Syngonium podophyllum, commonly called the arrowhead plant or vine, is one of the easiest indoor plants to care for and propagate. They grow just about anywhere and thrive with minimal maintenance. In some areas, including Florida, Syngonium podophyllum is regarded as an invasive weed.
Nevertheless, many hybridized varieties, including many pink types, are highly collectible. Luckily, even the most expensive, rare pink Syngonium varieties are virtually impossible to kill. They are also just as easy to care for as all other types of Syngonium podophyllum. Even if you forget to water them, they will perk up and bounce back when you remember.
What is Pink Syngonium?
A pink Syngonium is simply an arrowhead or goosefoot plant with pink or partly pink foliage. Like Syngonium plants with green leaves, pink Syngonium has arrow-shaped leaves.
There are many different pink varieties and species, many of which are available on Amazon, Etsy, or other online shops that sell plants. Some have solid pink leaves, others have specks or spots of color, sometimes pink veins. They are all quite different from one another and include Syngonium:
- Pink Splash
- Confetti
- Milk Confetti
- Confetti Tricolor
- Strawberry Ice
- Neon Robusta
- Pink Lava
- Mango Allusion
- Mini Allusion
- Pink Flecked
- Pink Spot
- Red Spot
- Red Spot Tricolor
- Pink Perfection
Some, like S. Pink Splash, are considered to be rare. And some are rarer than others, and therefore a lot more expensive.
Additionally, some pink Syngonium plants are patented, including S. Confetti, which was patented in Florida in September 2007. While Confetti is similar to Pink Splash, the latter is not patented.
Another factor about pink Syngonium plants that shouldn’t be ignored is that they are toxic. This is due to calcium oxalate that enables the plants to withstand herbivores. Just don’t let your pets eat them!
Syngonium Pink Splash Origin
Syngonium podophyllum is native to Central America, parts of South America, and Mexico. It has been widely introduced as an ornamental plant in many subtropical and tropical regions.
According to the international, inter-governmental, not-for-profit organization CABI, it is now established in many of the world’s regions. These include Florida and Hawaii in the U.S. Australia, South Africa, China, Singapore, Malaysia, the West Indies, and on several islands in the Pacific.
They also point out that while it has the potential to become invasive, it is sold in nurseries and by the landscape trade globally. Additionally, many different varieties have been developed in laboratories, including the many different pink species.
A study undertaken at the University of Florida and published in 2006, shows that Pink Splash is derived from the cultivar, White Butterfly. Like Pink Splash, White Butterfly isn’t patented.
White Butterfly is also the parent plant for Pink Allusion from which many new Syngonium species are developed. Regina Red Allusion, which selfed from Pink Allusion, is the parent plant for Confetti, Pink Splash, and several other types.
The research paper describes White Butterfly as S.podophyllum, and all the others mentioned here as somaclonal variants.
Description of Young Foliage
According to the researchers, the origin of the White Butterfly is not known. They describe it as having green leaves that have white veins.
Pink Allusion, which was developed in Florida, has green to olive-green leaves that have a white overlay and prominent pink veins. The leaves of Regina Red Allusion, also from Florida, feature a soft blush of red with olive-green flecks on the edges.
Confetti and Pink Splash, both also developed in Florida, are fairly similar. Confetti has light green leaves with irregular pinkish spots. Pink Splash has green leaves with whitish or colorful pink flecks.
How do you care for a pink Syngonium?
Syngonium care is sublimely straightforward. But a few basic rules will simplify your pink Syngonium plant care program even more.
These include suitable soil types and fertilizer needs as well as optimum indoor conditions for your pink Syngonium podophyllum plants.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect is to keep your pink Syngonium plants in the best environment to ensure that they stay pink.
Soil & Potting
Whether you pot your own Syngonium plants or buy them potted, make sure the potting soil drains well. Root rot is inevitable if the soil doesn’t drain.
If the roots start to push their way out of the drainage holes of the pot, it’s time to repot your plants. If your potting mix isn’t sufficiently coarse, combine it with some perlite.
Fertilizer
Many people never feed their Syngoniums with fertilizer. If you do fertilize, use a liquid fertilizer and only feed in spring and summer, during the growing season.
Light & Temperature
Bright indirect light is the key to a healthy Syngonium plant. It is also key to maintaining pink variations.
Temperature also plays an important role. Generally, Syngoniums prefer temperatures between 65 and 80℉ during the day and anything higher than 60℉ at night.
If temperature and light conditions aren’t good, the plant will go into survival mode and will produce more chlorophyll. This will result in pink plant cells turning green.
Humidity
These plants love environments with high humidity up to 60%. If the humidity in your home is low, mist the plant a couple of times a week, or get a humidifier.
Watering
A good rule of thumb is to let the soil in your pots dry out completely before watering. Flood the pot until water flows out of the drainage holes. Then allow the solid and plants to dry.
Be sure to discard any excess water in the saucer because this can lead to root rot. Apart from root rot, if you overwater, too much water can make leaves turn yellow and droop.
Pruning
All Syngonium plants, including pink Syngonium, grow fast. Most species will develop vines as they grow.
While vines work beautifully if you are growing your plants in a hanging basket, pruning will maintain a compact appearance.
Propagation
You can propagate all arrowhead plants by putting cuttings in water or directly into good-quality potting soil. Cut a stem just below a node and you’ll find it gets roots within two weeks. New leaves will start growing after about 4 weeks. It really is that easy.
Pests
The main pests to look out for are mealybugs, blight, leaf spot, and spider mites.
Diseases
Diseases aren’t common, but bacterial leaf spot diseases do sometimes cause problems.
Tips to Prevent Pests and Diseases
Their toxicity is the main reason that Syngonium plants are so resistant to pests and disease. But if yours are attacked, there are some steps you can take to save them.
If you catch problems early, you shouldn’t have a problem. Remove dead or badly affected leaves and repot if you suspect that the soil is infected.
Generally, insecticidal soap is a good solution when pests attack.
Conclusion
Pink Syngonium plants are really easy to care for. In fact, they are almost impossible to kill.
Our garden tips for 2024 give solid guidelines for indoor plants.
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