Festive occasions such as birthdays, Eids and Christmases tend to build-up in people the urge to decorate their homes, using a variety of things from paintings to plants and totems. This helps them showcase their softer and aesthetic image. Even if one is not keen on hosting, one may still decorate one’s house for one’s own satisfaction.
For those seeking a quick-fix to their decorative needs, potted plants and colourful flowers provide that element of serenity for homeowners. In most cases, families go to nearby plant nurseries and find some distinct categories of plants to choose from.
Sadly, the goal of most of these buyers is beautifying the house in the short-term. They are not ready to pursue with the bought plants for a longer period and cite varying reasons for their inability to do so.
Most of them opt for seasonal flowering plants in small pots. These plants then end up lining the passageways and corners in their house.
The Syngonium Wendlandii, also known as the arrowhead plant, is popular as an ornamental plant due its unique leaf colour, pattern and design
The favoured flowers in this category include petunia, marigold, zinnia, pansy and many others. These fully prepared — and sometimes brightly coloured and painted — pots are usually bought in pairs to ensure symmetry and balance while placing them in the house.
Another category of such decorative plants is usually referred to as ornamental plants. These plants may or may not have any flowers. They are usually renowned for their unique leaf colour, leaf patterns and design or leaf shape.
There are many plants in this category as well, including pothos or the money plant family, the purple-heart and the range of syngonium plants. Usually, the plants are placed in water-filled glass or wine bottles on the walls. These vines may also be grown in cute colourful hangings installed on a trellis within a garden or in the gallery of an apartment. Depending upon the available space, these easy-to-grow vines can also be grown in pots and in raised beds.
One such plant variety, which witnesses a surge in sales during festive times, is syngonium. More commonly known as the arrowhead plant, syngonium boasts all three characteristics of ornamental plants. It’s leaf colour, pattern and design are unique, with the leaf shape getting it the name ‘arrowhead’.
Today, we talk about one of the stand-out syngoniums within the same range, which is known as Syngonium Wendlandii and belongs to the Araceae family. It has an amazing, eye-catching appearance, with emerald green leaves, a white mid-vein and unique texture.
Initially, the leaves of this plant are just as shown in these photographs. However, as the plant matures, the leaves change their shape. The leaves form deep lobes, and maturing into leaflets of sorts at the base, giving it the arrowhead shape. Due to its unique shape and leaf texture, it is also called velvety syngonium and silver goosefoot plant.
The colour and velvety texture can be destroyed if the leaves on the plant are watered directly. The plant grows best in dry conditions and in well-drained soil. Misting or watering directly on the leaves can result in accumulation of harmful fungi on the plant.
It should be watered very cautiously in a manner that the surface of the pot soil becomes wet and no water is left behind. The plant needs a shelter to protect it from direct exposure to rainwater.
One great feature of this plant, particularly for those who either live in apartments or do not have enough ground space available for plants, is that the Syngonium Wendlandii can be kept indoors as well. The plant grows well in indirect sunlight. However, the plant should be kept in such a space where there is filtered sunlight for not more than a couple of hours.
Initially, the young plant can be kept in a four-inch container or clay pot. Once it matures to the point where its roots start to grow out of the pot’s drainage hole, it is time for the plant to be shifted to a bigger, eight-inch-sized pot.
The plant does not require frequent supply of fertiliser, which makes it a success among those who have limited time available for gardening. However, at the beginning, the pot can be boosted with a handful of any of the nitrogen-based fertilisers. I prefer decomposed cow manure.
Later, the plant would need another boosting when it is transplanted to a bigger space. I hope, after this article, one may see more of this household, indoor plant growing in apartments and houses of those who have limited space.
This uncommon plant might not be easily available in many nurseries, but you can surely find it online or at nurseries which are known for selling imported and uncommon plants.
Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening
Published in Dawn, EOS, April 21st, 2024
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