If your plant collection is in need of a little color, perhaps you’ve caught your eye on the vibrantly pink-spotted leaves of the rare Syngonium Pink Splash plant at your local store, or maybe it’s already adding a bright touch to your home garden or bedroom. Either way, this member of the Arcae family is a great find for all levels of plant expertise, due to its low-maintenance needs and beautiful, unique foliage. This guide includes all the essential information and insider tips on how to best care for a Syngonium Pink Splash to keep this one-of-a-kind plant happy and healthy for years to come.
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Syngonium Pink Splash Origin
The Pink Splash Plant is a charming houseplant, easily identifiable by its arrow-shaped leaves, with a pointed front end and a broader, lobed stem end. Part of the Arcae family – more commonly known as Arrowheads, this fast-growing species is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Ecuador, and the West Indies, with deep green leaves and a paint-like pink “splash,” hence the name. These spots are known as variegation, meaning some of the plant cells have less chlorophyll and therefore the whole leaf is not solid green, but rather exhibits a pattern or variation in color. The Arrowhead family has a wide range of variegation types, and in fact there are over two dozen varieties of Syngonium variegation. Recently, Pink Splash has been blooming into Instagram feeds and plant shops recently due to its quirky, unique appearance.
While the coloration of a Pink Splash is distinctive and unique among Syngoniums, it still maintains its ability to purify air, a quality the Arrowhead family is known for. In fact, a 2013 study found that Syngoniums can pull both benzene and formaldehyde from the air, two of the most common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in households. With these helpful qualities, not only is the Pink Splash a visibly appealing plant, it is also incredibly functional and a great addition to any plant collection.
Syngonium Pink Splash vs Syngonium Confetti
Due to similar-looking variegations, Pink Splash is frequently confused with the Syngonium Confetti, a similar but more common Syngonium. Although both plants are roughly the same shape and size, the Pink Splash has unmistakable pink spots across all the leaves and a darker green leaf color, while Confetti has more light brown coloration with a milkier leaf color, and is not variegated on every leaf. Using these clues, the two can be told apart with confidence at any plant store to avoid misidentification or upcharging.
Syngonium Pink Splash Care
Humidity
Taking care of a Syngonium Pink Splash is relatively straightforward. A resilient and versatile plant, the Pink Splash is hardy to USDA Zones 10a and 11, and thrives well in high-humidity environments while also being drought tolerant. In general, 40-50% humidity is enough, but above 60% is even better, making this a great plant for a bathroom or above a sink. If the humidity in your space is low, mist the plant one to two times per week, or place it in a cluster with many other plants.
Watering
To keep a Pink Splash happy, the soil should be allowed to completely dry out between watering. When the soil is dry to about an inch deep, it’s time to water again. A good way to test if a Pink Syngonium needs water is to stick a finger one knuckle deep into the soil; if it comes out dry, get the watering can. Let the water flow until it comes out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, to ensure that water has reached the bottom roots, but don’t let the pot sit in water, as this can lead to overwatering and root rot. Additionally, try to use room-temperature filtered water, as tap water can contain minerals and chemicals that may cause damage to the plant. The Pink Splash can be drought-tolerant, but too little water will cause the bottom leaves to turn brown and crunchy, and too much water can cause drooping yellow leaves. The watering needs of the plant will depend on its size and the time of year; younger plants will need less water, and in the winter months the frequency of waterings can be decreased as well, as the plant is using less energy to grow.
Soil & Potting
When potting, consider that Pink Splash does best in well-draining substrate soil, such as a peat moss-based mix with perlite added, and can live quite well in smaller pots for a long time. This is because, although Syngonium Pink Splash plants love to grow, the roots underground do not do the same, and typically stay small and shallow. It’s time to repot a Syngonium Pink Splash when growth becomes stunted or if the plant becomes pot-bound, which can be detected by roots creeping out of the drainage holes or water pooling on top of the soil when watering.
During the spring and summer, feed the plant every month with an all-purpose fertilizer diluted by half. Alternatively, if repotting a Pink Splash in the spring, use slow-release fertilizer granules when mixing the soil. This boost helps the plant to prepare for the growing season in the warmer, sunnier months, when it will need the nutrients to spend the season growing abundantly.
Pruning
Syngonium Pink Splash is a fast-growing and very mobile plant, so it will spread quickly and is great at filling up empty spaces in a garden or plant collection. In fact, these bushy Syngoniums can reach 3-6 feet tall and 2 feet wide, and will even climb poles and structures. When left to climb upwards or droop down a hanging basket, they can become leggier and more vine-like. To keep a compact, full appearance, prune the bottom leaves of the plant regularly, 2-3 times per year, and cut yellowing or brown leaves when they occur. New growth will spring from cut areas, so regular pruning is important not only to keep Pink Splash looking full and bushy, but can also result in a healthier plant overall. Cut close to nodes – about an inch below a node is perfect for snipping – and aim to keep most of the pruning in the spring, before the growing season.
Propagation
Because it loves to grow, Syngonium Pink Splash is an easy plant to propagate; for higher success rates, find a new-growth shoot that already has one or two leaves; however, mature stems can also work. Mature stems will have leaves with a more lobed, elongated arrowhead shape, while young stems will have smaller, rounder heart-shaped leaves. To propotage, snip a stem about an inch below a node, then place the bottom third of the shoot in a glass of water – be careful to ensure that the entire stem does not become submerged – and replant when a network of roots has developed. Alternatively, dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone and place directly into soil. Multiple cuttings can be placed in the same pot, not touching each other, to create a bushy new plant in impressively little time.
Light
It’s a popular idea that all Syngoniums can tolerate lower light, however, the Pink Splash variety actually thrives best in medium-to-bright indirect light. While it is true that most unvariegated Syngoniums can tolerate very low-light conditions, too little light for the Pink Splash can cause reverting, in which the leaves lose their variegation and become solid green instead of its trademark vibrant pink splotches. The more light a Pink Splash receives, the more vibrant the colors on the leaves will become; rooms with plenty of windows or natural indirect light are ideal for these spotted plants.“Indirect” light refers to light that has passed through a medium, such as a window, or is reflected off a surface like a mirror, and can be achieved by placing a plant a few feet away from a window or in a room with many sunlight-reflecting surfaces. Too much direct light will scorch the leaves and cause discoloration, so use caution when trying to find the best place for the plant; placing it near East or North-facing windows can be ideal for lighting conditions. One to two times per week, wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to ensure maximum sunlight absorption and keep the plant as healthy as possible. Dust and other debris can impede photosynthesis and impact the plant’s health, so keep these unique Syngoniums happy by ensuring they have enough sunlight to eat.
Variegation & Reverting
Variegated plants, while beautiful, can be trickier to care for. Due to the colorful variegation on the leaves, there is less green on the leaves, and therefore it is more difficult for the plant to photosynthesize and produce chlorophyll. It is best to keep variegated plants like the Pink Splash indoors due to easier control of the temperature and light levels. Unstable temperatures and insufficient light can cause reversion, meaning the leaves lose their variegation and become solid green. To prevent this, ensure that the plant is receiving sufficient light and water, and is away from drafty areas, ideally indoors. Essentially, if a Pink Splash enters survival mode, it will need to produce more chlorophyll and the plant cells which were originally a bright color will turn green in an effort to keep the plant alive. Ensuring that a Syngonium Pink Splash has everything it needs to survive comfortably is the best way to prevent reversion.
Stopping Reversion
If reversion does occur, it can sometimes be stopped or even reversed – start by pruning the reverting leaves, stems, or branches to prevent the rest of the plant from reverting. Move the Syngonium Pink Splash to a brighter area, and perhaps try a soil with more nitrogen. Leaves and stems that still maintain variegation can be propagated into a new plant using the same propagation process as noted above. When attempting to propagate a variegated plant from one that is reverting, be sure to use a clipping that has variegation on the stem and leaves. If the stem is solid green, it will likely not produce a variegated plant. However, if the stem somewhat reflects the colors on the variegated leaves, it has a good chance of leading to a colorful new Pink Splash.
How to Make Syngonium Pink Splash More Pink
On a healthy plant, to make the pink spots brighter, ensure the plant is receiving adequate sunlight and is properly fertilized and watered. When Syngonium Pink Splash is not doing extra work to survive – straining for chlorophyll, living on inadequate water, etc – the coloration on the leaves will appear brighter.
Pests
Luckily for plant owners, Syngonium Pink Splash is resistant to many pests and diseases. However, they can fall victim to mealybugs, spider mites, blight, leaf spot, and stem rot. If pests occur, quarantine the plant away from others, and then try insecticidal soap to wash the leaves and stems, removing dead leaves from soil to avoid infestation and sanitizing any equipment afterwards. It can also be helpful to change the soil and disinfect the pot to ensure the complete removal of pests. Besides pests, bacterial or myrothecium leaf spot diseases are also possible; in this case, use bactericides or fungicides, to stop the infection.
Prevent these common pests and diseases by using fresh soil and a clean pot when repotting, avoiding overwatering, and quarantining infected plants. Water plants in a manner that keeps the surface of the plant dry, and do not hesitate to utilize bactericides or fungicides should bacterial leaf spot or myrothecium leaf spot occur. Always check for pests, blight, leaf spots, and root rot when purchasing new plants.
Toxicity
It is also important to note that Pink Splash, like all Syngonium, can be poisonous to pets if ingested. While not deadly, moderate symptoms such as swelling and vomiting may occur. To be safe, find an out-of-reach spot to show off its dazzling leaves away from pets and children.
Conclusion
With these tips in mind, you can feel confident purchasing and caring for a new Syngonium Pink Splash. They are a great, low-maintenance plant with a stunning aesthetic appearance that will make a great addition to your windowsill or plant collection. If you want to find out more on Pink Syngonium varieties, click here to check out the article on that! Happy planting!
Where to Buy a Syngonium Pink Splash
The Syngonium Pink Splash is for sale on Etsy. Click below to to check the prices from different sellers.
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