Arrowhead plant is an easy to grow plant that comes in various leaf colors. You’ll find lime green and dark green leaves, as well as leaves tinged with pink. This video tells you about the arrowhead vine and its native habitat and how to make sure it thrives in your home. Learn about watering, lighting needs, fertilizing and providing humidity. Everything you need to know about arrowhead plant and how to grow it.
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Today, I’m going to talk to you about the Arrowhead plant, one of my favorite plants, as part of my monthly series focusing on specific plants that I really like and why. The Arrowhead plant, with the botanical name Syngonium podophyllum, is a lovely plant. It can be a vining plant, as you can see here; this is another one I have, and then we have one over here. You can see how it vines nicely. It has arrowhead-shaped leaves that are really pretty, and they are often variegated.
This one isn’t as much, but this one over here is a nice variegated plant with a really pretty reddish-pink color with a blush to it that’s just gorgeous. The bigger the leaves get, the more pronounced the red in the leaves will be. You can see that up close. There are also some varieties that have more limey green leaves, with darker green veins and vice versa, so you can find quite a bit in the color range with this really pretty plant.
It is native to Latin America, and like its relative, the climbing philodendron, it will climb up into the jungle canopy for many feet. Indoors, it tends to grow upright when it’s young, but over time it will start to droop and vine as it matures. You should consider that when using it in your home.
As for lighting, the Arrowhead plant requires medium light and can even do okay in darker conditions. However, if you notice that it’s not growing much and the leaves are very dark, that’s an indication that it’s not getting enough light. You want to make sure that it gets a little more light. However, this plant is not as likely to thrive in too much light, as the leaves can burn easily. Therefore, it’s best not to place the plant too near the window because, during the hot months, it may get sunburned, and in cooler months, it can suffer from frost burn from cold windows.
As I mentioned, it is a native vine, so be careful with its thin leaves. For watering, you should keep the soil on the moister side but not soggy. Usually, if the first half inch to an inch of soil has dried out (depending on the size of the pot), it’s time to water the Arrowhead vine. Although it has thin leaves and is tropical, the great news is that even if you forget to water it, it generally will come back. If it’s just a little drought, it will revive nicely without losing too much foliage, unlike other plants such as maidenhair ferns.
The Arrowhead plant is pretty easy to grow and requires some fertilizing, though it doesn’t need a ton. I use my green gourmet houseplant food on my houseplants, along with some other products depending on my experiments. I’ll put a link for this at the end. I usually fertilize my Arrowhead plants every six weeks, but sometimes I go as long as three months—that’s how resilient these plants are.
One thing to consider when you find that a plant is a vining plant, especially one that grows quickly and climbs into the jungle canopy, is that they are used to growing with very little nutrients. So keep that in mind; if a plant is a fast grower in its native habitat, you may not need to worry as much about fertilizing. However, it still does need some fertilizer. This guy was fertilized about a month ago and is looking really good with nice shiny, healthy leaves.
As far as humidity goes, it doesn’t hurt to give the Arrowhead vine a little extra humidity. I have videos on how to do that, especially if you live in a very dry climate, such as the Pacific Southwest, or during winter months when the heaters are on a lot. A humidity tray would be beneficial, and I’ll leave a link for that video as well. However, these plants still do pretty well even if you don’t provide that extra humidity, which is another reason why I love them.
If you start to notice some tip browning, it could be due to dry conditions or high mineral content in your water, especially fluoride. I have another video on that topic. So, that’s another consideration if you notice tip burning. But this guy is nice and healthy as you see, very happy, and pretty easy to keep thriving.
One pest I have had a problem with on the Arrowhead vine is the mealybug. It appears as little white cottony-looking bugs that suck plant juices. If there are too many, they can drain the life out of a plant. The Arrowhead vine is not one of their favorites, but if there’s nothing else to eat, they may move on to the Arrowhead if they have already consumed another plant. So be careful and be on the lookout for that too.
Regarding lighting again, medium lighting is ideal. You want to position it a few feet away from a southern or eastern window, or you can place it close to a northern window. Just be cautious of cold drafts during the winter months to prevent frost burn. You’ll know if you’ve had frost burn if you see a black or brown spot on the leaf where it was up against the window.
If you notice this, it’s easy to remedy: you can remove that leaf. But obviously, you don’t want all your leaves against the window, or you’ll end up removing half the plant. Since it is a vining plant, you should pinch it regularly if you want it to grow upright. It will eventually vine, but you can also let it climb. Using a trellis can help; while it won’t attach itself, you can assist it by using green tie tape or winding it through the trellis to create a beautiful decorative focal point in your home.
That’s it for growing Arrowhead vine successfully indoors. Like I said, it’s one of my favorites. I’ve had some of these plants for at least fifteen years. This one here is a baby I’ve only had for a few months, but it’s a plant you can count on to be around for a long time. Thank you for watching this video! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see, and remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video.
Arrowhead Plant Care FAQ
What is the botanical name of the Arrowhead plant?
The botanical name of the Arrowhead plant is Syngonium podophyllum.
What type of plant is the Arrowhead plant?
The Arrowhead plant can be a vining plant, growing upright when young and becoming more vining as it matures.
What are the light requirements for the Arrowhead plant?
The Arrowhead plant requires medium light and can tolerate some darker conditions. However, too much light can burn its leaves.
How should I water the Arrowhead plant?
Keep the soil on the moister side but not soggy. Water the plant when the top half inch to an inch of soil has dried out.
How often should I fertilize the Arrowhead plant?
Fertilize the Arrowhead plant every six weeks to three months, using a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
Does the Arrowhead plant require high humidity?
While extra humidity can benefit the Arrowhead plant, it generally does well even in lower humidity conditions.
What should I do if I notice tip browning on my Arrowhead plant?
Tip browning may indicate dry conditions or high mineral content in water. Adjust watering and consider using filtered water.
What pests should I watch for on the Arrowhead plant?
The Arrowhead plant can attract mealybugs, which appear as small white cottony bugs. Monitor for infestations and treat accordingly.
How can I encourage my Arrowhead plant to grow upright?
Regularly pinch back the plant to encourage upright growth and consider using a trellis for support as it vines.
How long can I expect my Arrowhead plant to live?
The Arrowhead plant can be a long-lived plant, with some individuals lasting over fifteen years.
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