Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink Perfection' aka 'Pink Dream'

Origin of Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink Perfection' aka 'Pink Dream'

The names 'Pink Perfection' and 'Pink Dream' are used for this cultivated Syngonium podophyllum, although its breeder and introduction date are still unclear.

Syngonium podophyllum occurs naturally from Mexico to tropical America.

Everyday care for Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink Perfection'

Provide bright filtered light and temperatures around 18–27 °C, away from harsh direct sun and cold draughts. Humidity around 40–60% suits indoor growth; a humidifier can help when the room is dry.

Use free-draining houseplant mix in a container with drainage holes. Water when the pot feels lighter and the mix around the roots has dried slightly, with some moisture remaining below the surface. You can check deeper moisture in the mix with a wooden stick. Water evenly, drain and empty the saucer or cover pot.

Feed about monthly with diluted balanced fertiliser while new leaves are developing, following the label. Stop feeding during a growth pause and allow longer gaps between waterings as drying slows. Inspect the roots if the mix dries unusually fast. If roots tightly fill the pot, repot the plant in a slightly larger container with fresh mix.

Support lengthening stems with loose ties to a pole or trellis for climbing growth. Pruning with clean scissors is an option for keeping a more compact plant with juvenile leaves.

What to do when Syngonium podophyllum 'Pink Perfection' looks unhealthy

• Wilt in wet mix: Empty standing water and pause watering. If wilt continues, inspect the roots. Firm roots can remain intact as the mix dries slightly. If the plant has soft, collapsing roots, separate it and keep water draining from its pot away from nearby plants. Cut decay back to healthy tissue with disinfected tools, disinfecting between cuts and afterwards. Discard rot and affected mix; repot the remaining plant in fresh mix and a new pot with drainage holes. You may need to discard the plant if both roots and stems are extensively decayed.
• Fine stippling and webbing: Check beneath leaves with magnification or tap foliage over white paper for moving mites. Isolate infested plants and inspect those nearby. Rinse affected foliage weekly while mites remain, bag heavily infested leaves and clean hands and tools. Check new leaves for returning mites.
• White fluff and sticky deposits: Inspect leaf undersides, stem joints and the base for mealybugs. Separate an affected plant, rinse foliage and remove insects with a damp swab or tweezers. Recheck weekly and repeat removal. Persistent colonies may need a treatment labelled for mealybugs on indoor ornamental plants; follow the label's repeat intervals and plant-safety instructions.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Pink Perfection’ 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.