Syngonium is a perennial evergreen creeper from the Aroid family. This semi-epiphytic plant is common in Central and South America. Long, with rare lateral branches, stems spread along the ground or wrap around a vertical support. They are densely covered with beautiful large leaves. It was for the foliage that the syngonium fell in love with flower growers. With it, you can bring a piece of tropical forest into the room, purify the air and fill the room with bright green colors. Although the inhabitants of the tropics need more careful care, following a few simple rules, you can easily create a comfortable environment.
Plant description
Syngonium is a semi-epiphytic perennial. Its flexible stalk of bright green color spreads on the ground or clings to the support with aerial roots. The height of the shoots can be 1.5-2 m, in nature there are vines 10-20 m long with a shoot width of up to 6 cm. In a culture, the stem thickness is usually 1-2 cm. The annual growth is about 30 cm and 6-7 young leaves . Petiole leaves grow along the entire length of the stems in the convex nodes. Just below the nodes are aerial roots. Their main task is fixation, only one root in each bundle is intended for nutrition.
The whole heart-shaped or palmate-divided into 3-5 segments sheet plate is painted in bright green color. Relief veins are located not only in the center, but also as a border around the edge. Plain or colorful leaflets may have a shiny, leathery or velvety surface.
Syngonium flowers can only be seen in plants in the wild. They bloom by the end of spring and are dense creamy cobs half hidden by a bright red or pinkish veil. Flowers have no smell. Syngonium is characterized by cross-pollination. First, the female flowers ripen, pollen pollinates them from neighboring inflorescences. By the time of ripening male flowers, women are no longer susceptible to pollen. The coverlet closes somewhat denser and, getting out, insects collect pollen on themselves. Later, they spread pollen to neighboring inflorescences.
As a result of such complex pollination, the fruits ripen in the form of cylindrical or ovoid berries with a rounded edge. Their length is 0.5-1 cm, and their width is 3-6 mm. Fragrant juicy berries attract monkeys and other animals that spread them over long distances.
If the membrane is damaged, milky juice is secreted. His contact with damaged skin and mucous membranes causes irritation and burning, so all work with the vine is best done with protective gloves. Since the plants are poisonous, they must be isolated from contact with children and animals.
Types of syngonium
The genus syngonium is represented by 20 species of plants, but only a few are suitable for indoor growth.
Syngonium legate. In nature, intensively branching vines with thin flexible shoots are found in Central America. The shoots are covered with large petiolate leaves up to 13 cm long. On young vines they are almost always whole lance-shaped, and older plants are covered with palmate leaves dissected to 11 lobes. Each has a very long (up to 60 cm) petiole. Varieties:
- White butterfly - a fast-growing, densely leafy vine;
- Pixie - a dwarf variegated plant;
- Arrow - large shoots with a motley pattern along the veins;
- Neon - almost the entire surface of the sheet is devoid of green color, and pink veins or stains are visible on a bright spot;
- Panda - on a dark green leaf plate there are many yellowish spots.
Syngonium is ear-shaped (ear-shaped). Climbing shoots up to 1.8 m long do not exceed 2-2.5 cm in thickness. Aerial roots and large petiolate leaves grow on closely located internodes. A shiny green leaf plate is attached to the petiole up to 40 cm long. Each leaflet has a pair of processes similar to the ears of the ears closer to the base. The length of the sheet is 6-20 cm.
Syndonium of Wendland. The birthplace of a large climbing creeper is Costa Rica. The stems are covered with tripartite foliage with a soft velvety surface. Dark green leaves up to 10 cm long grow on petioles 20-30 cm in size.
Plant propagation
At home, syngonium is propagated vegetatively. For this, apical cuttings or lateral processes are used. They are cut throughout the year, but due to the longer daylight hours, spring and summer cuttings develop an order of magnitude faster. A segment of the stem with 2-3 internodes and aerial roots is cut. Rooting is carried out in warm water with activated carbon or in soil composed of sand, sphagnum and peat. The cut before planting is recommended to be treated with a root growth stimulator. Shanks before rooting are covered with a film to reduce evaporation. The optimum temperature of the soil and air is + 25 ... + 27 ° C. After rooting, the shelter is removed and seedlings are grown as adult plants.
Landing and home care
Syngonium is planted in small pots with drainage holes. To get a more magnificent growth, 2-3 sprouts are planted immediately in one pot. You can use syngonium as an ampel plant, allowing the shoots to hang freely from the pot, or form a kind of tree. In the latter case, when landing, a strong support is inserted into the ground. On it, the liana will climb up.
Young plants are transplanted in the spring every year, gradually increasing the frequency. Adult syngonium is transplanted when the roots begin to peek out of the drainage holes. Expanded clay or shards are necessarily poured at the bottom of the pot. The soil should be loose and fertile with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. It can be composed of sheet and turf soil, sand and peat. In order not to damage the thin roots, transplantation is carried out by transshipment.
Syngonium care is simple. Many flower growers adore this fast-growing plant for its capricious nature and vitality. He needs a long daylight and diffused light. You can put the pot on the eastern or western windowsill, but protect the growth from the midday sun.
The optimum air temperature throughout the year is + 22 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, cooling is allowed up to + 18 ° C, it is not necessary to provide it.
Syngonium needs high humidity and regular watering. So that the leaves do not begin to dry, they are sprayed daily with well-maintained, warm water. Plants are watered often enough so that the soil dries only 2-3 cm from the surface. For irrigation take well-purified water at room temperature. With regular watering, the plant tolerates dry air more easily.
Syngonium is fertilized from April to October twice a month. To do this, use special mineral complexes for decorative and deciduous plants. Well-diluted top dressing is applied to the soil at a distance from the stems.
Liana branches weakly, but you can still give it some form. Syngonium tolerates pruning well. Pinch its stems for the first time after the appearance of the sixth leaf. Too long processes shorten to the required length. After trimming, young lateral shoots may appear even at the base of the old bare stalk.
Syngonium has good immunity, therefore it is not susceptible to plant diseases. With prolonged improper care, powdery mildew may develop. Sometimes a spider mite, scutellum or mealybug settles on the leaves. The first aid to the plant is a hot shower (up to 45 ° C). Then carry out spraying with a chemical insecticide ("Actellik", "Fitoverm").
Benefit, Signs and Superstition
For urban apartments, syngonium is simply an indispensable plant. It effectively landscapes the space. The crown also purifies the air, absorbing the vapor of xylene, formaldehyde and other hazardous substances. The flower optimizes the humidity in the room and saturates it with oxygen.
They say that syngonium in the house of a sick person restores health to the owner and fights even with terrible, incurable ailments. It strengthens the character, helps get rid of bad habits, and also stimulates mental and physical development. In the bedroom, a liana will protect the owner’s sleep and save him from nightmares.
Some signs are called syngonium husbandegon. It means that the men in the house do not get along with this plant and the housewives face loneliness. However, there is no justification for these superstitions. Many even single women have long found happiness in marriage, although their tropical window sills are still adorned with a handsome tropical man.
