Aroids hold a special place in both my collection and heart. So today, I want to grow and care for one of my favorites – “Pink Syngonium.” And yes, it’s pink!
Syngonium, a tropical plant native to Central and South America, is a popular ornamental plant whose leaf color changes depending on how much sunlight it receives.
Placing it on a desk or shelf can be incorporated into your interior design, bringing some greenery to your room.
Contents
What Does a Pink Syngonium Look Like?
Syngoniums are evergreen perennial plants belonging to the Araceae family. In indoor gardening, they are used for their decorative foliage.
They are mainly vines, but with regular pruning and control, they can be shaped into a bush. The shape of the leaves depends on the species and variety. Juvenile leaves are usually closer to an oval shape and not divided.
Depending on the species, adult Syngonium leaves can be arrow-shaped, three- or five-lobed. What is exciting and characteristic about this particular variety is the color of the leaves.
When the leaf is very young, it has a beautiful pink color. Not like fuchsia, but genuinely pink. As the leaf ages, it changes color.
First, it seems to fade, becoming paler but no less beautiful! Then the pinkish hue remains only on the veins. Finally, the old leaves can be called light green.
If you grow the Syngonium with multiple branches, as I have done, the bush becomes fluffy and variegated. In general, many branches with leaves of different ages look simply stunning.
Growing Conditions
| Likes | Dislikes |
| Warmth | Drafts |
| Watering | Temperature below 68°F (20°C) |
| Misting | Overwatering |
| Supplemental lighting | Drying out |
| Dry air |
Syngonium Sunlight Requirements
Although native to tropical regions, Pink Syngonium is a delicate ornamental plant sensitive to cold and direct sunlight.
As a result, if you expose to strong sunlight during the summer, the leaves can get scorched and quickly wither. To prevent leaf scorching, grow Syngonium in a shaded area where direct sunlight does not reach.
During spring and fall, there is no concern for leaf scorching as long as the plant is not exposed to sunlight for long periods.
Even in the summer, you can expose the plant to sunlight for about 2 hours when the sun is low, and the sunlight is weaker.
Additionally, Pink Syngonium may change its leaf color depending on the sunlight it receives. Therefore, this plant is recommended for those who want to enjoy a colorful appearance for ornamental purposes.
Pink Syngonium Placement
Keep Syngoniums out of direct sunlight by planting them in a shady spot. Even though the plant can be grown outside, the risk of leaf scorching increases. The best way to avoid leaf scorching is to take care of the plant indoors.
Although Pink Syngonium prefers a humid environment, avoid placing it in direct air-conditioning drafts. Air conditioning wind can quickly dry out the plant, even after only 1 or 2 hours of exposure.
As a result, indoor Pink Syngonium care requires positioning the plant in a location protected from AC drafts, such as a lobby. However, avoid placing the plant in constant shade, stunting its development.
Pink Syngonium Watering
This is the pink Syngonium care component most likely to be misidentified, and getting it wrong could be costly.
Do not fret; I have simplified matters by organizing the watering schedule according to the seasons.
Summer watering
During the growing season from spring to fall, pink Syngonium absorbs water more quickly. So when the surface of the soil starts to dry, ensure plenty of water.
Overwatering Pink Syngonium can cause the soil to become damp, leading to root rot and eventual plant death. Therefore, I always make sure the surface is dry enough before watering.
If you don’t know when to water your plants based on how dry the soil is, stick your finger in the ground to check. Give water if you put your finger to the first knuckle and don’t feel any moisture.
You can flush out any dirt that has built up in the soil by giving it a lot of water. Ensure to throw away water collected in the saucer under the plant instead of leaving it there.
Winter Watering
During the winter, when Syngonium enters its dormant period, do not water immediately after the soil dries. Instead, wait a few days after the soil has dried before watering.
The key during winter is to grow the plant in slightly dry conditions, which requires reducing watering frequency.
As Syngonium enters its dormant period, its growth slows, and its ability to absorb water weakens.
If you continue watering at the same pace as during the growing season, excess water can build up in areas where the plant cannot absorb it, causing the soil to remain damp and creating a humid environment.
Be cautious of this and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
Pink Syngonium Fertilizer and Top Dressing
Apply fertilizer to your Pink Syngonium between May and September. Then, you can give it a diluted liquid fertilizer twice or thrice a month.
Fertilizers that take their time to kick in can be applied instead of liquid fertilizer. Fast-acting chemical fertilizers may be tempting, but they can harm the plant’s roots in the long run.
Do not fertilize Pink Syngonium if it is in poor health. Instead, I like to add a vitality booster like SUPERthrive.
This is not a fertilizer but a supplemental substance for plants that aid in establishing deep roots and producing abundant new growth throughout the season.
Be careful because plants that are already weak may not be able to absorb nutrients and may get even more vulnerable.
Your Pink Syngonium goes dormant in the winter, so there’s no need to fertilize it.
Syngonium Potting Soil
Syngonium prefers well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Use a potting mix with a ratio of
- Two parts peat moss or coco coir: These components help retain moisture while providing aeration to the roots.
- One-part perlite or vermiculite: These materials improve aeration and drainage in the mix.
- One part is well-decomposed leaf mold or compost: This adds nutrients and organic matter to the mix, supporting plant growth.
There are commercially available potting mixes specifically for foliage plants, so use those if you find it challenging to create your mix.
If you have purchased a Pink Syngonium with its pot, adding 20% Perlite or vermiculite and 20% peat moss to the existing soil can help promote growth.
To encourage rapid growth, include these two components in your potting mix.
Using only peat moss may result in poor drainage, so adding slightly more vermiculite will help alleviate concerns about nutrient depletion.
Temperature management for Pink Syngonium
Syngonium is a heat-tolerant foliage plant but is very sensitive to cold. It requires a minimum temperature of 45 °F (7 °C) to survive the winter.
If exposed to cold, the leaves may fall off, and the plant may wither and become damaged.
If you want to keep your Syngonium growing during the winter, maintain a temperature of around 59 °F (15 °C). When the temperature drops in the fall, move the plant from outdoors to indoors as a precaution.
Syngonium Repotting and Planting
Pink Syngonium should be repotted every two years, ideally between May and August when the weather is warm. It’s crucial to repot as early as possible within this time frame.
If roots are visible through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, it’s a sign of root congestion. Ignoring this can cause root damage and slow the growth of new shoots, so be cautious.
A healthy Pink Syngonium may need repotting every year, so keep an eye on it.
Pink Syngonium is a vining houseplant whose stem will grow longer as it matures. Train the long vines to grow toward support.
To repot the Pink Syngonium, first, remove it from its pot. Once you’ve removed the Syngonium from its pot and exposed its roots, you have about half an hour for repotting.
The roots can withstand 15-20 minutes of air exposure without harm. During this time, I usually examine the root system, remove old rotten or dried parts, and treat all cuts with cinnamon powder.
Place drainage stones at the bottom of the pot, then add the potting mix. Finally, plant the Syngonium in the center of the pot.
Cover the roots with the potting mix, filling in gaps between the roots using a stick or gently tapping the pot to settle the soil.
Methods for propagating Syngonium
There are several ways to propagate Syngonium, such as “cuttings,” “division,” and “water propagation.
To learn more about propagating your Pink Syngonium, check out this helpful article on propagating Syngonium albo.
1- Cuttings
First, to propagate Pink Syngonium through cuttings cut about 4 inches (10 cm) from the tip of the vine. Then, make a V-shaped cut at the end to increase the surface area for water absorption.
Leave 2 or 3 leaves at the tip, and remove the rest. If too many leaves are left, nutrients will be directed there instead of producing roots.
Soak the cutting in a cup of water for a few hours, then insert it into a pot with drainage stones and soil, similar to repotting. Water the cutting thoroughly.
Take care to water the area where the cutting you took, making sure the soil doesn’t dry out.
New roots and buds will grow in about two weeks, allowing you to transplant the cutting into a fresh pot in about a month.
2- Water propagation
As with all aroids, each node of pink Syngonium has an aerial root. Therefore, it’s best to take a stem cutting with at least two nodes so that it will root better.
Water propagation is a relatively simple way to increase the number of Syngonium plants. Place the stem in a glass filled with water, and the roots will begin to grow.
3- Division
To propagate through division, first, withhold watering to allow the soil to dry. Then, remove the Pink Syngonium from the pot and remove any dead or damaged leaves.
Carefully loosen the soil without damaging the roots, and use a disinfected knife to create a cut.
Then, use your hands to divide the plant into two parts. If you find any damaged or blackened roots, cut them off.
Finally, plant the divided sections into new pots, just like repotting. Water the plants and place them in a well-ventilated area. They should grow like normal seedlings within 1 to 2 weeks.
Diseases And Pests To Watch Out For When Growing Pink Syngonium
Pink Syngonium plants are susceptible to pests such as spider mites that infest the undersides of leaves and scale insects with hard shells.
When scale insects are in their larval stage, they don’t have a hard shell, making them easier to remove.
However, once they become adults, their hard shells protect them from pesticides, and you must remove them by scrubbing them with a brush.
Spider mites are pests that thrive in warm, dry seasons and gradually weaken plants. If you find them, immediately apply pesticides like neem oil to eliminate them.
Interesting Facts
My Syngonium has been with me for a long time. I’ve pruned it heavily to shape it into a bush-like shape. It becomes more vine-like as it grows older.
Here’s another secret I’ll let you in on. It was previously sitting on a windowsill with diffused sunlight, and its color was pink but not as deep.
So I now supplement the lighting with daylight lamps and red LEDs. You can see the result for yourself — it’s stunning!
Looking for more Syngonium varieties to add to your collection? Explore some rare Syngonium varieties and learn the differences between Syngonium confetti and pink splash.