Representatives of this genus herbaceous plants with thin stem, have air roots. The Syngoniums are close relatives of the Philodendrons. These are the lianas and epiphytes, rising up the trunks of large tropical plants, thus laying the road to sunlight.
Young plants have integral arrow-like leaves. With age, they are replaced by divided or dissected into several segments. This makes the syngonium a unique plant. Young leaves are characterized by intense bright coloration. Another feature of their structure is the marginal vein, which runs parallel to the edge of the leaf. It is believed that the syngoniums are unpretentious plants. They are also used as ampel in pendant pots, pots, and as vines requiring support, wrapped with sphagnum moss. The latter must be moistened constantly. They breed syngoniums because of their beautiful leaves, which in some species have the shape of an arrowhead. In the design of the balcony boxes or bowls use dwarf hybrids syngonium.
Representatives of the genus.
Wingland Syngonium wendlandii (Syngonium wendlandii Schott). His homeland is Costa Rica. This is a winding liana with velvety leaves of dark green color; the main vein on the leaf can cast a silvery tinge. In comparison with other representatives of the genus, this species has three-parted leaves, rather small ones.
Syngonium podophyllum Schott Syngonium podophyllum (Syngonium podophyllum Schott). It grows in tropical moist forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, San Salvador. It is a liana with leaves of dark green color. Young leaves have a swept shape, the old ones are stop-shaped, divided into 5-11 segments. The middle segment is elliptical, ovoid, about 10 cm wide and 30 cm long. The leaf quill is long enough - 50-60 cm. The cover does not exceed 10 cm in length. Various kinds of the syngonium are derived from this species, including compact ones with an arrow-shaped form of an adult leaf.
Syngonium auritum (L.) Schott). Synonymous name - Filodendron anatomical (Latin Phylodendron auritum hort.), And also Arnonus anatineous (Latin Arum auritum L.). Prefers tropical moist forests of Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti. It also occurs in the mountains at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. This is a liana with long, powerful branches (2.0-2.3 cm in thickness), capable of twisting high. In the interstices of the leaves, roots are formed. Leaves are glossy-green in color. The shape of the leaf blade varies according to the age of the leaf. Therefore, different leaves are arranged on the plant: young - arrow-shaped, old - 3-5-fold dissected, at the base with two ear-like segments. The leaf quill has a length of 30-40 cm. The coverlet reaches 25-29 cm in length; in general, it has a green color, inside it is purple, and in the lower part it is yellowish.
Care rules.
Lighting. Indoor plants syngonium do not tolerate a bright sun, they like semi-shadowed places with scattered light without direct rays. They prefer windows of the western and eastern directions, but they can also grow on the northern windows. Varieties of the syngonium with green leaves are particularly well felt in the penumbra, and, if there is plenty of sunlight, the leaves turn pale.
Temperature regime. The optimal range for syngoniums is the range 18-24 ° C, in winter - 17-18 ° C; normally tolerate a non-prolonged cooling - 10 ° C.
Watering. Syngonium should be watered abundantly throughout the year. Make sure that the soil is always wet. On the other hand, do not allow liquid to stagnate in the pan. Watering is necessary as the upper part of the substrate dries. In the cold season, watering should be reduced: 1-2 days after the upper part of the substrate dries. For irrigation it is necessary to use soft standing water.
Air humidity. Plants syngonium like high humidity. Therefore, on hot summer days, the plant should be sprinkled with warm standing water, and the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth. In winter, do not put the plant next to the battery. It is recommended to put the pot in a tray filled with moist peat or expanded clay so that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water.
Top dressing. The feeding of the syngoniums is carried out in spring and summer every 2-3 weeks. To do this, use liquid mineral fertilizers with a low content of calcium. Do not spend top dressing in the winter.
Decor. To give a decorative appearance plants make a support with a moss pipe. It is installed in the middle of the pot during transplantation, drainage is made, a third of the soil is planted, the plant is planted there, spreading its roots, pouring it to the top with earth, and pressing it. To give the syngonyum a bushy form, its apical shoots (over 6-7 leaves) are pricked.
Transfer. Young houseplants should be transplanted annually. For adults, it is enough once in 2-3 years. Soil select a neutral and slightly acid (pH 6-7). It is better to use a loose and well permeable mixture of turf and foliage, peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0, 5. Good drainage is necessary.
Syngonium is also grown as a hydroponic culture.
Singonium forms a green inflorescence, covered with a filmy coverlet, which performs a protective function. In indoor conditions, the plant blooms extremely rarely.
Reproduction. Sinognium - plants that reproduce by pieces of shoot and apical cuttings. Escape is divided into parts, with each must have a kidney. Root can be in a mixture of sand and peat, in sphagnum or vermiculite, in a mixture of sand with sphagnum and even in water, with a diluted tablet of activated charcoal. The temperature favorable for rooting is 24-26 ° C. Then plants should be planted in 7-8-centimeter pots one by one, or in groups in one pot, small in size. For better branching, young shoots need to be plucked over the sixth sheet.
Precautionary measures. Syngonium poisonous, its milky juice causes irritation of the mucous membranes.
Difficulties of care.
- If drops appear on the tips of the leaves, this indicates a high humidity in the room. But you do not need to reduce it specifically.
- If brown spots develop at the ends and edges of the leaves, and then the leaves gradually fall off, it means that the room is very dry air.
- If the leaves turn yellow, then the syngonium lacks nutrients.
- Remember that at low temperatures and excess moisture, the stems rot.
- Pests: aphids, scab (in dry air).