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Horticultural beginners often start with plants that are low maintenance and easy to grow.
Syngonium and Caladium are such easy plants that they quickly attract gardeners who want a little life in their homes.
Although these plants have so many similarities that some people think they are the same plant, they have quite distinct differences.
Today we take a look at what makes syngonium and caladium similar and what sets them apart.
Contents
Syngonium vs Caladium – Similarities
Most people find it hard to tell these plants apart because of their unmistakable similarity in appearance.
However, their commonalities go beyond the notable to include:
Origin
Both plants are native to rainforests and do best in humid regions.
As long as you give them enough light, temperature swings, and a little mist here and there, the plants should do well.
This similarity also makes it easier to grow them together without affecting a single plant.
irrigation needs
These plants may require additional care when they first become established.
But once they grow, you can water them together and no one will suffer.
You can even grow them in one spot and reduce the hassle of watering. How does it sound?
If you need help watering your plants, try this Automatic drip irrigation kit.
Plagues and diseases
Since plants belong to the same family, they have something else in common: pests and diseases.
The downside is that if you grow them together they will infest each other with pests when one is attacked.
On the plus side, this means searching for specific pests and diseases and only having to find the same cures.
It’s both messy and simple, depending on which card you get.
Flourishing
In most cases, you won’t see any blooms with these plants, especially if you opt for modern varieties.
But if this happens, you will find that the petioles can only produce one flower in any case.
That’s right, they are both monoflowering plants! If you don’t want the flowers and prefer to focus on the foliage and stems, you can cut them off as soon as they appear.
You will appreciate the healthy plant that emerges from this immediacy.
Syngonium vs Caladium – Differences
As we have seen, these plants share a lot. However, you should also know that they have interesting differences, such as:
Syngonium versus Caladium – taxonomy
Did you know that Syngonium and Caladium are cousins? Explain why they look so similar. Let’s break this down a bit.
these two come from the same family aroids† However, regarding genus and species, they separate.
Caladium, scientifically known as Bicolor Caladiumcomes from the genus Caladium Vent.
It is also called the heart of Jesus, the ear of an elephant and the wings of an angel.
Syngonium, on the other hand, has the scientific name Syngonium podophyllum and belongs to the genus Syngonium Schott†
It also goes by the names goosefoot, five-toed, and arrowhead vine.
If you understand a plant’s roots, you have a better chance of giving it the care it deserves.
This is why so many gardeners want to understand the full taxonomic lineage of their plants.
It becomes easier to diagnose and even prevent growth problems before they occur.
For example, in Caladiums you learn that keeping bulbs healthy is difficult and there is a lot to do as a precaution.
For this reason, some people are drawn to propagating Syngonium seedlings to increase their chances of success.
Caladium makes things even more interesting as it has a plethora of cultivars available in orange, pink, white, red, and green.
Most of the time, you don’t even know which cultivar you are getting because nurseries often don’t name them.
You will see a vibrant looking plant and the nursery owner will tell you that it is from the C. Two tone line. Some of the popular options are:
frozen
This variety grows fast and strong and has large green leaves with white streaks and hints of red.
For a plant that dramatically improves the look of the room, this would be a great choice.
White Christmas
For a simple look, this plant with large, arrow-shaped leaves with a whitish substance on the leaves does the magic.
miss muffet
With a slow growth rate and an optimal height of only 20 centimeters, this plant has more than earned its name.
It has lime green leaves with some pink spots on the surface.
puppy love
This variety is relatively new and attracts gardeners for its pink foliage with green accents.
People who live in cooler climates can expose this plant to the sun without damaging the leaves.
Syngonium vs Caladium – Appearance
Syngoniums are creeping or climbing vines whose leaf structure undergoes a series of changes as the plant matures.
The leaf is simple arrow-shaped when young, but develops a deeply lobed or divided leaf with age.
The hue also changes over time and can range from dark green to light green, pink to white. It grows all year round in indoor conditions.
Caladiums have large, thin, arrow-shaped leaves in shades of white, red, pink and green with distinct stripes and veins.
Its leaves look like flowers. As they are tuberous plants, the leaves are only available from spring to fall.
Of the two plants, you will notice that Caladiums have brighter colors, while Syngonians have paler tones.
If you like this article, check out the types of syngonium
Syngonium vs Caladium – Growing Requirements
Both plants come from the tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America.
As such, they thrive in moist areas as long as you water them well and give them well-drained, airy soil. However, they have some minor differences:
Syngonium vs Caladium – Soil Conditions
Caladium does best in rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
Since it is a root vegetable, you should always keep the soil moist and you should not risk letting it dry out.
However, the soil should not be soggy. In most cases, the plant will do well if it is watered at least three times a week.
Again, it depends on how hot the area is. Caladiums are very sensitive to drought.
If you live in a hot region, place a pebble tray filled with water under the pot to allow for additional humidity.
It will slowly vaporize the plant and minimize water loss. If you notice the edges of the leaves turning brown, see if the plant is getting less water than it needs.
Syngonium grows well in moist, well-drained soil and isn’t too picky about its nutritional profile.
When it comes to pH, you should aim for a neutral to acidic level so the soil stays moist most of the time.
It’s a vine and won’t take much damage if left unattended for a while. But generally try to water the plant two or three times a week.
You don’t have to place a pebble tray filled with water under the pot, but you can use it to increase the humidity.
For both plants, a compost to perlite ratio of 4:1 should be sufficient to allow drainage.
Syngonium vs Caladium – Lighting Requirements
Caladiums are tropical perennials that do well in hardiness zones 9-10.
Indoors they prefer indirect light and outdoors they prefer full or partial shade.
In general, they are very sensitive to light and if you expose them to direct sunlight, they will turn brown.
Given the thinness of its leaves, it is necessary to go further to protect them by placing blinds on the windows or placing them in the shade.
Growing in hardiness zones 10-12, syngonians do well in partial shade but adapt well to changes in light.
They don’t require a lot of light and you can grow them almost anywhere in the house.
However, the greener leaf types work best in low light areas, while the less green ones work well in more light.
However, you should not leave the plant in direct sunlight, as this may scorch the leaves.
Syngonium vs Caladium – Toxicity
Both plants do well indoors and outdoors if you take good care of them.
If you have pets and children in the house, place the plants higher so that it is difficult for pets and children to reach them to avoid poisoning cases.
Caladiums are toxic to pets and humans. Symptoms of poisoning in humans include swelling, vomiting, diarrhea and eye pain.
Pets will show excessive drooling, swelling, signs of distress, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting.
Syngonians are only toxic to pets and symptoms of poisoning include loss of appetite, signs of pain, vomiting, scratching of the mouth and signs of irritation.
If you liked it, take a look at our comparison of a Philodendron selloum versus Xanadu.
final thoughts
If you are looking for colorful leaves to decorate and transform your space, do not hesitate to grow these plants.
Not only are they suitable for beginners who know almost nothing about gardening, but they are also good options for experienced gardeners.
Although they have many similarities, you should also consider what makes them different. Only then can you give each plant the care it needs.
Happy gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Pothos N Joy vs Pearls and Jade
Philodendron Selloum versus Xanadu
Dracaena versus yucca
Written by: Daisy Njeric