must not be given. there is also no need to feed for the first six to eight weeks if you have recently re-potted.

the satin photos likes room temperature throuhgout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c (59 °f). it loves to be sprayed over with water from time to time.

scindapsus pictus silk pothos

propagation

scindapsus pictus can easily be propagated with cuttings.

syngonium podophyllum – arrowhead vine, goosefoot plant

syngonium podophyllum is known as arrowhead vine, arrowhead plant or sometimes goosefoot plant. the popular houseplant is native to central and south america. there are some variegated cultivars available.

care

the arrowhead vine does best on a bright but not sunny place. it will tolerate some shade but then grows a bit slower. if placed to dark it produces smaller leaves.

it can be potted in a good regular mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet and avoid overwatering such as a complete dry out.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. if recently re-potted or bought there is no need to feed it for the first eight weeks.

the arrowhead vine can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a minum of 15 °c (59 °f) during winter time.

propagation

the arrowhead vine can easily propagated by cuttings.

dieffenbachia – dumb cane

the diffenbachia is a very popular houseplant and there are a lot of cultivars with leaves spotted or striped from white to yellow or green available. the common name dumb cane is based of the poisonous nature of their sap. the genus diffenbachia belongs to the araceae family and is native to the tropical america.

as indoor plants often used are cultivars of dieffenbachia amoena, d. bausei or d. seguine.

care

dieffenbachias like bright light without direct sun but do also good on a half shady place. if placed to dark they will grow a bit slower and the extreme white colored cultivars will show more greenish leaves.

they can be cultivated in a good regular potting mix which has to be kept constantly moist but not wet. overwatering can cause root rot. they also shouldn’t completely dry out.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given at a half strength monthly during spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. re-potted or fresh bought plants don’t need to be fed for the first eight weeks.

dumb canes like a warm place throughout the year with a winter minium of 15 °c (59 °f). if sprayed over with water regularly this keeps their leaves free from dust.


cuttings from d. oerstedii

propagation

dumb canes can be propagated by cuttings.

epipremnum aureum – pothos

the pothos (epipremnum aureum) is a nearly undestroyable indoor plant which tolerates some care mistakes. it’s also known as devil’s ivy or money plant. there are a lot of cultivars available with more yellowish or white variegated leaves. it’s native to southeastern asia.

care

the pothos does best in bright light with some morning and/or evening sun. but it can also placed half shady to shady. if standing too dark it will grow slower and the variegated ones will loose their color and produce mor green leaves.

epipremnum aureum can be grown in a regular potting mix. keep it moist but not wet. overwatering and drying out will be tolerated for some times.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly and if placed a bit colder during winter every six to eight weeks.

there ist no need to increase humidity but if the pothos is sprayed over from time to time this keeps it’s leaves free from dust.

it can be placed at room temperatur througout the year with a winter minimum of 14 °c (52 °f). for a few days 10 °c or lower (50 °f) will be tolerated.

pothos epipremnum aureum

propagation

pothos (epipremnum aureum) can easily propagated with cuttings.

peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii)

the propagation of a peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii) is not difficult and can be made by division. it can be done any time of the year, for example when the plant needs to be re-potted.

use a sharp and clean knife to cut away a crown from the parent plant. this crown should be good rooted with a minimum of three leaves.

now you can pot the peace lily propagation by using a regular potting mix. for a better humidity put a freezing bag over the pot. to avoid mould ist should be aired once a day. remove it when spathiphyllum wallisii is showing new leaves.

the care is the same as for the parent plant. for the first two to three months there is no need for fertilizing.

spathiphyllum wallisii – peace lily, white sails

the peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii), sometimes called white sails, is a easy to grow and nearly “unkaputtbar” (undestroyable) indoor houseplant like we say here in germany. there are cultivars available with variegated leaves.

care

in it’s natural habitat the peace lily is growing under trees. so it’s liked to be placed bright to shady, without direct sunlight. sun can bleach the leaves and turn them brown.

spraying with water from time to time makes the peace lily happy and keeps the leaves free of dust. after the flowers have died out, they can be taken away. the peace lily starts blooming again in approx. four to twelfe months.

the soil, a standart potting mix can be used, should kept constantly moist but neither wet nor dry.

at room temperatur a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly during spring and summer, and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter. in half of by the manufacturer indicated concentration.

the peace lily likes room temperatur througout the year but is tolerating a short time of approx. 10 °c (50 °f) in winter time.

white sails spathiphyllum wallisii

propagation

spathiphyllum wallisii can be propagated by division. new crowns, formed at the plants side can be cutted and re-potted.