Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink flecked'

Origin of Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink flecked'

Wild Syngonium podophyllum occurs from Mexico to tropical America. 'Pink flecked' is a cultivated selection whose breeder and introduction history are still unclear.

How to care for Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink flecked' at home

• Foliage and light: Keep ‘Pink flecked’ in bright filtered light with protection from harsh direct sun.
• Growth habit: Older stems can trail or be attached loosely to a support. Prune above a node with clean scissors if you want to retain compact juvenile growth.
• Temperature and humidity: Use a steady 18–27 °C range, avoiding prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Aim for 50–60% humidity.
• Water and mix: Use a freely draining houseplant mix. Water when the upper root zone has dried slightly and the pot feels lighter, while some moisture remains below the surface; water thoroughly and allow complete drainage.
• Feed lightly while new leaves are developing. Stop feeding when growth pauses and water less often while the mix takes longer to dry.
• Repotting: Repot once roots densely fill the container, using a pot only slightly larger.
• Propagation: Root a healthy stem section with at least one node; an existing aerial root can help it settle more quickly.

When Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink flecked' is not growing well

• Fresh wilt in a wet pot: Stop adding water and empty the saucer. If wilting persists, check the roots. Leave firm roots intact as the mix dries slightly. If roots are soft or collapsing, isolate the plant and keep water draining from its pot away from nearby plants. Cut decay back to healthy tissue with disinfected scissors, disinfecting between cuts and afterwards. Discard rot and affected mix, then repot the remaining plant with its healthy roots in fresh mix and a new pot with drainage holes. You may need to discard the plant if extensive rot affects both roots and stems.
• Pale stippling or fine webbing: Inspect undersides with magnification and tap a leaf over white paper for moving mites. Separate infested plants and inspect their neighbours. Rinse affected foliage weekly while mites return, bag heavily infested leaves and clean hands and tools. Check new leaves for returning mites.
• White wax around leaf joints: Mealybugs can hide beneath leaves, in stem joints and near the base; sticky honeydew is another clue. Isolate the plant once insects are found. Rinse foliage and remove insects with a damp swab or tweezers. Recheck weekly. Persistent infestation may need a labelled indoor-plant mealybug treatment, following repeat timing and plant-safety precautions.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Pink flecked’ 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.

What does Syngonium podophyllum mean, and who first published it?

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.