My once beautiful syngonium plant is languishing. It lives near my Southwest facing kitchen window. No drafts. Indirect Sun. I water it when top of soil feels dry to the touch. Humidity 55%. The problem started this past summer. The larger leaves began to turn crispy around the edges with brown spots. The two new leaves that were starting to develop (refer to the yellow arrows) never uncurled. They just shriveled, wilted and turned brown. Now the plant looks very sad with no new growth that I can see. Is this plant too far gone to save? If not, what do you suggest I do? Many thanks in advance for your opinion.

Sounds and looks like it's too dry.

Same issue for one of my rescue calatheas.

But I think with proper care they'll both pull through.

"looks like it's too dry. But I think with proper care they'll both pull through."
Thanks. Can you elaborate on proper care? Soil is already fairly moist. Should I keep it soggier, or is more humidity required?

Fran12 said: "looks like it's too dry. But I think with proper care they'll both pull through."
Thanks. Can you elaborate on proper care? Soil is already fairly moist. Should I keep it soggier, or is more humidity required?

Hey. Sorry, was at work and it gets hectic.

I've had a lot of Syngoniums but none currently, so no pictures and winging it back a few years.

I know they like high humidity and good indirect light.

Not sure what time of day the photos (very helpful, thanks) were taken but it looks low natural light with illumination from a normal light?

I think low light might be the culprit for the overall lack of health, and low moisture for the failed new leaves and crispy edges.

Does the pot drain?

How often do you water, and how much?

Reading up on them I see several articles saying Syngoniums want high moisture but have thin roots and depend on the soil for that (compared to a Spider plant which will damn near split your pot with massive roots that can sustain the plant for weeks+).

They also recommend regular misting though, so I'd take all of this with a grain of salt.
Misting can't hurt but for me has never solved a humidity issue.

I wonder if it has or had spider mites. The soil looks very dense. If it is like it looks to me, I would have trouble keeping any plant alive in that.

No pests noted. The pot has very good drainage and I keep it in bright indirect light. I just placed it under a lamp to take the pictures at night. I water when the top inch feels dry. However, the comments about thin roots and dense soil resonated. I used regular Miracle-Gro house plant potting soil. Perhaps I should have cut it with some perlite, although the bag does list perlite as part of the mix.

The soil is okay for growing most houseplants as long as moisture levels are appropriate. Syngoniums will grow in some direct sun as long as they are moist enough, but not swimming.

That all sounds good to me except the soil. A lot of other people say it works well for them but I quit buying that a long time ago, more than a decade, because it seemed to be killing my plants.

Thanks to all for your advice!

Good luck, keep us posted:)

Happy to reply. Almost all of my "that looks good" moments with Syngonium have been while my plants were outside.

I personally think the soil looks really moist in the photos. I've noticed my syngonium does not like it's soil too wet.

My pink syngonium is actually more on the dry side currently and likes to dry out.







My white butterfly smaller syngonium started browning when it was getting watered regularly. It's perking up now that I'm letting it's soil get dry.

I doubt my replies help but wanted to talk about how mine have improved from cutting back on the watering.

TheBentHouseGreenhou said: I personally think the soil looks really moist in the photos. I've noticed my syngonium does not like it's soil too wet.

My pink syngonium is actually more on the dry side currently and likes to dry out.







My white butterfly smaller syngonium started browning when it was getting watered regularly. It's perking up now that I'm letting it's soil get dry.

I doubt my replies help but wanted to talk about how mine have improved from cutting back on the watering.

Agreed on the soil, I was going more off the leaves and possible past watering.

TheBentHouseGreenhou said: I personally think the soil looks really moist in the photos. I've noticed my syngonium does not like it's soil too wet.

My pink syngonium is actually more on the dry side currently and likes to dry out.







My white butterfly smaller syngonium started browning when it was getting watered regularly. It's perking up now that I'm letting it's soil get dry.

I doubt my replies help but wanted to talk about how mine have improved from cutting back on the watering.

The soil looks too dense and moist in those photos.

I never use miracle gro anymore either & would add perlite.

Add perlite for sure! I mix perlite in with my organic blend.

antsinmypants said: The soil looks too dense and moist in those photos.

I never use miracle gro anymore either & would add perlite.

TheBentHouse2 said: I personally think the soil looks really moist in the photos. I've noticed my syngonium does not like it's soil too wet.

My pink syngonium is actually more on the dry side currently and likes to dry out.







My white butterfly smaller syngonium started browning when it was getting watered regularly. It's perking up now that I'm letting it's soil get dry.

I doubt my replies help but wanted to talk about how mine have improved from cutting back on the watering.

Thanks BentHouse2! Your comments and photos are most helpful. Your plants definitely appear happy and healthy. I will follow your advice and cut back on the water and see what happens. In the pic of your white butterfly syngonium, it looks like some charcoal has been added to the soil. Am I mistaken? At any rate, thanks again for your suggestions.

Sorry Fran it didn't notify me about you having replied. It is actually bark not charcoal that you are seeing. I used an organic potting mix, some bark, and perlite with added mosquito bits to avoid fungus gnats.

I have noticed with my syngonium is I just give them a drink not a drenching. Only enough the soil can drink in without running out the bottom.

Fran12 said: Thanks BentHouse2! Your comments and photos are most helpful. Your plants definitely appear happy and healthy. I will follow your advice and cut back on the water and see what happens. In the pic of your white butterfly syngonium, it looks like some charcoal has been added to the soil. Am I mistaken? At any rate, thanks again for your suggestions.

Fran, how is your syngonium doing?

Fran12 said: Thanks BentHouse2! Your comments and photos are most helpful. Your plants definitely appear happy and healthy. I will follow your advice and cut back on the water and see what happens. In the pic of your white butterfly syngonium, it looks like some charcoal has been added to the soil. Am I mistaken? At any rate, thanks again for your suggestions.

Alas, didn't make it. Purchased a new Mini syngonium in a 2" pot 2 wks ago and am following your watering and care advice.... New one is thriving so far, fingers crossed. Thanks for asking!