How to Care for Syngonium Berry Allusion

Syngonium “berry allusion” is a tropical, herbaceous plant with a vining growth habit. These plants come in many stunning varieties that can add color and life to any room or garden. Syngonium “Berry allusion” features mainly bright green leaves with pink venation. New growth is pink which grows out to be green as the leaves mature. Despite the many varieties, care instructions are generally the same for any variety you encounter.

Contents

How to Care for your Syngonium “Berry Allusion”

Lighting

Syngonium plants are used to the dappled light received under the canopy of large trees in their natural, jungle-like habitat. Provide your plant with bright, indirect light which should simulate the conditions they have evolved to grow under. Avoid direct light which can cause sunburn and damage to your foliage. Low-light conditions are tolerable, though if you have a heavily variegated variety your plant will likely revert back to its base colors. Fortunately, Syngonium “berry allusion” does not feature much variegation, so losing color on your foliage is less of a concern. The ideal light for this plant would be towards the interior of a southern-facing room. This provides bright light throughout the day, and as long as your plant is not in a window or receiving direct light, there is no risk of burn.

When acclimating plants from a low light to brighter light situation, do so incrementally to allow your plant time to adjust to the influx of light. More light also generally means more water, so always check your plant’s soil for moisture before watering, and check in on your plant regularly throughout the seasons.

Soil

Part of the easy going nature of these plants is their ability to tolerate many soil types. It is best to provide your plants with well-draining soil, so avoid mixes with mosses in them, because mosses are like sponges in regards to holding onto water. Otherwise, standard potting mixes are applicable here, and drainage holes in the pot are always a must. If using a decorative pot without a hole, fit your plant to a plastic pot with drainage that can easily be set inside the decorative one discreetly. Just be sure to empty any vessel of excess water when you water your plant. Most plants don’t appreciate having their roots in constant contact with water, and this increases your chances of creating an environment hospitable to mold or bacteria, all of which can cause root rot in your plant.

Water and Humidity

Your plant would appreciate having even moisture without being wet or soggy. This can be achieved by watering regularly when the soil is dry about two or three inches from the top. It is not advised to water most plants on a “schedule” because this creates room for excessive watering habits to develop. Overwatering is a very common cause of plant death, so it is always better to err on the side of caution and wait an additional day or two if you’re unsure if your plant is ready to be watered again. Water your plant deeply such that water flows freely from the drainage hole, and always let your plant drip dry before placing it back in its decorative pot or on its drainage saucer. Plant’s watering requirements are more during the growing season and less during the dormant season of winter.

Humidity is a large part of having a thriving tropical plant. It is an additional way to get moisture to the leaves to prevent dry, browning edges. You can mist your plant regularly, add a humidifier, or find a humid spot in your house, such as the bathroom, that gets decent light to make your plant’s home. Protect your plant from the elements and drafts, as they are not cold-hardy and can easily freeze.

Fertilizing and Pruning

It’s best to fertilize your plant during the growing season so there is use for the influx of nutrients your plant is receiving. This is around spring through fall, when temperatures are consistently warm and the days are longer. When fertilizing your plant, follow the instructions on your bottle, but start out with half the amount of fertilizer. Some plants are sensitive to fertilizers and can get “burnt”, so start small and work your way up depending on how tolerant your plant is of fertilizers.

Pruning your plant is useful to encourage new, bushier growth from the main plant as well as an efficient way to use the cuttings to propagate your plant. Using sterile and sharp scissors or shears, cut about ¼ inch above a node. Your plant will then push out new growth at that node. Try to prune during the growing season while your plant has ample energy to synthesize new leaves.

Potting

Syngoniums displayed in hanging baskets or pots with the addition of poles or trellises help exhibit its natural vining growth habit, though they are just as lovely in a regular pot. The main things to consider when keeping this plant is to keep it in the conditions it likes, such as adequate soil moisture and humidity, and you’ll see your plant thrive. These plants should be repotted about every two years, or sooner if you notice it is going rootbound. Signs of a rootbound plant are roots pushing through the drainage hole or out the top of the pot, your plant getting pushed upwards from the roots growing so much beneath it, or even physical signs on the leaves showing your plant is not getting the necessary nutrients. If you notice some of these signs and it has been a while since you’ve repotted your plant, then you likely need to address the size constraints of your pot.

How to Propagate Syngonium Berry Allusion

Syngoniums are readily propagated thanks to their quick growing habits and aerial roots which increases the survival of any cuttings you take when you include these aerial roots. You can propagate your plants simply by setting in water or on a potting medium until there is sufficient root growth. Then, your cuttings can be transplanted into soil where they can be treated as any other Syngonium you may encounter.

The first step in taking a good cutting is making sure your mother plant is healthy and not under any stress, like being freshly repotted or moved to a different area with different conditions. This will also help increase the chances of your cuttings being viable. Avoid taking cuttings of your plant during the dormant season when it does not have excess energy to produce new growth.

Then, select a section with at least one leaf, preferably two or more. Take multiple cuttings of your plant since they are not always successful. Using a sharp and sterile cutting utensil, cut slightly below the node at an angle. The node is what will produce roots when given the correct conditions such as water or soil. Then, you can choose which method to use to develop the roots which will ultimately give way to a whole new plant.

Water propagation: Now that you have the cutting, you can choose any sort of small, clean, preferably clear vessel to fill with filtered water which you can place your cuttings in, ensuring the node is submerged. It is recommended to give each cutting its own vessel to develop in, so there is no competition for space or any chance of cross-contamination if one of your cuttings doesn’t work out. Using a clear vessel allows you to monitor root growth as well as the water conditions. Change out the water every few days, especially if you notice it getting murky or cloudy. Provide bright, indirect light and protect from drafts or cold, just like you would any other plant. After about a month your cutting should have an extensive enough root system to be transplanted into soil.

Regular propagation: Rooting your cuttings in a potting medium is the other way you can go about propagation. It is just as effective as water propagation without so much risk of transplant shock from going from water to soil. You can root multiple cuttings in one pot, and provide care for these cuttings as you would if you water propagated them. Your potting medium should stay moist but not wet, and you can help aid this by misting your plant which also helps keep up humidity, or if you have a humidifier you can use this. Again, after a month or so your cuttings should have developed a decent root system. You can test this by very gently tugging on your plant, and you should feel resistance to know your plant has a firm anchor. Once it does, you can transplant into well-draining soil that your plant will live in until the next time it is in need of a repot.

Conclusion

Syngoniums are easy going, low-maintenance plants perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike. A happy plant will provide you with bountiful growth and many opportunities for propagation. Syngonium “Berry Allusion” is a worthwhile addition to any collection of vining plants to add a little bit of a jungle feel to your chosen landscape with ease, style, and elegance.