Variegated Syngonium Albo Care - Light, Water, Potting Soil & Propagation

Last Updated on April 14, 2022 by Admin

The Syngonium Albo is commonly also known as the Variegated Syngonium or as the Albo Syngonium.

Other names people call the plant include Syngonium Albo Variegata and Variegated Syngonium Albo.

The Syngonium Albo is a rare variety that’s highly sought after because of its large white variegations. However, it is important to note that this is not just one variety.

Instead, there are a few variegated syngonium albo varieties around. Each has varying amount of white variegations. And their patterns are different as well.

Here are some variegated Syngonium albo varieties you might see.

Syngonium Jade
Syngonium Spear Point
Syngonium Panda
Syngonium Albo Variegata Imperial White
Syngonium Aurora
Syngonium Butterfly
Syngonium Arrow
Syngonium Podophyllum Albo-Variegatum “Marble”

These plants are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America.

How do you care for Syngonium Albo? Because of its white variegations, the plant needs bright, indirect light. Avoid low light as they can revert back to all-green leaves.

Warm, humid conditions with moist soil will let it grow optimally. But avoid wet soil or overwatering. It is susceptible to root rot.

Table of Contents

Syngonium Albo Plant Care

Variegated Syngonium Light Requirements

Good lighting is essential for the Syngonium Albo. That’s because it has a lot of white variegations.

These sections are white colored because they lack or don’t have chlorophyll which is the compound that gives leaves their green pigmentation.

More importantly, chlorophyll is also what absorbs light.

Therefore, the less green areas on the leaves there are, the less chlorophyll they have. This also means these leaves are not able to collect as much light for the plant to use for photosynthesis.

So, to compensate for this, it is important to supply the Also Syngonium with plenty of light.

Ideally, keep it in in medium to bright, indirect light indoors.

Because of this, a spot near the windows facing east or west are ideal. That’s because these locations get morning and late afternoon sunlight, respectively.

In contrast, keep the Variegated Syngonium Albo at least 2 or 3 feet away from a south facing window since this gets the brunt of the mid-day sun which is too harsh for the plant.

If you leave it there for a while, you’ll notice that leaf colors will lighten and fade. In more intense sunlight, the rays can scorch its leaves.

This causes any variegated Syngonium to lose much of their appeal.

On the other hand, make sure that the plant gets plenty of light.

While it can tolerate low light, I don’t recommend it as its leaves will turn more green in color. Again, this is due to chlorophyll.

But this time the lack of light will force the plant to survive.

And to do so, it will product more chlorophyll to absorb more light from the poorly illuminated environment.

When this happens, your Variegated Syngonium Albo will lose the white variegations and turn more and more green.

For this reason, avoid low light since it can cause the plant to revert to becoming all green.

If you see this happening, immediate move the plant to a brighter location with no direct sunlight. Just as importantly cut the reverting or reverted branches off.

This gives you a chance to prevent more leaves from reverting.

Additionally, it will encourage new branches to grow.

Variegated Syngonium Temperature

The Syngonium Albo has an ideal temperature range between 65 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is a tropical plant that is native to the forests of South America.

Therefore, it is used to consistently warm to hot weather all year long.

On the other hand, it has trouble with the cold. While it can tolerate temperatures up to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, be careful not the leave the plant in colder conditions.

It can only withstand temperatures below 55 degrees for short periods of time.

After that, you’ll see its growth slow down and its leaves start to change color. Its foliage can turn yellow and soften. And they will likewise become translucent.

This means it is important to bring the plant indoors once the weather starts getting colder around mid to late fall. It cannot stay in freezing weather outdoors as it won’t survive for long.

The only exception to this is USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12 which the Syngonium Albo loves.

Since the weather in these regions are warm and sunny even from November through March, you can keep it outdoors if you live in these areas.

Variegated Syngonium Humidity

The Variegated Syngonium Albo has ideal humidity of 60% to 80%. It can tolerate 50% humidity and a little bit below that.

But for optimal growth and leaf color, keep it in high humidity.

The plant likes this environment because it is used to the humidity of the tropical jungles of Central and South America.

Lack of humidity will cause its leaf edges and tips to turn brown and dry up. This will make them brittle and crispy.

As such, if you don’t have sufficient humidity in your home, you can use any of the following methods to increase it.

Get a humidifier
Move the plant to the bathroom
Mist the plant regularly
Group it with other houseplants
Place it on a pebble tray.

Each of these strategies have varying effects. So, you do need to do some experimentation to see which method or methods is ideal for your needs.

How Often to Water Syngonium Albo

The Albo Syngonium has moderate watering needs. On average this comes down to about once a week of watering.

However, because the climate changes during different times of the year, it affects how fast or slow the soil dries up.

This means that you’ll need to water more regularly during the warmer months and less frequent come winter.

It is important to adjust to these changes and not just follow a fixed watering schedule.

That’s because the Variegated Syngonium Albo does not like drying out nor having wet feet.

So, staying in between these two extremes is very important.

That said, you do need to watch out more for wet, soggy soil. The Syngonium Albo is prone to overwatering which can lead to root rot.

As such, if you were to err, err on the side of dry not wet.

It will recover faster from the former and there’s significantly less risk of damage.

Because excess moisture is dangerous, always make sure to let the top few inches of soil dry between waterings.

At the very least, wait until the top 1-2 inches has completely dried before adding any more water.

This will let you avoid overwatering the plant.

If you want to be more conservative, an even safer strategy is to allow the top half of the soil to dry before adding more water.

The plant has no problem with this. And it further reduces any potential of watering too frequently.

Syngonium Albo Potting Soil

The Variegated Syngonium needs loose, well-draining soil with soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

This is ideal as it allows the plant’s roots to absorb nutrients from the soil efficiently. Additionally, it the soil’s good drainage allows the roots to dry to avoid waterlogging.

Well-draining soil retains some moisture to keep the roots hydrated. But at the same time, it quickly gets rid of excess water to avoid overwatering and waterlogged soil.

In contrast, avoid dense, compacted or heavy soils.

These will hold too much moisture for the plant’s roots.

As a result, it will eventually leave them swimming or drowning in liquid. When this happens, they won’t be able to breathe.

If this lasts for long periods, the roots will eventually suffocate and die. That’s when root rot happns.

Therefore, always make sure that there’s some kind of drainage with the potting mix you use.

A simple way to ensure this and keep the Syngonium Albo healthy is to mix:

1 part potting soil
1 part perlite
1 part orchid bark

The perlite and the bark provide drainage. And the bark is also chunky which makes it easy to air to pass through to the roots.

Last but not least, it is important to use a pot with drainage holes.

This will allow the excess liquid that the soil drains to exit from the pot. This way it does not end up keeping the soil wet in the pot.

Fertilizer

The Syngonium Albo will grow faster and produce more leaves with fertilizer. This gives it the nutrients it needs to keep growing.

It also reduces the risk of any mineral deficiency.

One thing I’ve noticed is that feeding makes a huge difference in terms of its leaf production and development.

The plant seems to respond quite well to feeding allowing it to grow quickly.

That said, be careful not to over fertilize it. This can be harmful as the salts and excess minerals accumulate in the soil.

Eventually, they will be toxic to the roots and cause fertilizer burn.

For optimal growth, fertilize the variegated Syngonium Albo once a month during spring and summer. Stop feeding by fall and don’t apply fertilizer during winter.

Dilute the dose each time you apply by 50%. And only apply fertilizer if the soil is moist. Never do so when the potting mix is dry.

Variegated Syngonium Pruning

The Syngonium Albo is a fast growing plant that it also easy to care for. So, in addition to its beautiful looks, these make the plant very appealing for home gardeners.

Depending the Syngonium Albo variety you have the plant can grow from a foot to 6 feet long indoors.

In the wild they can reach 16 to 65 feet in length.

That said most varieties I’ve see don’t get a big,

You’ll like see them get to about 1-2 feet tall and trail about 2 feet long.

If you allow it to climb up a pole or vertical structure, that’s when they have the ability reach 5-6 feet in your home.

Because variegated Syngonium plants can get bushy you will need to prune it every now and then.

But I prefer to let them grow out since they look gorgeous when full.

If your plant does is quite sparse, pruning is likewise a good idea as this will promote new growth.

Don’t forget to remove any old, damaged, discolored or diseased leaves so they don’t use up the plant’s valuable resources which can be redirected to new or healthy, growing foliage.

How to Propagate Syngonium Albo

The easiest way to propagate Syngonium Albo is by stem cuttings.

Stem propagation allows you to create clones of the mother plant along with its variegations. This way you know what you’re getting with no unpleasant surprises down the road.

Additionally, you propagate the Variegated Syngonium in water or in soil when using stem cuttings.

The best time to propagate this plant is during spring to early summer. But in general it can be propagated any time of the year.

Here’s how to propagate the Syngonium Albo from stem cuttings.

Make stem cuttings by choosing from the plant’s healthy stems. You’re looking for stems with at least 1-2 nodes and several leaves on it.
Cut the stem just under a node. Try to get a cutting that’s about 4 to 6 inches long to make it easier to propagate in water or in soil.
Set the cutting or cuttings aside and prepare a pot. Fill it with well-draining soil mix.
Then plant the cuttings into the potting soil. Water until moist but not wet.
Place the pot in a warm, humid location with bright, indirect sunlight.

It usually takes about a month for enough roots to develop and start getting established in the soil.

If you prefer to propagate in water, you can place the stem cuttings in a container filled with liquid.

Make sure the nodes are submerged in water but keep the leaves out of it as they will rot after a while.

It usually takes 3-4 weeks for enough roots to develop with water propagation. Then, you can move the cuttings into a pot with soil mix.

How to Repot or Transplant Syngonium Albo

The Syngonium Albo will need to be repot every 2 years or so. How long depends on how fast your plant grows.

The more light you give it and the healthier it is, the faster it will grow.

It is also worth mentioning that if you have a younger plant, it will usually need repotting once a year.

The key sign to look for is when there are roots poking out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Similarly, the roots may overcrowd the pot as well.

When roots behave this way, it means they’ve run of out space in the soil and are searching for more room to grow.

Thus, it is main sign to repot.

The best time to repot is during spring to early summer.

Get a pot that is one size larger (about 2 inches) and prepare fresh, well-draining potting mix to replace the spent one in the current container.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Variegated Syngonium are toxic because they contain calcium oxalate crystals.

When ingested, these will cause inflammation in the mouth area and down the digestive tract. It is poisonous to people, cats and dogs.

And in addition to pain and swelling, it can cause vomiting, dizziness and other side effects.

Syngonium Albo Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

Pests don’t usually attack the Syngonium Albo. But it can happen. So, never be complacent.

While mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, thrips and scale are all houseplant pests that will come after the plant, the most common ones are the last two (thrips and scale).

Pest problems and infestations can cause the leaves of variegated Syngonium to turn yellow. Later on, they will drop.

You can use neem oil or insecticidal soap to get rid of them.

In addition to natural options, you can use chemical pesticides as well.

Diseases

Overwatering and waterlogging are usually the biggest causes of disease.

Excess moisture can result in stem and root rot. Similarly, it can lead to leaf spot diseases of different varieties.

These are the most common diseases the Syngonium Albo deals with.

The first two are usually caused by overwatering the soil and waterlogged soil. The latter is often due to wetting the leaves too much without allowing them to dry quickly.

Variegated Syngonium Albo Care – Light, Water, Potting Soil & Propagation