Arrowhead Plant Care Guide: How to Grow Arrowhead Plants

The arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) is a semi-tropical plant that grows natively in parts of Mexico and South America. The species is frequently sold as an indoor plant under common names such as arrowhead philodendron, arrowhead vine, American evergreen, nephthytis, and goosefoot.

In its native habitat, the arrowhead plant typically grows under a forest canopy. As such, its variegated yellow and dark green leaves do best in indirect, bright light. With proper care, arrowhead plants can also endure medium light and low-light conditions; however, the arrowhead plant does not do well in direct sun. This makes it a natural choice for a houseplant and a longtime favorite of indoor gardeners.

Indoor arrowhead plant care is relatively simple so long as you provide the right environment for your plant.

1. 1. Repot your arrowhead plant as needed. A growing arrowhead plant may need repotting every year. Start it in a pot of a similar size to the one it was sold in. Aim for repotting in the early spring and use standard indoor potting mix.
2. 2. Place arrowhead plants in bright light. Arrowhead plants thrive in bright, indirect light, but they can also do well in medium light. The plant will tolerate low light as long as it is not overwatered. Avoid placing arrowhead plants outdoors in direct sunlight. If you do attempt to grow arrowhead plants outside, take note that the plant can only survive in USDA hardiness zones ten and eleven and must be kept in a somewhat shady part of your garden.
3. 3. Water arrowhead plants according to the season. Arrowhead plants do best with moist potting soil in the spring and summer months and slightly dry soil in the fall and winter. Make sure your potting mix is well-draining and that your pot or container has drainage holes in the bottom. If left in standing water, arrowhead plants can develop root rot.
4. 4. Fertilize your plant regularly. Feed your arrowhead plant a standard houseplant fertilizer on a regular basis (typically every two weeks) during the growing season.
5. 5. Propagate your plant as needed. Propagating arrowhead plants is relatively easy. You can use propagation to control your plant’s growth or produce new growth from stem cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes or aerial roots. Cut the stem on a diagonal just below the node with a clean, sharp knife, place it in water, and wait approximately two weeks for a root system to emerge before repotting the cutting.

Follow these simple care tips to keep your arrowhead plant healthy.

1. 1. Avoid overwatering your plant. Common plant pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs can appear when arrowhead plants sit in wet soil. Avoid overwatering to prevent an outbreak. If pests do appear, use neem oil, vinegar, or alcohol to remove them.
2. 2. Prune your plant for bushier foliage. Arrowhead plants are natural climbers and if you let them grow, you can train them to go up the side of a trellis. If you would rather have a bushy plant, prune it on a regular basis to have shorter, bushier foliage.
3. 3. Group arrowhead plants with similar plants. Once situated, arrowhead plants co-exist nicely alongside houseplants with similar light requirements. Such plants include philodendron, red aglaonema, and pothos plants. Much like the arrowhead plant, these species are known for their leaf variegation and their natural climbing or trailing behavior. Arrowhead plants can look attractive beside the much larger Monstera deliciosa plants, which also require bright indirect light.

Arrowhead plants contain calcium oxalates that cause skin irritation. When swallowed, they can cause swelling of the mouth, lips, and tongue. Keep these plants away from small children and pets.

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