Top 5 Arrowhead Plant Varieties - Benefits, Growth and Care Tips
Growing houseplants excites all the plant parents, as ornamenting the home interiors with the blessings of the greenery hits differently! The arrowhead plants are one of the most fuss-free plantations in every Indian household. They are known for their ease of propagation and generous growth that take minimal maintenance. Hear us on the arrowhead plants' types, benefits, and care guidelines!
What Is An Arrowhead Plant?
More commonly known as Syngonium in India, the arrowhead plant scientific name is Syngonium Podophyllum; the Podophyllum in the name comes from the Latin language, meaning feet-like leaves, true to this plant’s growth pattern. The arrowhead vine plant matures with high escalations when growing in tropical forests; however, the plant remains contained as a houseplant. One can also train the plant to climb like a vine or use a moss stick to support its trailing growth.
The arrowhead plant in India has many nicknames like Syngonium, arrowhead philodendron, goosefoot, African evergreen, American evergreen, nephthytis, etc. It has several varieties, so the appearance of its leaflets can vary a bit with each variant. For example, some species remain light green with few creamy variegations, while others can turn completely pink or white. Nonetheless, caring for arrowhead plants is a piece of cake, as they grow with the least maintenance!
What Are The Types of Arrowhead Plants?
Endless arrowhead plant varieties are waiting for you to be picked, but keeping the word limit in mind, here we have mentioned the top five varieties for you to choose from:
1. White Butterfly
This stunning variety looks surreal when kept in the home indoors and outdoors. The plant grows old with whitish-green leaves with dark green highlighting on the borders. One can propagate it in classy ceramic pots to match the butterfly-like beauty of the plant. You can train the plant to climb on a trellis, rope, or stick.
2. Pink Allusion
You are undoubtedly falling in love with this brilliant variant of Syngonium plants! When propagated correctly, the plant matures with dual-colored leaflets - some being pink, others being green. This plant is perfect for people who wish to bring Syngonium home but also do it in a unique manner. Combine this plant with the rugged personality of the terracotta pots to balance the aesthetics!
3. Green Gold
As the name implies, this plant grows big with dark-green leaflets having golden veins and margins. This variety also has a trailing habit, so propagating it in hanging planters is ideal. With the correct mix of potting soil and exposure to sunshine, it will soon become the apple of your eye when placed indoors. Settling it on a brightly lit coffee table with your books and magazines is better!
4. Trileaf Wonder
This variety has slender triangular leaves that stay pale green initially, only to gain the sparkle with time. It grows at the rabbit’s pace, so pruning it now and then is vital for keeping its growth controlled. Moreover, the plant prefers bright dappled sunlight when indoors and complete shade when outdoors with a lot of moisture in the soil.
5. Mini Pixie
If you wish to bring a mini plant home that looks enormously cute and grows without much hassle, look no further than this mini Syngonium variety! It grows with the tiniest leaves, the size of a coin; these leaflets have a lightish green hue with yellow variegations in the middle. Grow this variety in plastic pots to mix and match the cuteness and vibrance of the plant.
How To Take Care of Arrowhead Plants?
The good news is that caring for an arrowhead plant is not rocket science! Syngonium is one of the most fuss-free houseplants available for busy plant parents in India, so you can easily bring the green hues of this plant home without indulging much in its maintenance. Here’s how the right arrowhead plant care tips will transform your greenery:
1. Subtle Sunshine
The syngonium plants are known for their delicate and vine-like leaves, so placing them directly under the sun will only burn their foliage. The correct spot to settle your plant is where it gets filtered yet bright sunshine, especially the darker shades; the lighter variegated varieties can handle a bit of the sun, but not too much.
2. Potting Soil
These plants do not hold any preference when talking about soil, as they can thrive in almost any of the potting mix available to the gardeners. However, one particular concern is the soil’s ability to drain moisture, as the arrowhead vine is prone to catching rotten roots when overwatered. Thus, pick an organically conditioned soil to stay nourished and drain faster than other varieties.
3. Thirst Quenchers
During the warm months of spring and summer, the plant will happily handle generous bouts of watering with adequate gaps of dried soil. However, overwatering the plant will only cause its roots to rot, so it’s better to stay vigilant while using your watering can. Moreover, when the frost begins knocking on your doors, restrict the usual hydration cycle and water only when the soil seems completely dry.
4. Hot & Humid
The Syngonium plant originates in the world's tropical landscapes, so it is in the plant’s intrinsic nature to demand the same from gardeners worldwide, too! It will stay happy & healthy when grown in warm areas where the temperature doesn’t fall below fifteen degrees Celsius. Also, the plant is a lover of moisture and humidity, so settling it in spots like kitchens and bathrooms with a natural humid atmosphere is a big yes.
5. Fertilized Feeds
The arrowhead plant care indoor includes the fertilizer feeding to pump the plant’s growth potential. Although the plant will do just fine without the additional nutrient boosters, treating it once a month from summer till fall with organic fertilizers will benefit the plant’s well-being. Feeding the boosting nourishment throughout the winter season is not recommended.
6. Re-potting Residences
As we all know, Syngonium plants have a faster growth cycle, so they tend to overgrow their current container sooner than we expect. This makes it essential for the plant parents to shift the plant’s residence to a bigger and better container after a year of flourishing growth. This re-potting ritual every year will also ensure your plant stays free from getting root-bounded.
How To Grow Arrowhead Plant in Water?
Have you ever seen an arrowhead plant grow in water? If yes, you must have wondered whether you can pull that off yourself! Let us break it to you arrowhead plant propagation in water is absolutely possible. Read further to know how:
★ Pick healthy Syngonium stems to snip cuttings for water propagation. These cuttings should be at least four to six inches long so that they can direct the energy toward growing healthy roots in water.
★ Once you have snipped off the cuttings, remove any leaves from the end side of the cut, as they will only get rotten when they come in contact with the water.
★ Place these Syngonium cuttings in a water-filled container or flower vase, and ensure the water is not taken directly from the tap; it should rather be filtered and distilled.
★ Wait for a few weeks, and you will notice the cuttings growing roots in the water. Now, your choice is whether you wish to take those cuttings and insert them into a pot or let them grow gracefully through the water-based approach.
★ If you wish to keep them in the water, don’t forget to change the water at least once a week, and keep the water-filled Syngonium container near a brightly lit spot.
What Are The Benefits of Growing Arrowhead Plants?
The arrowhead plant benefits its environment in uncountable ways, out of which we have listed a few below:
1. Beautiful Ornamentation
These plants are known for their stunning and eye-catching foliage that mesmerizes everyone. It appears so serene in any environment, whether indoors or outdoors. One can mix & match its leaflets with the containers to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the interiors.
2. Ease of Maintenance
One of the easy-growing houseplants in India, the Syngonium plant does not have a long list of caring prerequisites. This plant thrives with the least maintenance, requiring the fulfillment of basic care guidelines like apt sunshine, watering, and soil. It is an excellent pick for urban gardeners who don’t have much time.
3. Air Detox
The arrowhead plant uses its appealing foliage to enthrall the viewers and rid harmful elements of the air. NASA has given this plant the status of an ‘air-purifying plant,’ as it has proven exceptionally effective in detoxifying the atmosphere from benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, etc. Not only this, but the Syngonium plant is quite adept at absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!
4. Atmospheric Moisture
The plant itself loves the moisture and humidity in the atmosphere, thereby inducing more of both in its place of propagation. The arrowhead plant changes the dry air to more humid with its presence, reducing the threat of air-borne diseases like sore throats, etc.
5. Vastu Favorites
As per Feng Shui, the Syngonium plant’s leaves symbolize the five elements of Chinese science - water, metal, fire, wood, and Earth. This luck association of the plant makes it super auspicious for keeping indoors and outdoors. The plant benefits the atmosphere by balancing the yin and yang energies while spreading positivity through its existence!
Conclusion:
The Syngonium, AKA arrowhead plant, is superb for growing indoors. This plant requires minimal care throughout its growing season, and when grown correctly, it will offer you the best foliage you have ever seen! It is available at all authentic gardening hubs like Plantlane, so you can order it online from the comfort of your couch and welcome it to your home gardens. Happy gardening!
FAQs About Arrowhead Plants in India
Ques: Can Syngonium Plants Catch Diseases?
Ans: Yes, the plant is prone to diseases caused by insects and overwatering. Safeguard the plant from pest attacks by keeping the foliage dry and clean and spraying neem oil. Moreover, ensure you keep the plant from facing a waterlogged situation.
Ques: Why Is My Arrowhead Plant Turning Brown?
Ans: The plant might be suffering from underwatering, so keep it hydrated to bring back its natural colors.
Ques: Can You Grow Arrowhead Plant in Water?
Ans: Yes. Arrowhead plants are one of the rare beauties that can grow both in soil and water.
Ques: Why Is My Arrowhead Plant Turning Pale?
Ans: Your plant must be receiving too much sunshine, losing its bright hues. Settle it in a spot that receives indirect sunlight indoors or outdoors.
Ques: Is The Arrowhead Plant An Indoor Plant?
Ans: The Syngonium plant can be placed both indoors and outdoors. However, the plant will prefer a bright spot indoors; when outdoors, it will prefer a completely shaded spot.