Syngonium podophyllum 'Aom nak' ('Neon tetra', 'Orm nak')

The wild species behind ‘Aom Nak’

‘Aom Nak’ comes from Syngonium podophyllum, a climbing species found naturally from Mexico through tropical America. In the wild, its stems use aerial roots to climb surrounding plants.

Young plants carry familiar arrowhead leaves. A vine growing on a support can later produce much larger leaves divided into several sections.

Growing Syngonium ‘Aom Nak’

Light for warm-toned new leaves

Bright indirect light keeps growth compact and lets the copper, rose and bronze shades remain easy to see. Midday sun can scorch fresh foliage. Several shoots may be kept for a full young plant, or one stem can be guided onto a support for larger mature leaves.

Watering by touch and pot weight

Let the upper 2 to 3 cm of substrate dry, then water until the whole root ball is moist. Drain the pot fully. Use a loose mix of coir or peat, bark and perlite. A damp, heavy pot needs more time; a light pot with limp leaves needs a thorough soak.

Warmth, nutrition and pruning

Maintain 18 to 27°C and protect the plant from temperatures below 15°C. Humidity around 40 to 60% is suitable. Apply dilute balanced fertiliser when new leaves appear. Stop feeding once the vine slows. Cut above a node to encourage another shoot. Repot after roots fill the container. Take a cutting from a healthy node on a stem that has shown the copper, rose and bronze colours you want.

Common problems with ‘Aom Nak’

• Older leaves lose their pink and copper: Some greening is a normal part of ageing. Sudden dull growth with long stem gaps points to weak light. Move the plant to brighter indirect light and judge the colour of new leaves.
• The vine wilts: Check pot weight and root moisture. A light dry pot needs a complete soak. Drooping in wet substrate can mean poor drainage or damaged roots, which should be cleaned and repotted.
• A new leaf sticks or blackens: Cold, drought and dry air can interrupt opening. Restore warm stable conditions and do not pull the leaf apart.
• New growth is scarred: Silver marks and black specks suggest thrips; fine stippling and webbing indicate mites. White cottony growth points to mealybugs and fixed bumps to scale. Isolate and treat the identified pest.
• Soft spots spread: Keep the foliage dry, improve airflow and remove heavily marked leaves with clean tools. If new spots continue to appear, show the plant to a specialist.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Aom nak’ (‘Neon tetra’, ‘Orm nak’) is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

About the name Syngonium podophyllum

The name Syngonium comes from Greek words meaning “together” and “reproductive organs”, referring to the united ovaries in its flowers. The species name podophyllum means “foot-leaved”, a reference to the foot-like arrangement of mature leaf divisions.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Syngonium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described Syngonium podophyllum in 1851 in Botanische Zeitung (Berlin), volume 9, page 85.