There are many reasons why we love Syngonium's. For starters, these are what you'd call a chilled, go with the flow kinda plant. Syngonium's are not like that fussy String of Pearls that you're almost ready to give up on. Oh no...these leafy, hardy plants, are likely to restore your faith and show you that plant care can be easy. With these, you'll have a home that you can call your haven, in next to no time.
Whilst these are fuss free plants, they still need some care. They're not quite a "fend for yourself" kinda plant, but they are easy. Let's now take a closer look at what they love, so you can ensure they not only survive, but also thrive.
💧 When to water you Syngonium
Have I told you how forgiving these plants are? They are incredibly forgiving, however, they will be at their happiest if you keep the soil consistently moist. Now when I say "moist," I don't mean soppy wet soil. I liken it to the consistency of a dishcloth that has been submerged in water and then wrung out.
Give your Syngonium a good drink until the soil is wet and then you let the soil dry out, but not completely. Sure, if you forget from time to time, these plants will forgive you. You will notice the leaves at the base/bottom of the plant, turning yellow if you've left it a little too long. However, don't despair, remove these leaves and give them a good drink and all will be right again.
Just a note regarding light and how this affects your plants watering needs. The more light a plant receives, the more frequently they will require a drink.
☀ How much light do Syngonium's need?
Syngonium's are incredibly tolerant of lower light levels. Yes, they will continue to grow in lower light. However, their preference is to grow in light that is a little brighter. This will ensure that they don't grow leggy and long. The more light they receive, the bushier they will grow. In saying that, they wont respond well to sunlight on their leaves, which can burn them and turn them brown.
The beauty about them being very versatile to different light conditions, is that you can move them around your home to see how they grow and find the spot that suits you and the plant. Brighter light - more compact and larger growth. Lower light, and they will grow longer stems with smaller leaves.
Pink Syngonium's are worth trying in different lighting spaces too, to find their perfect spot. If the light is too bright, the pink can turn more pale. If the light is too low, they can revert to show more green. Read more about lighting and plant care here.
What soil do Syngonium like?
A soil mixture of 1 part perlite to 4 parts potting mix is perfect for these. Perlite helps to aerate the soil and also holds moisture that is released slowly. They wont respond well to sitting in soppy wet soil for long periods. You will notice them yellow, brown and their stems turn mushy if they've been sat in wet soil for too long, so you are best to ensure that there is drainage for water to escape rather than sitting in the pot.
Make them SUPER happy...
Sometimes plants need more than just light and water. Syngonium's are humidity lovers, but unlike Calathea's, they don't need it to stay happy, they just prefer it. Grouping plants together, raises humidity. Keep them away from heating and spray mist when you remember.
We also recommend Groconut for it's amazing growth stimulant super powers. They will also require some houseplant food during the growing season - an all round fertiliser will do the trick. Just ensure that you dilute to the instructions on the pack as it can be too much of a good thing if not diluted correctly.
What is wrong with my Syngonium? Watch for these signs, as they're easy to fix
When Syngonium leaves turn yellow/brown, droop or curl
Yellow and brown leaves are usually an indication of over or underwatering, so check the moisture of the soil. If it feels wet, you are likely overwatering your plant, if the soil is dry, give it a drink. Wilting or drooping leaves, are usually a sign that your plant needs a drink and they should perk up once given a drink.
Syngonium's are humidity lovers and their leaves can curl if they're not getting enough humidity. Whilst they will thrive and love life with loads of humidity, they are usually very forgiving, given our homes are not usually high humidity havens.
Are Syngonium's toxic to cats and dogs?
I'm sorry to say, yes they are harmful if ingested, so let them climb out of the way of your fur babies - keep your plants and your fur babies happy.
I hope you now feel confident to take control and know what your Syngonium needs. Our goal is to make plant care easy. Why? Because we've been there and have also felt overwhelmed and like it's all too hard. You can read our story here.
Check out our current range of Syngonium's below and sign up to our email to stay in the loop. We would love for you to flick us a message and let us know if this has helped you on your plant journey.
If you've read this far, we think you're a committed Plant Parent and we commend you for your dedication.