Arrowhead Plant

Botanical Name: Syngonium podophyllum

Arrowhead Plant is a member of the Araceae family -- along with the philodendron -- and is just as easy to care for. Give it bright light and lightly moist soil, and you'll find that it's otherwise low-maintenance.

Commercial growers have made big improvements to this beautiful foliage plant in recent years, giving it a better resistance to disease. And that's not all. Today's plants offer more leaf colors with heavy variegation and a compact growth habit, adding to its appeal.

As a young plant, its leaves start out heart-shaped, then gradually become arrowhead shaped as it matures. Its dark-green leaves have silvery white or cream variegation, making this a decorative and popular house plant. Display arrowhead plant alongside a group of other foliage plants or add it to a dish garden. Small plants mix well with compact dieffenbachias and heartleaf philodendrons because they require similar care.

Young plants form clusters of upright stems, with climbing stems developing later. A moss stick works well to support older stems, giving aerial roots something to hold onto.

A note of caution: The sap in this plant contains calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic to pets and people and can cause skin irritation. I recommend wearing gloves when handling this plant or washing hands thoroughly afterward.

Origin: South America

Height: Newer compact varieties grow to 2 ft (60 cm), some varieties climb to 4 ft (1.2 m) or more.

Light: Bright light, but no direct sun. Can tolerate low light. Turn pot regularly for even growth.

Water: Keep the potting mix moist in summer, allowing the surface to dry out before watering again. Water less often in winter, letting the top half of the potting mix dry out.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Temperature: Normal room temperatures. 60-75°F, 16-24°C

Soil: Any good potting mix. Use a container with good drainage.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks from spring through fall with a balanced house plant fertilizer diluted to half the normal strength. In winter, feed monthly.

Propagation: Take stem cuttings early in summer.

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