Arrowhead Plant Light Requirements: How Much Sun Does it Needs?

Arrowhead is easy growing plant that is native to tropical rainforest climate of South America.

To be become a successful gardener, you must try to replicate the natural habitat of Syngonium plant.

Knowing how much sunlight does an arrowhead plant needs to thrive will help you grow this plant successfully.

Arrowhead plant does well in bright and indirect sunlight with moist soil. This plant can survive in low-lightening conditions, but with slow growth.

There are about 30 different species of Syngonium plant. With different shades, which include green, pink and white, arrowhead plant thrives until you don’t expose it to direct sunlight.

Too much exposure to harsh sunlight can result in dry and brown spots on arrowhead leaves.

Importance of Light for Arrowhead Plant

Arrowhead plant needs energy to grow colored foliage, which it gets when exposed to sunlight.

Sunlight, water and oxygen combine to form carbohydrates. (Source)

Houseplants like arrowhead can grow under low-lightening conditions, but you can’t imagine of plant life without sunlight.

Without light, plant fails to make chlorophyll, which is responsible to make your foliage green. So, arrowhead plant with zero light may turn yellow to white.

As, the plant look for light exposure its stem grow longer and turn leggy and weak.

Similarly, when arrowhead is exposed direct sunlight, leaves start to turn brown and sunburned.

Arrowhead (Syngonium) Light Requirements

Indirect sunlight is what most houseplants including arrowhead plant need to thrive.

Later in this article I’ll discuss about difference between direct and indirect sunlight and how it impact the plant growth.

Harsh direct sunlight can harm arrowhead foliage. But, you can expose it to early morning sunlight that isn’t intense.

Few gardeners say, when they brought their indoor plants outside (not so intense sunlight), houseplants leaves turned much darker and their growth improved.

How many hours of sunlight do arrowhead need?

8 hours of direct sunlight will be needed to grow arrowhead successfully.

However, you can manage to expose the plant to morning sunlight and shade from the harsh light in the afternoon.

You can use a shade cloth to diffuse sunlight, which bring bright indirect light to your plants.

Also Read: Should I Use Grow Lights for Indoor Plants in Winter?

Can Arrowhead plant growing in partial shade?

Yes. It does well under partial shade.

As mentioned, early morning sunlight isn’t harsh and your arrowhead plant would love to bath under it. But, as the sunlight grows intense, you should shift or manage shade your plant.

Can Syngonium Plant Grow in Low Light?

In low-lightening conditions, growth of arrowhead plant will be slowed.

Arrowhead can be grown even in full shade with low light, but as mentioned above you may experience slow growth.

If your space isn’t getting enough light required by plant to grow, then you can supplement grow lights.

What is Direct and Indirect Light for Plants?

When there is something that filters sunlight before reaching your plant is indirect sunlight. It can be a sheer cloth, a tree, furniture or any other plant.

Alternatively, when the sunlight reaches your plant directly without any diffuse in between then it is direct sunlight.

Depending on the intensity, you can categorize sunlight into three parts, high light, medium and low light.

High light is when the plant needs direct or indirect sunlight for about 8 hours. Most plants in this group can withstand direct sunlight to some extent. Arrowhead plant doesn’t belong to this category.

Medium-lightening condition plants prefer indirect light, but can survive some early morning direct sunlight.

Low lightening, plants that can survive in a closed rooms with low light.

Arrowhead plant prefers medium light to thrive.

Where should I put my arrowhead plant?

Location of the plant does impact its growth.

Prior placing your arrowhead plant, ensure the sunlight isn’t intense or direct. To check, place your hand and see if you can feel the intensity of heat.

Choose a location indoors that gets plenty of indirect sunlight. Space with a window facing east or south-west is best to put your arrowhead plant. (Source)

You must just ensure the harsh sunrays aren’t touching plant leaves directly.

Corner space isn’t great for growing bushy arrowhead plant. Though not near the window, you can place arrowhead plant 5 feet away from window. This is to ensure direct light or cold drafts don’t affect the plant growth.

If you space is getting direct sunlight afternoon through windows, then you can use sheet cloth to diffuse sun rays.

For few weeks, you must monitor plant leaves to confirm it liked the new spot. If you see discolored leaves, change the plant to a better location.

Can I put my arrowhead plant outside?

Depending on climactic conditions in your region you can grow or not grow arrowhead plant outdoors.

If you’re living in USDA zones 10-12, then you can grow this plant outdoors. But, ensure harsh sunlight isn’t hitting the plant directly. You can prepare partial shade using a sheer cloth.

Before moving your Syngonium plant outside, you must know its temperature tolerance ability.

Also Read: Can Angel Wing Begonias Grow Outside?

Ideal temperature to grow arrowhead plant

Arrowhead plant does well when temperature is between 60F to 85F.

Colder climates like in winter, plant should be moved indoors. Else, cold weather can easily kill you arrowhead plant.

Similarly, hotter climatic condition above 90F isn’t good for Syngonium plant growth.

How to know if my arrowhead plant needs more light?

Arrowhead plant can survive in low light, but can thrive with colored foliage.

So, when the arrowhead plant needs more light it shows some signs, with which you should move the plant to a better location.

• Leggy stems: Arrowhead plant stems grow in reach light; in the process it grows longer and weaker. Due to weak stems, plant can’t stand straight and it will lean to one side.
• Stunted growth: Without light, plant fails to produce carbohydrates which are essential for its growth.
• Dropping of leaves: Plant leaves start to fall, as it has no energy to hold them up.
• Droopy foliage: Low levels of sunlight make arrowhead leaves dull and droopy.
• Discolored leaves: Plants get green color from a pigment called chlorophyll, with prolonged low-lightening plant don’t produce enough chlorophyll and leaves turn yellow to white.
• Root rot: While watering you must consider lightening conditions of the plant. With low sunlight, soil doesn’t dry up quickly and when you continue watering, excess water accumulate under roots resulting in rotting.

Signs my Arrowhead plant is getting too much light

As discussed earlier, growing arrowhead is easy if you try to replicate the native environment of arrowhead plant.

Syngonium grows under shade of other trees, where it gets indirect sunlight with moist soil.

When you give too much sunlight that is direct and harsh, plant leave start showing some signs like: Yellowing of leaves, dry foliage due to lack of moisture, brown colored edges over the leaves and dry soil.

Sunburned and yellow leaves are common signs of direct sunlight.

Also Read: Why Parlor Palm Leaves Turning Brown?

Arrowhead Plant Care

Water and sunlight are too essential requirements of any plant, without which you can’t think of growing greenery in your garden.

• As repeated many times in the article, arrowhead plant need 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight to grow.
• You must choose a location in your space that gets enough indirect light to satisfy lightening needs of arrowhead plant.
• While watering, make sure the potting soil is dry by 80 percent. Though Syngonium has grown in moist soil it doesn’t like to sit in excess water.
• Overwatering is one of the common gardening problems that kill plants.
• Similarly, underwatering will the plant leaves droopy. Water arrowhead plant when you notice the growing soil is dry by 2 inches.
• Potting soil you choose to grow Syngonium plants must be well-drained and fertile. You can use cactus soil to grow houseplants like arrowhead and peace lily.
• Temperature in your region plays vital role in arrowhead plant growth. Ensure the ideal temperature is maintained between 60-85F.
• Choose the plant location that gets required amount of indirect sunlight and avoid extreme cold or heat spots.
• Fertilize your arrowhead plant with organic matter while potting and once in a month with liquid fertilizers.

Final Words

How much sunlight arrowhead plant needs depends on the climatic condition of your region.

Arrowhead plant needs indirect sunlight of 8 hours. If you’re living in USDA zones 10 to 12, then you can put this plant outside.

Early morning sun exposure will benefit arrowhead plant. But, should avoid direct sunlight afternoon.

You can use partial shade with a sheer cloth or choose a location that shades in afternoon.

When you notice yellowing or drooping of leaves, check the lightening conditions and move the arrowhead pot to a better location if needed.