Green ribbed leaf Syngonium podophyllum
Light green leaves Syngonium podophyllum
Leaves and flowers of Syngonium podophyllum
Syngonium podophyllum flowers
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Syngonium podophyllum, a multi-faceted liana
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Syngonium podophyllum grows in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Like many members of the Araceae family, it is cultivated in our latitudes as an indoor plant. Suspended or along a stake, this liana has many facets.
How to recognize the crowfoot plant, Syngonium podophyllum?
In the wild, Syngonium podophyllum grows by coiling on the trunks of tall trees. It can grow up to ten meters tall. In pots, it grows to no more than two meters. If you provide it with a support, the plant adopts a creeping habit. In the absence of a guide, it adopts a drooping habit.
The gnarled stems are lined with aerial roots that allow the vines to attach themselves. Each node gives rise to alternate leaves with sheathing petioles. The bright, variegated green blades change shape as they grow. When young, the leaves are oval with a heart-shaped base. They measure between eight and fifteen centimetres. As adults, they divide into nine segments. They can reach 30 centimetres long and ten centimetres wide.
Syngonium podophyllum flowers, unlike Syngonium podophyllum 'Pixie or Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink Splash'. In its natural environment, it produces six-centimetre-long light-green or cream spathes. Indoors, however, the phenomenon is exceptional.
Syngonium podophyllum is the subject of many beliefs and superstitions. For some, its presence has the power to heal the sick. It is also said to bring optimism and purify the air. But beware! If you're living with someone of the opposite sex, it's best to avoid crow's-foot. The plant is said to drive a wedge between men and women.
But there's no proof for these rumors. Only one thing is certain: like other Araceae, Syngonium podophyllum is toxic on contact and ingestion. Avoid growing it if you have pets or children.
Our maintenance tips
Syngoniums are easy-care plants. But beware: their sap is toxic. Wear gloves when handling them or wash your hands immediately afterwards.
Watering
Before watering, make sure the substrate is two or three centimetres dry by dipping your fingers into the soil. If this is the case, moisten the root ball with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
To avoid drowning the roots, don't leave stagnant water in the dish.
Spray
Dry air favors the appearance of mites and other pests. Mist the foliage of your Syngonium podophyllum to prevent invasions and improve hygrometry.
Use non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. Tap water is often too hard and leaves marks on the leaves.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Syngonium podophyllum to give it more space.
Repot your Syngonium podophyllum in a pot one size larger than the previous one.
If you've decided to give your plant a climbing habit, install your stake now.
Pour in a bed of clay balls or gravel for drainage and a layer of potting soil for houseplants. Plant your Syngonium podophyllum in the center and add substrate. You can guide the stems along the stake to structure the shape of your plant.
Tamp to remove air bubbles.
If your indoor air is dry, place the pot on a saucer of moist clay balls. Water evaporation improves humidity.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Syngonium podophyllum, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Add nutrients with a green plant fertilizer.
Cleaning
Dust on leaves interferes with photosynthesis. To make sure your Syngonium podophyllum gets all the available light, clean its foliage with a clean, damp cloth.
Caution! All parts of the plant are toxic. Wear gloves and wash your hands after touching the foliage.
Caution! All parts of the plant are toxic. Wear gloves and wash your hands after touching the foliage.
Prune
You can shorten stems that are too long and bald. Simply cut them with a sharp instrument (pruning shears or scissors). Don't forget to disinfect the blades beforehand to prevent disease transmission.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Syngonium podophyllum are rhizomatous plants. They multiply by dividing clumps.
Take your Syngonium podophyllum out of its pot. Using your hands or a clean, sharp tool, separate a shoot with at least four leaves and a rhizome. The more developed your young shoot, the greater your chances of a successful cutting.
Soak your graft in a glass of clear water at room temperature. Remember to change the water when it becomes cloudy. You can also immerse a piece of charcoal to keep it clean.
Place your cutting in a bright spot away from direct sunlight, behind a window with a curtain for example.
Place your cutting in a bright spot away from direct sunlight, behind a window with a curtain for example.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Araceae - Araceae |
| Type | Syngonium - Syngonium |
| Species | Syngonium podophyllum - Syngonium podophyllum |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting method |
In pots |
| Categories | |
| Tag |
Toxic |
| Origins |
Central America South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 12a |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower colors |
|
| Fruit color |
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