Syngonium - home care, signs and superstitions

Syngoniums are distinctive vines with large, bright green leaves, belonging to the Araceae family. Most species of this plant are incapable of independent branching. Branching can only be stimulated by pruning. Several dozen species of this plant are recognized in the wild, but only a few are used in indoor gardening.

Syngoniums are evergreen perennials. With proper care, they grow very quickly, a feature particularly prized by gardeners. Growth can reach up to 90 cm per year. The vine can be grown as a trailing variety or trained into a tree. Caring for this plant indoors is easy, with the exception of a few varieties that require extra attention.

Signs, superstitions and the history of growing syngonium

Over the years of its use in indoor gardening, syngonium has acquired a considerable number of folk beliefs and superstitions. Among them, some favor growing the vine indoors, while others advise against acquiring this green plant.

Positive signs about syngonium sound like this:

1. Guardian of family happiness. The flower radiates positive energy and absorbs all negativity.
2. The plant's ability to transform itself facilitates the transformation of people. Those who own the vine experience positive changes.
3. Syngonium helps "burn bridges." It promotes a painless separation from an unpleasant past.
4. Family doctor. The flower is believed to promote a speedy recovery from illnesses.
5. Night Watchman. The plant suppresses nightmares and bad dreams, allowing its owner to enjoy sound sleep.

The following negative signs are associated with keeping a flower in the house:

1. A remedy for driving men away. According to popular belief, the flower does everything it can to drive men out of its home.
2. Poisonous breath. The Chinese believe this plant poisons the lives of other household members. However, it should be noted that native Chinese ascribe this property to all plants with arrow-shaped leaves.

Syngonium came to Europe from the American tropics. The flower's striking appearance attracted widespread attention, and it soon became quite popular among gardeners. The plant's name translates from Latin as "union of seed and bud." It refers to the vine's ability to securely conceal the embryonic seeds within the ovary.

Characteristics of the Syngonium plant and its species diversity

Syngonium stems are covered with tiny aerial rootlets, which the vine uses to cling to supports. Young plants have bright green, flexible stems. As they age, they darken, become woody, and lose their flexibility.

The leaves are entire and heart-shaped. With age, the blades diverge, becoming lobed. A single plant may have both heart-shaped and lobed blades. All varieties have a prominent central vein. The blade surface can be smooth or velvety. Leaf color varies depending on the variety:

• shades of green;
• pink;
• whitish;
• chocolate red;
• spotted.

Indoor syngoniums rarely bloom. When they do, you'll see a white spadix wrapped in a sparse reddish spathe. In the wild, syngonium flowers are much more spectacular.

There are only two species of liana, but the number of cultivars developed from them is astounding. The photo shows how beautiful these plants are, thanks to their unusual leaves.

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Imperial White

Imperial White is also known as a variegated variety. It is very popular among gardeners, but not everyone is willing to grow this hybrid. This variety is considered very capricious and finicky. The slightest deviation from proper care causes the flower to lose its decorative pattern and aesthetic value.

The hybrid's leaves are quite large and heart-shaped. The petioles are elongated and light brown. White spots appear against the dark green background of the leaves. The larger the spot, the more decorative the plant. There are also specimens with completely white leaves.

This vine is characterized by its high creeping habit. With the help of supports, it can be shaped into a variety of forms.

To preserve the unusual pattern, a certain nitrogen concentration in the soil must be maintained. If the proportions are not met, the leaves will turn green. This variety often encounters problems when repotting—the plant does not respond well to any changes in its natural microclimate.

Although growing this hybrid is a laborious process, it's worth the effort. You can appreciate the Imperial White's extraordinary coloring from its photos, and it looks even more striking in person.

Eared

Members of the Auricularis species are distinguished by leaves resembling drooping ears. These are fast-growing vines, capable of growing up to 70-90 cm per year. The leaves are large. The petiole is 30-40 cm long. The blades change shape over time.

The leaves are predominantly green in color and have a glossy surface.

The combination of this species with the Syngonium pedunculifolia has made it possible to develop a wide variety of cultivars that differ in leaf color, surface type, and other characteristics.

Leg-leaved

The pedunculate variety is also known as podophyllum. Unlike the auricula, pedunculate varieties are distinguished by very thin stems that tend to branch extensively. These vines grow more slowly. Under good conditions, they produce an annual growth rate of 40-60 cm.

The stems are literally covered with leaves. Young leaves are arrow-shaped. As they age, they change shape, resembling a repeatedly dissected ellipse. The maximum number of sections is 11. The leaves are large. Petioles can reach over half a meter in length.

Aaron Brown

The 'Aron Brown' variety is a miniature vine with large, unusually colored leaves. This variety is grown as a bush.

The foliage combines dark pink and dark green tones. Young leaves have orange-brown hues. The veins are highlighted with pink. Over time, the leaf loses its pink hue, acquiring a uniform dark green.

The leaf blades are heart-shaped, with a sharply pointed edge. The leaf surface is shiny and glossy.

Pink

Pink Syngonium is also known as Neon. This variety is a compact bush with very large leaves.

The leaflets are heart-shaped and long-petioled. The surface is glossy. Young leaves are a bright, soft pink. They fade with age. A delicate light green border runs along the edges of the leaflets. Young and old leaves have a prominent central vein, the color of a young peony. Some hybrids can have both light green and pink leaves.

Pixie

Pixies are dwarf hybrids with stunning leaf color. Pixies are grown as compact bushes.

Small leaf blades are borne on elongated petioles. The leaves are elongated, heart-shaped ellipses. The leaf surface is glossy. The coloration combines rich shades of green, from dark to light. The predominant shade is milky green. The central vein is very prominent.

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Panda

The Panda variety is not large in size. It is grown as a bush plant.

This variety gets its name from its striking coloring: yellow spots scattered across a dark green background. The spots may vary from plant to plant: some leaves will be covered in fine speckles, while others will have a large, spreading yellow blotch.

The shape of the plates is heart-shaped. The edge is not very pointed. The surface of the plates is smooth and matte.

Rules for caring for syngonium at home

Syngonium is considered an easy-to-care-for plant. If you follow expert care recommendations, it will delight your eyes with its exotic beauty for years to come.

Choosing a location

The location for the flower is determined by its shape. Syngonium can be grown as a trailing plant, a shrub, or a tree.

Trailing flowers are placed on high shelves or in hanging pots. The location should be spacious and not too dark. It's best to place the flowerpot near a window.

Place the bushes on west- and east-facing windowsills. Pots can be placed on tables or cabinets near the window.

Tree-shaped syngoniums are placed on the floor in a well-lit area. You can also place the plant container on a low piece of furniture, such as a console table.

Soil, watering and fertilizers

Syngonium prefers loose, well-drained soil that allows air and moisture to pass through. The ideal soil for the vine contains the following components:

• peat – ¼ part;
• leaf soil – ¼ part;
• sand – ¼ part;
• turf soil – ¼ part.

The plant also responds well to a universal nutrient soil mixture and soil for monsteras.

Vines are moisture-loving plants. They require regular and abundant watering. The soil is moistened as the top layer dries. After a while, be sure to drain any excess water from the pot tray. In winter, water the plant slightly less frequently.

Rainwater is recommended for irrigation. Allow it to settle for 24 hours beforehand. Household water should only be used after it has been filtered and allowed to settle for 24 hours.

Syngoniums should be misted at least every three days. During hot summers, it's best to place the vine under a warm shower. Use only soft water for misting. Salt may negatively affect the plant's appearance. In winter, misting should be reduced to once a week.

In spring and summer, the vine requires fertilization. Fertilization is performed every two weeks. In late summer, the frequency of fertilization is reduced by half. By mid-autumn, fertilization is discontinued.

Syngoniums thrive on liquid fertilizers. Experienced gardeners recommend alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. For mineral fertilizers, use a formula for ornamental foliage plants with a minimum calcium content.

Temperature and light

The following temperature range is considered optimal for maintaining the vine:

• warm season – from 20℃ to 25℃;
• cold season – from 18℃ to 20℃.

Syngonium thrives equally well in partial shade and bright light. If the plant is placed in a well-lit area, care should be taken to avoid direct sunlight. Exposure to sunlight causes the plant's leaves to fade and become translucent. Syngonium should also not be kept in the shade. Insufficient light causes its leaves to shrink and become dull. Therefore, supplemental lighting with phytolamps is recommended in winter.

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Formation of the syngonium crown

The ability to shape the crown yourself is one of the advantages of growing syngonium. If the grower has experience with this plant, the vine becomes a pliable "line" in the hands of a skilled craftsman. There are a number of pruning recommendations that allow you to achieve a variety of shapes. The vine can be transformed into a beautiful climbing flower, a ball, a dense bush, or even a tree.

If you plan to grow the syngonium as a climber, only place one vine per pot. Each spring, trim off any excess shoots that spoil its appearance. If additional volume is needed, pinch off certain shoots starting from the sixth leaf. New shoots will emerge from the pruned area.

The vine can be grown as a green ball suspended from the ceiling. To do this, insert one or more supports into the pot when replanting. Plastic or bamboo tubes are used. The supports should extend 10-15 cm beyond the pot. For a greater effect, several plants can be placed in a single pot. The vines are allowed to twine around the supports. Excess shoots are removed in the spring.

Syngonium can be grown as a compact bush. To achieve this, several plants are placed in a single pot. All shoot tips are pruned, starting with the 7th leaf. This pruning promotes maximum bushiness.

To grow syngonium in the form of a tree, follow these steps:

1. Coconut fiber is filled with sphagnum moss and rolled into a tube.
2. The resulting support is secured in the tub when replanting the plant.
3. The vine is wrapped around the support, directing its aerial roots towards the coconut fiber.

The plant clings to the support with its adventitious roots, twining around it. Poor shoots are pruned each spring. The sphagnum moss is regularly moistened. This provides additional nourishment to the adventitious roots.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home

At home, the flower is propagated by cuttings and shoots. Both methods are quite effective.

Propagation by shoots

Propagation by shoots involves the following steps:

1. A shoot with dormant buds is cut off from an adult plant.
2. The container is filled with an equal mixture of sand and peat. The resulting soil is thoroughly moistened.

   

3. The cut shoot is placed on the soil and pressed in slightly. Staples are used to secure it. Some gardeners recommend making a longitudinal cut on the side of the shoot that is in contact with the soil. To speed up the rooting process, the shoot can be treated with a root growth stimulant.
4. Cover the container with plastic wrap. You can make a few holes in it or leave it uncovered and air the vine out daily.
5. Once the shoot has rooted, it is replanted like an adult plant. If it has multiple growth points, dividing the shoot is acceptable.

Cuttings

You can get a new vine from a cutting in the following way:

1. The apical shoot is cut off from the syngonium.
2. The cutting is placed in water with a pre-dissolved tablet of activated charcoal. The water is changed every 3-4 days. To speed up rooting, place a perforated plastic bag over the container.

   

3. When the plant takes root, it is transplanted like an adult vine.

Cuttings should be rooted at temperatures between 22°C and 27°C. Cuttings should only be taken from mature plants. Cuttings can also be rooted in a moist sand-peat mixture.

Transfer

The procedure of transplantation and crown formation are closely related.

The transplant procedure consists of the following stages:

1. Choosing a pot. If the vine's roots are pushing through the drainage holes, it's cramped. Choose a pot that's larger, but not too large. In an overly spacious pot, the plant will focus all its energy on root development at the expense of foliage growth.

   

2. Place a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. If support is required for growing, it is secured to the drainage layer. The photo shows how to properly install the support when repotting.

   

3. A small amount of soil is added to the drainage layer. The syngonium is then transferred onto it and the roots are carefully spread out.
4. Holding the plant, fill the voids in the pot with the remaining soil.
5. The soil is lightly compacted and moistened.

Repotting is carried out in spring or early summer. Young vines are repotted annually, while mature vines are repotted every 2-3 years. After repotting, do not fertilize the plant for two weeks. If the plant has any extra shoots that protrude from the overall shape, they are trimmed to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Frequently asked questions about growing houseplants

Syngoniums are easy-to-grow ornamental plants. The only exceptions are a few varieties, including the very popular Imperial White.