The Syngonium Three Kings (botanical name: Syngonium Podophyllum) is a fast growing, low-maintenance plant. Syngonium is known by several names including Arrowhead Vine, Arrowhead Plant, Arrowleaf Plant, American Evergreen, and Goosefoot.
Arrowhead Vines are a plant collector’s dream because there are many varieties, and each one has its own special character and personality. If you’re planning to get one, you might be wondering how to take care of Syngonium Three Kings, and we have some good news.
Syngonium varieties are easy-care plants as long as you remember to water them. They are low-light tolerant houseplants and will grow virtually anywhere in your home.
Their leaves display a wide range of colors and patterning, so choose the one that best fits your personality.
Syngonium is a simple plant to grow, it is often found as an ornament in homes around the world, so it is a good choice for beginners.
Types of Syngonium “Three Kings” Podophyllum
There are several varieties of Arrowhead Plant, each with uniquely colored leaves. White butterfly Podophyllum is a popular variety, but there are many more, such as Berry Allusion, Cream Allusion, Pink Allusion, Strawberry Cream Allusion, Exotic Allusion, Painted Yellow Allusion etc.
| White Butterfly Podophyllum | Greenish with white leaves |
| Bold Allusion | Green leaves, creamy, with pink veins |
| Pink Allusion | Light green leaves and pink veins |
| Strawberry Cream Allusion | Pink leaves |
| Painted Yellow Allusion | Green leaves and light green lines |
| Julia Allusion | Light green leaves shaded with copper color |
| Maria Holly Allusion | White leaves and green edges |
| Exotic Allusion | Light green leaves with a touch of with white |
| Cream Allusion | Medium size leaves, creamy green |
| Berry Allusion | Light cream leaves with shades of cream color |
A Brief Syngonium Care Guide
The Syngonium is an easy to care for houseplant that tolerates low light conditions and is super easy to propagate.
When kept in ideal conditions, this plant will grow like a weed. In order to provide your Syngonium with ideal growing conditions, check out the advice in the table below.
| Common Name | Arrowhead Vine, Arrowhead Plant, Goosefoot |
| Botanical Name | Syngonium Podophyllum |
| Temperature | Growth (20-30°C or 68-86°F), dormant period (15-18°C or 59-65°F) |
| Soil Type | Well-drained, moist soil, but not soaked |
| Soil pH | Acidic to neutral |
| Sunlight Exposure | Moderately bright, indirect |
| Watering | Once a week if the soil is slightly dry, do not overwater |
| Humidity | 40-50% |
| Fertilizing | Once per month during the growth period with a half-strength fertilizer |
| Pests | Spider mites, mealybugs, scale and aphids |
1. Temperature
Since Syngonium originates from tropical forests, care must be taken to never be exposed to low temperatures. It is ideal to have a constant temperature in the room, without sudden changes.
The optimum temperature during intensive growth is 20°C to 30°C (68-86°F), and during the dormant period during winter 15°C to 18°C (59-65°F).
They can tolerate short-term low temperatures (10-15°C or 50-59°F), but if they are exposed to it for a long time, the growth slows down first, then the leaves dry out and fall off. Drafts can also negatively affect the general health of the plant.
2. Light
Syngonium tolerates a wide range of light conditions, but that does not mean that it will always thrive.
The ideal position of the pot is near the eastern, northeastern and northern windows, but it also progresses nicely on the southern and western exposures only if it moves away from the window.
It prefers the morning sun and indirect light. Direct exposure to strong light and placing it too close to the window glass, are out of the question because your Syngonium is going to start wilting.
If you have a pink variety of Syngonium and you want to give it a more intense pink color or to give the greenish leaves a pink hue, it is enough to move the plant to a place where it will receive more indirect light.
3. Soil Type and pH
Syngonium will grow best when planted in well-draining, fertile soil. To achieve well-draining soil, the addition of soil additives such as perlite will assist in water flow.
Syngonium can be planted in several different potting mixes, most importantly light soil mixes that retain moisture but drain well and leak excess water through the soil.
When preparing the soil for your Synogonium, consider one of these two mixes mentioned below:
Ideal potting mix 1: 2 parts potting soil, 1 part sphagnum moss, 1 part perlite
Ideal potting mix 2: 1 part perlite, 1 part fine orchid bark, 1 part potting soil
Prefers acidic soils with a pH of 5 to 6.5.
Each pot must have holes in the bottom to prevent root rot. After buying the plant, check the bottom of the pot. If you see any protruding roots, it means that it urgently needs transplanting.
It is desirable to transplant into a pot 2 – 3 cm (0.79 – 1.18 in) larger than the previous one, because if the pot’s too large, root rot, growth stagnation and various other diseases can easily occur.
4. Fertilizing
The perfect time of year to start feeding is early spring. A slow-release fertilizer can be used, or earthworm or compost can be added to the soil around the plant.
In case you decide on a classic liquid supplement, it is enough to supplement it 1-2 times a month during the growing season.
With the beginning of autumn, the application of top dressing needs to stop, because the plant needs to enter the dormant period in order to gather strength for lush growth in the spring.
5. Humidity
Like most tropical species, Syngonium is affected by high humidity in the room (over 60%), but it is also tolerant of average room humidity of 40-50%. For the purpose of increasing humidity, it is best to use an air humidifier.
6. Watering
It is important to wait until the soil is partially dry between each watering. If Syngonium Three Kings is watered too often, the soil becomes saturated with water and the plant suffers from a lack of oxygen. Saturated soil is a good base for the development of various types of fungi, bacteria and root rot.
Perlite is a great addition to the soil mix in which Syngonium is planted, precisely because it provides oxygen to the root system and preserves the necessary moisture.
On the other hand, if not watered enough, the lower leaves turn brown and dry out.
In that case, the whole pot should be immersed in water and left for a few minutes until the soil is soaked. During the winter, avoid watering with cold water.
Syngonium Three Kings benefits greatly from occasional showers (1-2x per month). The water shower should be chlorine-free, lukewarm, and a jet of moderate strength. During cold days in the autumn and winter, watering and showering the plant should decrease.
7. Pests & Diseases
The most common pests that can attack the plant are mealybugs, scale, aphids and spider mites. If the plant is adequately nurtured, infestations are rare.
In order to prevent the appearance of diseases when buying plants, pay attention to their appearance and inspect the leaves and stems, and avoid excessive watering, especially in the winter months.
If an infestation does occur, use natural or artificial preparations to control it, depending on how far the disease has spread. In the early stages, you can try natural remedies, but in the advanced stages, a chemical bactericide or infectious agent is the best solution.
8. Propagation
This is one of the most interesting things if you have this species of plant! Syngonium is very easily propagated by cuttings (leaf node cuttings and stem cuttings).
The cuttings are cut just below the nodule and placed directly in water or in moist soil.
New roots appear in 10-15 days, and new leaves can be expected after a month or two.
9. Syngonium Toxicity
The toxic component in Syngonium is calcium oxalate crystals. If you have children or pets, it is best to keep it on a shelf outside of the home.
In the case of poisoning, some symptoms may occur: vomiting, skin irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth.
10. Pruning
If you do not prune a growing Synogonium stem, then it will grow into a vine and the foliage will lose its arrow shape.
If you want to keep the arrow shape it’s simple, just cut off the growing climbing stems to give the plant a bushier appearance with the arrowhead-shaped leaves. If the arrowhead-shaped foliage is preferred, simply cut off the climbing stems as they develop.
Syngonium “Three Kings” Podophyllum FAQs
1.Does Syngonium need sunlight?
Syngonium thrives in indirect sunlight. Plants are sensitive to direct sunlight, so keep them away from bright windows.
2.How do you propagate Syngonium Three Kings?
You can propagate Syngonium Three Kings by cuttings. The plant needs to be cut just below the node where the aerial roots are growing.
3.Why do Syngonium leaves turn yellow?
When the leaves of the Syngonium plant turn yellow or dry, the main reason is that it doesn’t have enough water. Other causes can include too much water and soggy soil.
4.How high does Syngonium grow?
Indoors, Syngonium grows to a height of between 3 ft. (0.91m) and 6 ft. (1.83m) and a spread of up to 2 ft. (0.61m).
5.How do you keep pink Syngonium vibrant?
In order to maintain its beautiful pink leaves, the Pink Syngonium needs medium to bright indirect light.
Summary
To conclude, the Syngonium Three Kings is a low-maintenance houseplant that can be grown indoors or outdoors. It’s found in many households all over the world.
They are low-light tolerant houseplants that will thrive in virtually any part of the house.
The leaves of these plants display a wide range of colors and patterning, giving them all their own, unique personality, and a must for those who want an easy to care for plant that causes people to stop and stare.