Trailing Syngonium Erythrophyllum with jet black oval leaves makes a stunning addition to your collection. You can grow this plant in a hanging basket, terrariums or plant them in a greenhouse. Wherever you want to keep them, the syngoniums give off a perfect rain-forest vibe.
In this guide, I’ll provide you with essential background and helpful tips about where this plant originates, an ideal place to grow it in your home, watering, lighting, propagation, and many more about the arrowhead plant.
Table of Contents
Syngonium Erythrophyllum Overview
The Syngonium Erythrophyllum is an evergreen climber from the Araceae family. Also known as Llano Carti Road, Red Arrow, or simple Arrowhead Plant, it is commonly grown as a houseplant for its attractive foliage and gorgeous dark beauty.
Found on a roadside in Panama, thus the name “Llano-Carti Road,” where an abundant collection of this climbing plant can be seen, the genus syngonium is also discovered in the lush vegetation parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Southern Mexico.
The Red Arrow plant is gaining popularity among houseplant enthusiasts because it is also easy to grow aside from its stunning beauty.
| Order | Alismatales |
| Botanical Family | Araceae |
| Plant Type | Foliage, vine, large |
| Growth | 15-25 inches |
| Lighting | Bright, indirect light |
| Temperature | 55-90°F (12-32°C) |
| Watering | Regular, even moisture |
| Humidity | High humidity (60-90%) |
Syngonium Erythrophyllum Features
Collected from the roadside of Panama and other tropical rain forests of South America, the syngonium erythrophyllum has a dramatic, gorgeous appearance with arrow-shaped leaves that range from deep green to dark purple color and maroon undersides.
The arrow-shaped leaves of the arrowhead vine plant do not appear to form until they have reached a certain level of maturity. With its 3-4 inches foliage, this trailing plant is best suited to a larger hanging basket or terrarium container.
The mature leaves of the syngonium erythrophyllum plant come with 3 lobes or 5–9 distinct leaflets. The young arrow-shaped leaves have a different appearance. They also produce arum-like white and green flowers that are gorgeously unusual but poisonous. They bloom in spring and summer.
Arrowhead plants are not safe for cats, dogs, and children.
Syngonium Erythrophyllum Care Guide
This section will share essential tips on taking care of the Syngonium erythrophyllum plant with you. Based on my research and experience with syngonium plants, this straightforward guide will help ensure the plant will grow and thrive in your home.
Ideal Growing Place
Being tropical plants, the syngonium erythrophyllum cannot survive in freezing temperatures. However, since syngonium is a trailing vine plant, it is ideal for hanging baskets. When you plant them in pots, they love to grow around a totem or any support.
Arrowhead plants are most suitable as glasshouse and conservatory specimens in temperate climates. It is also a gorgeous species to add to a terrarium.
Water
This tropical plant requires an average to high watering frequency. It thrives better in an evenly moist tropical terrarium environment. Be sure not to let the soil become soggy as it can affect the plant.
Watering the plant may vary to once or twice a week in summer. Be sure that the upper 3 layers of the syngonium erythrophyllum are dry before watering again. Like other houseplants, avoid overwatering as this can cause many plant issues like fungal infection, discoloration, drooping, and root rot.
Keep the plant moist during its growing period. But during the winter, allow the plant to dry out a little in between watering.
Sunlight
Avoid putting the syngonium erythrophyllum in direct sunlight for long hours. The leaves may burn. Instead, make sure to place the plant in bright, indirect sunlight or shady environments.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can seriously damage the plant. If you plan to put the plant outdoors, use a shade cloth to lessen the heat hitting the plant.
Temperature
Being a tropical species, syngonium houseplants appreciate a moderately hot and humid terrarium environment. Keeping the temperature and humidity at a moderate level will ensure healthy growth for your plant. The ideal temperature range for the syngonium erythrophyllum is 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soil
When it comes to the soil, I recommend organic potting soil that drains well. Typical rich soil mixes with good water retention and drainage holes should do the trick.
The soil in the planter should be well-drained. Soil PH at 5.5 to 6.5 is suitable for the plant. Moreover, sandy to clay loam and domestic aroid mix are excellent growing healthy sources for the syngonium erythrophyllum.
Humidity
This plant likes humidity. The arrowhead plant will grow bright and sprout healthy foliage in a humid environment with its origin in the rainforests.
On dry days, I would recommend misting the plant slightly. The best time to mist your arrowheads is in the morning or early afternoon. Avoid keeping the plants wet for a more extended period as it can cause fungal infection and leaf rot.
Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. You can preferably do this once or twice a month in the spring and summer.
If you are using a slow-releasing fertilizer, I recommend fertilizing the plant once in a 6-month routine. Syngoniums can survive without any fertilizer in the winter.
Pruning
Prune the long vines and stem tips of your syngonium as often as needed to keep it full and bushy. Always wear your gloves when pruning arrowhead plants, as they contain level 2 toxicity.
Potting and Re-potting
Syngonium plants have a slow growth rate. Ideally, you only need to pot and repot the plant every two or three years. To know the best time for repotting, check the drainage holes of the planter. If roots are coming through the holes, then it is time to do a repotting.
Potting and repotting should be done in the spring or summer. During this time, the arrow plant is actively growing. It is also more likely to recover quickly during this time.
To repot the syngonium:
- Take the plant out of its container.
- Remove the old soil thoroughly.
- Transfer the plant to the new pot filled with fresh soil.
It is best to use a new planter that is one size bigger than the previous one.
Growth Zone
USDA Zone 11 is ideal for syngonium erythrophyllum plants. You can grow them outside if you live in Zones 10 to 12. Move the plant when necessary, especially when it does not like its current spot. It is best to put the plant indoors when temperatures drop too low.
Common Pests, Toxins, Diseases & Other Problems
Common houseplant pests like scale, spider mites, and mealybugs are common enemies of the red arrow plants. Spider mites do the most damage. Use a green solution spray or apply neem oil in the infected area when you see these pests.
As I mentioned above, this toxic plant can cause swelling of the lips and mouth when ingested. The plant’s toxic sap can also cause skin irritation. So always wear gloves and keep the plant away from pets and children.
Syngonium Erythrophyllum Propagation
Arrowhead plants are pretty easy to propagate through stem cuttings and plant division. First, select a healthy plant and simply take a cutting from a vine stretch with viable root nodes. Next, use a sharp cutter to cut at least 4 inches of stem. Finally, place the freshly cut stem on a moist substrate. The new plant will start to root after around 2 weeks.
Maintenance
When handling the syngonium erythrophyllum, always wear gardening gloves as its stems and leaves contain toxins that can irritate your skin. Also, avoid touching your face while working, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Syngonium Erythrophyllum Timeline
Below is the typical timeline of the growth pattern of the syngonium erythrophyllum llano carti.
Day 1: Plant a fresh stem cutting in the planter and keep it under moderate temperature, humidity, and light levels.
Day 3-20: Change the water often when propagating in water. If planted in the soil, keep the plant moist during this period.
Week 3-6: You should see the roots starting to grow.
Week 7-8: For a water-propagated plant, this is the time to transplant it into a fresh pot with rich soil.
Month 3-5: Shoots will start sprouting at this point. You can lower the watering sessions to twice or thrice a week.
Month 6-9: Pat yourself at the back for a job well done. Your syngonium erythrophyllum does not need much attention anymore. Just follow the care tips I provided above to keep the plant healthy and beautiful.
The Bottom Line
I highly recommend the syngonium erythrophyllum for anyone who wants a delightful evergreen climber to decorate their home. In addition, this is easily a great addition to any enthusiasts out there looking to enrich their houseplant collection.
Visit this guide from time to time for best practices and tips to growing and caring for this rare tropical beauty that will soon take center stage in your home.
