The arrowhead plant is a fast-growing trailing or climbing vine. The simple arrow-shaped leaves vary in hue depending on their age, ranging from dark green and white to lime green and bright pink. Arrowhead vine grows best as a houseplant in bright, indirect light, well-draining potting soil, and warm, humid conditions. The vine is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
The arrowhead plant, also known as Syngonium podophyllum, makes for an excellent houseplant Its arrow-shaped leaves add unique beauty and texture to any indoor space. While native to tropical parts of Central and South America, arrowhead thrives as a container plant in homes across North America With the right care, your arrowhead houseplant will remain healthy and lush for years to come.
General Arrowhead Plant Care
Caring for an arrowhead plant in a pot is relatively simple, as it adapts readily to indoor environments. Here are some basic care guidelines to help your arrowhead thrive:
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Light Arrowhead plants prefer bright, indirect light. Place them near an east or west-facing window. Avoid direct southern exposure as this can scorch the leaves.
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Water: Allow the soil to dry out halfway between waterings. Water thoroughly until it drains from the pot’s bottom, then empty the drain tray.
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Temperature Average room temperature of 65°-75°F is ideal Avoid drafty areas
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Humidity: Arrowhead tolerates average indoor humidity, but misting can help prevent brown leaf tips.
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Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at half-strength every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer.
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Soil: A well-draining potting mix provides the aeration arrowhead roots need.
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Pot: Repot every 2 years in spring in a container one size larger. Arrowheads are bushy when young but become climbing vines as they mature.
Caring for an Arrowhead Plant: Sunlight
Arrowhead houseplants appreciate bright, indirect light. An east or west-facing window is often ideal, providing a few hours of gentle morning or afternoon sun.
Avoid placing arrowhead in direct southern sun exposure. The intense light can scorch and bleach the leaves, turning them an unattractive grayish-green. Filter the light with a sheer curtain if needed.
If your only option is a north-facing window, supplement with a grow light for a few hours per day. This prevents weak, leggy growth from insufficient light. The new variegated arrowhead varieties with white, pink or burgundy leaves require more light to maintain their vivid colors.
Watering Your Arrowhead Houseplant
Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Arrowhead plants are susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Check by inserting your finger in the potting mix to gauge moisture.
When watering, thoroughly soak the soil until it drains freely from the container’s bottom drain holes. This ensures the entire root zone receives moisture. Empty any water that collects in the saucer to prevent root rot.
In winter, arrowhead enters a dormant period and requires less frequent watering. Wait until the top several inches of soil become dry before watering. Reduce fertilizer in winter as well.
Arrowhead Plant Humidity Preferences
The arrowhead plant tolerates average indoor humidity levels, making it an unfussy houseplant. Mist leaves occasionally to increase humidity and prevent brown leaf tips, especially in dry winter air when heaters are running.
Group arrowhead plants together to take advantage of their collective transpiration. Place pots on pebble trays filled with water, which evaporates around the plants, raising the immediate humidity.
What Temperature Does Arrowhead Plant Prefer?
Arrowhead plants thrive in average room temperatures between 65°-75°F. Avoid placing them in cold drafts from exterior doors or hot blasts from heating vents, which can shock the plant.
In spring and fall, monitor temperatures to ensure they do not dip too low at night, as arrowhead cannot tolerate frost. Similarly, keep plants away from hot radiators or fireplaces in winter.
If you bring your arrowhead plant outdoors for the summer, provide shade and bring inside before night temperatures drop below 60°F. The arrowhead plant survives outdoors year-round only in frost-free zones 10-11.
How Big Do Arrowhead Plants Get?
With proper care, arrowhead houseplants typically grow to a compact 12-15 inches tall and wide. However, with age arrowhead’s climbing vines can reach up to 4 feet long if allowed to trail.
Prune back leggy vines as needed to encourage bushy new growth. Take cuttings to propagate more plants. To support mature vining arrowheads, place plant stakes in the pot for the stems to climb.
Common Arrowhead Plant Problems
Arrowhead plants are relatively hardy, but may encounter a few common issues:
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Drooping leaves – Can indicate overwatering or underwatering. Yellowing leaves – Potential signs of overwatering, plant stress, or natural aging.
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Brown leaf tips – Usually caused by dry air or irregular watering.
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Leaf spot – Leaf fungus due to moisture stress. Improve air circulation.
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Pests – Watch for mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale. Treat promptly before infestations spread.
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Leggy growth – Insufficient light. Move plant or add supplemental lighting.
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Root rot – Waterlogged soil. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
Is Arrowhead Plant Toxic?
Arrowhead contains insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause skin irritation and stomach distress if ingested. Keep away from pets and children to avoid accidental poisoning. Wear gloves when handling the plant, as the sap can also irritate skin.
How to Propagate an Arrowhead Plant
Arrowhead plants are easily propagated from cuttings:
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Take a cutting with 1-2 leaf nodes in spring or summer.
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Remove lower leaves and place the cutting in water or moist potting mix.
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Keep in bright, indirect light. Roots and new growth will emerge in a few weeks. Transplant to pot.
This easy process allows you to create new arrowhead plants from existing specimens. Share with friends or increase your own collection!
Decorating with Arrowhead Plant
The arrowhead’s lush, tropical foliage adds flair to any indoor space. Its unique shape stands out against other plants. Display an arrowhead specimen in a colorful glazed ceramic planter to highlight the dramatic leaves.
Let the arrowhead trail casually from a bookshelf or cabinet top. Alternatively, prune and pinch it to form a bushy tabletop plant. Pair it with other conversation-starter plants like orchids, pilea, or ferns.
The arrowhead’s versatility enables it to fit nicely into most decor schemes. It brings the outdoors inside and purifies the air – what’s not to love? With proper care, an arrowhead houseplant will reward you for years to come.
Propagating Arrowhead Vine
Arrowhead vine plants root readily from stem cuttings and can easily be propagated in the spring or summer months. To propagate arrowhead vine, take these steps.
- Take a section of the stem with attached aerial roots to increase your odds of success. Use a sterilized snipping tool to take the cutting.
- Place your cutting into a glass of water. New roots will begin to form within a few weeks.
- Continue topping off the water periodically.
- Wait at least a month until the roots have strengthened.
- Plant the cutting into the soil as you normally would.
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Water
Water your arrowhead vine regularly during the spring and summer months, and reduce your watering cadence come winter. During the spring and summer, allow your vine to dry out partially between waterings but never completely. Likewise, the plant should not be kept too wet, either.
Arrowhead Plant Care Tips & Tricks! | Syngonium Vine Houseplant Care
FAQ
Why are the leaves on my Arrowhead Plant turning brown?
Where is the best place to put an Arrowhead Plant?
How big of a pot does an Arrowhead Plant need?
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Pot Size
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Drainage Improvements
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Proportional to plant size
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Use a pot with good-sized drain holes
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6-inch to 8-inch pot
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Allow excess water to flow out easily
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How often should I water an Arrowhead Plant?
How do you water an arrowhead plant?
This guide will tell you how to water an Arrowhead Plant; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow. Your Arrowhead Plant prefers bright indirect light but can adapt to low light. Direct sun may burn the leaves. Water when 50%-75% of the soil volume is dry.
Do Arrowhead plants need to be watered?
When you’re trying to determine if you need to water your arrowhead plant, feel the soil. If the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to water. If the soil is still moist, wait to water. Each time I water, I aim to drench the soil thoroughly. This ensures water reaches the bottom of the soil as well as the top.
How do you grow an arrowhead plant in a pot?
Fill the bottom few inches of the pot with potting soil. Remove the plant from its current pot, shake off any excess dirt, and place the plant in the new container. Place potting soil around the roots, pack lightly, and water well. Fortunately, arrowhead plants don’t experience too many pests or diseases.
Do Arrowhead plants need potting soil?
I find that Arrowhead plants don’t like sitting in moisture, so you need a well-draining soil mix. However, the mix should also retain moisture to prevent the plant from drying out. If you want to use store-bought potting soil, mix two parts of the standard potting mix with one part of perlite.