Secrets of caring for an elegant syngonium

A close relative of the philodendron, the syngonium, fell in love with flower growers for its easy care, beauty and the ability to take different forms. If there is support, it will stretch upward, wrapping around it like a liana, and reaching 1.5-2 m in height. Syngonium is also grown in ampelous culture. Planted in a hanging pot, it hangs down its curly leaves sitting on long stalks in a thick green waterfall. The flower will be no less effective in a tub on the floor or windowsill. Having closed, its leaves form a continuous living carpet above it, covering the soil.

Types of syngonium for growing at home

In the wild, the syngonium, which is part of the Aroid family, is represented by 33 species. These evergreen perennials are typical rainforest dwellers. They came to culture from Central and South America. All types of flowers are semi-epiphytes. For full development, they need a powerful support, therefore, in their natural environment, these vines are found near tall plants.

Despite the multiplicity of the genus, only a few varieties of the syngonium are adapted to domestic conditions.

• Podophyllum (Syngonium podophyllum). Its second name is leg-leaved. The stem of the plant is thin, highly branching. Long petioles are crowned with dark green leaves. At first, they are arrow-shaped, but with age, numerous notches and cuts appear on them. The leaves are large, reach 30 cm in length, their width reaches 10 cm.Liana is characterized by rapid growth, in a year it stretches by 45-60 cm.The leg-leaved species of syngonium gave rise to many flower varieties popular in indoor floriculture: Pixie, Arrow, White Butterfly.
• Ear-shaped (Syngonium auritum). Also known as auricular. Differs in long and thick stems (their average diameter is 2-2.5 cm). It owes its name to the shape of the leaves. When young, they resemble an arrowhead. Adult leaves are dissected into 3-5 segments, at the base there are 2 small processes similar to ears. Petioles are long (up to 40 cm). The leaf plate is shiny, colored deep green. The liana can reach a height of 1.8 m. Annual growth reaches 70-90 cm. Aerial roots are formed in internodes.

Experimenting with the species of syngonium, breeders have bred a large number of vine varieties, characterized by unusual leaf color. At Mango Allusion, they are pale light green, and in the middle are pale pink. In the Imperial White variety, large white spots are scattered on the leaf blade in a chaotic manner. Syngonium Neon Pink has heart-shaped leaves painted in a pink shade and bordered along the edge with a light green stripe.

Lighting and temperature

At home, a flower pot is kept in partial shade or in diffused lighting. Window sills of eastern and western orientation are ideal for growing vines. The north side of the house is also suitable for these purposes. On the southern windows, the care of the syngonium will have to include its shading from the bright sun. Excessive light reduces the decorative effect of the vine, causing its leaves to fade.

The amount of sunlight that the syngonium requires for full development depends on the season. In winter, the flower becomes more light-loving. If you do not rearrange the pot and do not take care of additional lighting, the leaves of the plant will begin to shrink, and their color will fade.

The Syngonium prefers constancy. Sharp fluctuations in temperature will not benefit him.During the active growth of the vines (from April to October), the air in the room with it should be warmed up to 18-24 ° C. In other months, the flower is kept in cooler conditions - at a temperature of 16-18 ° C. The plant tolerates its short-term drop to 10 ° C, but prolonged exposure to cold will destroy it.

Humidity and watering

The tropical origin of syngonium explains its sensitivity to air humidity. Regular spraying will help to create a comfortable microclimate for the flower. They are carried out with soft water, which is pre-defended. In hot weather, spraying is repeated 2 times a day - in the morning and evening hours. After the procedure, the leaves of the plant are wiped with a damp cloth or sponge, removing drops of liquid from them.

Other methods of increasing air humidity are applicable to syngonium:

• use of special electrical appliances;
• filling the pan of the pot with wet sand, pebbles or moss (it is important to ensure that the bottom of the container does not come into contact with water);
• placing dishes with water around the flower.

Advice

In winter, the liana should be removed away from heating appliances.

At home, syngonium grows well in constantly moist, but not damp soil. In the spring-summer period, the flower is watered abundantly, waiting for the top layer of the substrate to dry to a depth of 1 cm. In the fall, they adhere to the same moistening scheme, reducing the volume of the introduced liquid by 2 times. If in winter a pot with a vine is in a cool room, watering is reduced even more. The next procedure is started, after waiting 1-2 days after the surface layer of the soil has dried. When plants winter in warm and dry air, the humidification scheme does not change.

Watering syngonium is carried out with soft water, having defended it for at least 1 day. Its temperature should be room temperature. After completing watering, the pallet must be freed from the liquid drained into it.

Top dressing and transplanting

From mid-spring to September, indoor syngonium is fed. Liquid mineral fertilizers intended for decorative leafy crops are suitable for liana. Before use, the composition of the drug is carefully studied: it should contain as little calcium as possible. Leaving in the form of dressings is carried out at intervals of 2-3 weeks. In winter, the introduction of nutrient compositions is contraindicated for the flower.

An important point in breeding syngonium is timely transplantation. Young plants need it every year. For adult flowers, the pot is changed less often - once every 2-3 years. The need to transplant the vines will be signaled by releasing the roots from the drainage holes. The procedure is carried out in the spring.

Syngonium develops best in loose soil, freely passing water and air to the roots of the vine, and rich in nutrients. Its reaction can be neutral or slightly acidic. At home, a substrate suitable for the plant is prepared from equal volumes of 4 components:

• turf land;
• leafy land;
• peat;
• fine sand.

Advice

Syngonium can also be grown hydroponically.

The vine is transplanted by the transshipment method. A thick layer of expanded clay or crushed foam is placed on the bottom of the container. In order for the syngonium to take the shape of a tree, the support is immediately installed in the pot and securely fixed. A moss tube is suitable for this purpose.

After filling the pot with the prepared substrate by ⅓, the plant is placed in it. Having carefully straightened the roots of the syngonium, the soil is gradually poured into the container, not forgetting to compact it a little in order to avoid the formation of air voids. The liana transplant ends with watering. They return to the usual feeding regimen after 2-3 weeks.

Reproduction

For syngonium, propagation by apical cuttings and a shoot segment is applicable.

Cuttings are cut from mature plants. Each of them should have 2-3 nodes. Having cut off the tops of the syngonium shoots, they are immediately rooted. This can be done in water, in which 1 tablet of activated carbon is dissolved, or in soil.Suitable as a substrate:

• sand;
• vermiculite;
• sphagnum;
• a mixture of sand and peat.

The cuttings of syngonium are rooted under a film shelter in the warmth (at a temperature of about 25-27 ° C). When they take root and get stronger, they are seated in individual containers with a diameter of 7-9 cm. You can put several cuttings in one pot at once - they quickly form a lush bush.

The reproduction of syngonium by part of the shoot is carried out in almost the same way. The stem of the vine is cut so that there is at least 1 bud on each division. Then parts of the shoot are laid horizontally on a wet substrate. The container with them is placed under the film and placed in a warm place.

The subtleties of growing

Syngonium easily tolerates shaping, which can make the flower truly luxurious. The tops of the vine shoots are pinched (usually just above 6-7 leaves) in order to give it density and splendor. This leaving stimulates their branching. Carrying out the procedure, you need to imagine the desired shape of the plant - whether it will be ampelous, ground cover, climbing or bush.

Some growers do without pinching. But in order to preserve the decorativeness of the syngonium, it is necessary to get rid of low-quality or weak last year's growth. Do it in the spring.

If the leaves or stems of the vine are damaged, milky sap is released from them. It is poisonous and can cause a severe allergic reaction. Do not allow it to come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes. If you cannot avoid trouble, you should immediately wash your hands and rinse your nose and mouth well with clean running water. Because of this feature of the syngonium, pet owners and parents of small children should not breed it. For those who could not resist the beauty of a flower, we can recommend placing a pot with a vine in a place where it is not easy for children and animals to reach: on a high shelf or in a room, the door to which can be securely closed.

Syngonium pests

Of insects for syngonium are dangerous:

• aphid;
• shield;
• thrips.

The appearance of the plant will tell about their appearance. Aphids settle on the underside of leaves and on the tops of vine shoots, causing discoloration. If you do not take action in time, the leaves will begin to curl, turn yellow and fall off.

Thrips attack a flower if it is kept at high temperatures and in dry air. Their colonies are located on the bottom of the leaf plate. A sure sign of infection is the appearance of light dots on the syngonium. If the thrips colony continues to grow, the leaves of the vine will turn gray-brown and acquire a silvery sheen.

Scabbards live on leaves (above and below) and syngonium shoots. Their invasion slows down or completely stops the growth of the flower. The leaves on the liana are deformed and dry out.

Pests are destroyed with special preparations with insecticidal action (Fitoverm, Inta-Vir, Decis, Aktellik). But their appearance suggests that the care of the vine is carried out incorrectly. Healthy plants do not attract pests; at home, they settle only on weakened flowers. Having got rid of insects, it is worth checking how the temperature and humidity of the air in the room correspond to the requirements of the vines and whether it is properly watered.

Possible difficulties

The decorativeness of the syngonium suffers not only from pests. Liana can lose its former beauty even with the wrong content.

Difficulties with growing syngonium and overcoming them

The benefits of vines for the home

Due to the variability of its appearance, the syngonium is considered a symbol of new trends, overcoming inertia of thinking and retrograde. At home, the flower reduces resistance to change, endows its owner with youth and lightness, makes you think about the present and look to the future with hope. It allows you to painlessly get rid of old habits, helps to expand horizons and assimilate new knowledge. The syngonium will push its owner to conquer new heights, will not let him stand still, prompting him to constantly develop, not stopping at what has been achieved.

Liana patronizes schoolchildren and students, scientists and researchers, facilitating the assimilation of knowledge and the acquisition of useful skills and increasing the speed of thought processes. This flower makes people more sociable, helps to overcome chronic complexes, strengthens character. It is useful for skeptics. The syngonium opens up new horizons for them. If you place a pot with a vine in the bedroom, it will drive away bad dreams.

The plant has a positive effect on people with a difficult character. It makes them more flexible, teaches them to give in, to submit to the will of circumstances, rejecting for a while interfering principles. Syngonium will help and overly impressionable natures. Liana will save them from suspiciousness and obsession with unpleasant memories, drive away obsessive sensations, and allow them to move forward for new impressions, leaving the past behind.

The elegant beauty of syngonium will be appropriate in any interior, and among the huge variety of its varieties, even those who have seen a lot of flower growers can find a plant close to their hearts. Plain and variegated; green, pink, brown and white; covered with streaks, streaks and spots; arrow-shaped, oval and heart-shaped are all about the leaves of the vine. At home, she will not please with flowering, but this minus is so insignificant in comparison with the numerous advantages of a flower. Caring for it will not seem burdensome even for novice lovers of indoor crops, and the splendor of the plant, combined with excellent well-being and a unique atmosphere in the house, will be the best reward for its owner.