Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry milk'

Origin of Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry milk'

'Strawberry milk' is a named Syngonium podophyllum cultivar whose breeder and introduction history are still unclear.

Natural populations of Syngonium podophyllum occur from Mexico to tropical America.

Everyday care for Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry milk'

Support: Let lengthening stems trail or attach them loosely to a climbing support.

Choose bright filtered light, avoiding harsh direct sun. Temperatures around 18–27 °C suit indoor growth; protect it from cold draughts and keep it above 15 °C. Provide about 50–60% humidity.

Potting mix: Use well-draining houseplant mix and a pot with drainage holes.

Watering: Let the mix dry slightly around the roots before watering. Check for a lighter pot and slight moisture below the surface; a wooden stick is useful for deeper containers. Water evenly through the root ball, allow excess water to drain and empty the saucer or outer pot.

Feeding and slower growth: Feed lightly about monthly during active growth. Stop feeding when new growth pauses and allow longer between waterings as drying slows.

Repotting: Repot when roots densely fill the pot, using a slightly larger container and fresh mix.

Cut a healthy Syngonium stem through a section with a node; an aerial root already present there can ease establishment.

Problems and solutions for Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry milk'

• Widespread yellowing: One older leaf yellowing can be normal. When several leaves change, check moisture around the roots. Water a dry root ball thoroughly and drain; pause watering in wet mix and empty standing water. Also check how much light the plant receives, the temperature around it and whether it is in a draught.If the plant keeps declining while the mix is wet, inspect the roots. Cut soft decay back to healthy tissue with disinfected scissors, disinfecting between cuts and afterwards. Discard rot and affected mix; repot the remaining plant in fresh mix and a clean pot with drainage holes. You may need to discard the plant if both roots and stems are extensively decayed.
• Brown scorched areas: Strong direct sun can damage the leaves, especially pale areas. Check whether direct sun reaches the affected leaves and move the plant into bright indirect light. Keep leaves with substantial healthy tissue and remove fully dead leaves.
• New fine mottling and webbing: Check leaf undersides or tap foliage over white paper for moving mites. Isolate infested plants and inspect nearby foliage. Rinse affected leaves weekly or wipe them with damp paper towels, changing towels often. Clear dead foliage, bag heavily infested leaves and clean hands and tools. Keep checking the leaves for returning mites. A humidifier can help with dry room air.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry milk’ 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.

How the name Syngonium podophyllum came about

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.