White Butterfly Syngonium Care Guide (Syngonium Podophyllum)

Last Updated on September 9, 2021 by Sophie

Also known as the ‘arrowhead plant’ on account of its uniquely shaped leaves, Syngoniums (known scientifically as Syngonium Podophyllum) are easy to grow houseplants which do well in bright indirect light and will thrive in your indoor garden, given the right conditions. Here’s a White Butterfly Syngonium care guide, as well as watering advice and propagation tips and tricks!

Easy to maintain, if looked after correctly, the Syngonium Podophyllum is a moderately fast growing aroid which will reward you with mottled foliage and arrow shaped leaves which resemble a butterflies wings, hence the name ‘white butterfly’.

As the plant grows larger, the leaves become whiter and more remarkable with age. The plant is in the Araceae family, is semi-tropical ,and originates from Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Mexico.

A mature white butterfly arrowhead plant can reach around 18-24″ in width and around 18-24″ in height. The plant is unlikely to flower indoors, though the flowers are greenish/white in colour and kind of resemble the sort of bloom of a Peace Lily plant.

In warm weather, the plant can also thrive outdoors, though this, of course, will make your plant more susceptible to pests. The plant doesn’t enjoy temperatures of below 10 degrees Celsius and grows well alongside plants such as Aglaonemas and Dieffenbachias.

White Butterfly Plant Care & Watering Guide

Watering your Syngonium

Syngoniums require watering on a fairly regularly basis, typically every few days in the summer months. I allow mine to almost dry out between waterings so as to ensure that the plant does not end up suffering from root rot.

In order to maintain great looking foliage, you’ll also want to mist off or hose down the leaves every week or so in the growth season, and a little less during the winter. When it comes to fertilisation, the plant will enjoy being fertilised around once a month while during the spring and the summer. Use a light fertiliser in order to prevent root burn.

Best soil conditions for your Syngonium Podophyllum

A well-draining soil which is made for houseplants is recommended for the syngonium. Avoid soils which are general purpose or made for growing vegetables. Since the Syngonium Podophyllum is a climbing plant, as your plant grows, you may well consider adding a moss pole and using little ties to aid your plant in climbing up the pole.

Alternatively, you can also allow your plant to trail over the side of its pot, allowing for a beautiful trailing plant. Typically, leaves will grow bigger if the plant is allowed to grow upwards instead of in a trailing manner. As always, be sure to pot your plant into a container with a drainage hole at the bottom. The white butterfly plant typically requires repotting every two years or so.

Best light conditions for your White Butterfly Syngonium

Like many aroids, the white butterfly doesn’t enjoy light conditions which are too bright, and so a south Facing windowsill would be less than ideal for optimum growth. Avoid bright, direct light for the best possible growing conditions. Instead, medium light is best and so a little way away from a South facing window or close to a North facing window would be ideal.

How to propagate (Syngonium Podophyllum)

Just like with something such as a monstera deliciosa or the silver sword philodendron, one of the easiest ways to propagate the Syngonium is to take a cutting of the plant which contains an aerial node. Simply place the cutting into clean/ fresh water and change the water every week or so. When the cutting has rooted in water and the roots are a few inches long, you can pot your cutting into soil.

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