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Identify My HousePlant

Can you identify this plant, my last mystery plant. You have been very helpful. All the plants were jammed together in a planter and now they are separate individuals. Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Medium-leaves-in-clay-pot

Your plant is called an Arrowhead Plant, other names Syngonium and Nepythytis. Here are some care instructions that might help you.

Light:
An Arrowhead Plant with green leaves can live in low to medium light. Varieties of Arrowhead Plants with white, pink, or burgundy leaves need medium to high light. The leaves of an Arrrowhead Plant turn an ugly gray- green color if placed in the direct sun; this is called bleaching.
Water:
Water an Arrowhead Plant well and then allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering again. An Arrowhead Plant droops when it needs water, but perks up quickly. When over- watered, an Arrowhead Plant develops root rot and often dies.
fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.:
Fertilize an Arrowhead Plant every two weeks in the spring and summer when it is actively growing with a basic houseplant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Feed an Arrowhead Plant monthly in the fall and winter.
Temperature:
An Arrowhead Plant does well in temperatures between 60-75 degrees.
Humidity:
Arrowhead Plants prefer high humidity. Try to keep Arrowhead Plants away from hot air vents and fireplaces.
Pests:
Arrowhead Plants are susceptible to the plant pests Scale and Mealy Bugs, but it is Spider Mites that do the most damage to Arrowhead plants. Mites are plant pests that suck the color from the leaves and make a houseplant look pale and anemic.
Soil:
Arrowhead Plants like a rich organic soil that drains well. An African Violet mix is a good choice.
Pruning:
Cut back the trailing vines to keep an Arrowhead Plant a bushy table or floor houseplant. When using an Arrowhead Plant as a hanging houseplant, trim off all but 5 or 6 of the long runners so the middle of the plant stays full. Use gloves when pruning an Arrowhead Plant to protect your skin from the irritating sap.
propagationLearn how to propagate plants by plant division at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary:
An Arrowhead Plant is propagated by stem cuttings and plant division.
poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. Plant Info:
An Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium, Nepthytis) is a poisonous houseplant and has a #2 toxicity level.