Goosefoot Plant (Syngonium podophyllum): Plant Care and Growing Guide – House Plants Expert

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The goosefoot plant, also known as the Arrowhead or the Syngonium Podophyllum is a standard, simple-looking houseplant that is desired by both beginner and experienced gardeners.

The Goosefoot Plant is typically very easy to look after in the majority of homes, however, it can spiral out of control and can take over if not appropriately pruned, so keeping an eye on its growth speed is super important.

Pruning Goosefoot Plant

We’re starting with pruning advice because that will likely be the biggest concern for many goosefoot owners. To avoid the ugly droopy look caused by rapid stem growth.

Stems will be strong at the start of their life, but as the plant grows, the stems become more vine-like and, if not pruned at the right times, can look very ugly.

Because this is predominantly an indoor plant and can survive in most temperature conditions, there is no ‘right or wrong’ time to prune, unlike many other plants, particularly those that are vine-based. Keep an eye on your goosefoot plant, and realize when pruning should take place.

Toxicity of Goosefoot Plant

Be aware that these plants are poisonous, which is particularly threatening because they tend to grow out of control. If you fail to prune and your plant grows into new areas, your goosefoot plant could be more accessible to young children or pets.

Benefits of Goosefoot Plant

Like most houseplants, the goosefoot plant comes with an array of benefits, adding to the appeal of investing.

It boosts mood, and creativity and can reduce the symptoms of many mental health illnesses. This, alongside its air-purifying benefits, is reason enough to take a closer look at the goosefoot plant!

Unlike many houseplants and garden plants, the goosefoot plant is typically undisturbed by pests. Keep an eye out for mealybugs, but your plant should be unaffected, which is one less thing to worry about!

The goosefoot plant is very easygoing, so if you have a busy schedule, they won’t make a scene following a little neglect. Having said this, do ensure to water it regularly and adhere to its sunlight needs – this will maximize growth and health.

The goosefoot has a lovely selection of foliage. The ‘White Butterfly’ Synogonium variation is particularly popular, known for its white veins that look like a butterfly.

Caring for the Goosefoot Plant

This plant is fairly straightforward to care for, but here are the main things to bear in mind.

Light

Just like many other houseplants, the goosefoot plant prefers bright indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves and overly dark conditions will stunt their growth, so avoid windowsills or dark corners.

Water

The goosefoot likes a lot of water, especially if it’s an older plant. Bigger goosefoot plants will need watering several times weekly, particularly if kept in a warm environment.

Generously water your goosefoot plant so that the top of the soil is moist, wait until it begins to dry, and then water again. Be sure to water evenly around the soil surface to ensure all plant areas get sufficient water. If your goosefoot plant looks particularly slack, it’s probably asking you for more water.

Temperature

This plant loves warmth, especially when temperatures tend to drop in the fall and winter. A minimum temperature of 16°C or 61°F should be used as a benchmark. If in doubt, raise the temperature.

Humidity

Room conditions should be fine, as long as its environment doesn’t sit in either extreme. Be careful not to position your goosefoot plant above a radiator – the dry air can encourage leaf shriveling and browning.

If your house sits on the ‘low humid’ side of the scale, you may want to consider investing in a humidifier, which will not only boost your plant’s growth but has numerous health benefits for humans too.

Feeding

Try to feed your growing goosefoot plant a few times monthly, especially during spring and summer. These plants tend to take a growing rest during the colder, winter months so will not require as much feeding during this season.

However, it is still normal to notice new leaves sprouting during the winter. If you notice new leaves emerging in the colder months, chances are your plant doesn’t need any fertilizer; it’s doing a good job on its own.

Re-potting

Your goosefoot plant will tend to grow more on the top than on the bottom. This means that regardless of how large or out of control the stems and leaves get, the roots could be similar to when you first bought the plant.

Therefore, these plants thrive in smaller pots, and you probably won’t need to repot them for years.

If you’ve noticed that your goosefoot plant has stopped growing, or it’s demanding more water intake, you may want to repot the plant into the next biggest pot during the spring months. This should be done using a standard compost mix, don’t get too fancy!

Propagation

Find a stem with one or two leaves already sprouted. They can be older leaves, it doesn’t matter too much, but you may find that newer leaves are more successful.

Go down to the shoot’s base where you should find ‘nodes’, two small bumps on either side of the stem. Cut a few centimeters below these nodes and place them in water. When roots develop, you can re-pot using a well-draining compost.

Potential Problems of Goosefoot Plant

The main thing owners should be aware of is the speed at which these plants can grow. You should be pruning the vines as soon as they start getting out of control, otherwise, you’ll end up with a mess.

Be aware of this plant’s poisonous nature. Other than that, this plant is unproblematic!

Final Thoughts

This is a super chilled-out houseplant to invest in if you want minimum effort and maximum results! Follow these basic steps to ensure it remains healthy and happy and enjoy!