Do Arrowhead Plants Go Dormant? (Winter Dormancy+Care)

Many houseplants, especially those originating from tropical regions, go dormant during winter in response to unfavorable environmental conditions. So, today we will find out if arrowhead plants or Syngoniums go dormant.

Arrowhead plants go dormant in winter due to the unfavorable growing conditions. Not enough sunlight, low humidity, and cold temperatures are not ideal for these plants; thus, you will see negligible growth during winters. Syngonium plants will start growing as temperatures warm up in spring.

You must tweak the care routine of your Syngonium during its dormant period to help it survive the season.

You must save your arrowhead plant from the low temperatures and low humidity levels by keeping it in a well-insulated room that provides enough humidity.

Other than that, you must halt fertilizing and reduce watering it during this time.

This article will discuss all the factors you must consider while caring for your arrowhead plant in its dormancy.

Do arrowhead plants die in winter?

No, arrowhead plants will not die in winter unless you don’t tweak their care routine.

If the plant receives the wrong care, for example, you keep fertilizing or watering it as per the usual summer and springtime, it might head towards death.

Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the changes in the environment during winters, such as low light, dry air, and cold temperatures.

Since these are not the ideal conditions for the growth and living of Syngonium, you must give some attention to the plant and care for it as per the different conditions.

If you don’t make changes in the care routine, you will notice various issues in your Syngonium.

Do arrowhead plants go dormant?

As I mentioned earlier, arrowhead plants go into a resting period in winter, called the plant’s dormancy.

Dormancy is a natural process of plants reacting to unsuitable conditions by slowing down their growth and saving up that energy for the conditions to become favorable for growth again.

So, don’t worry if you don’t notice any growth or slow growth in your Syngonium.

Wait for the arrival of spring and change the care routine to help your Syngonium get through winter without a problem.

Also read: How Fast Do Arrowhead Plants Grow? (Arrowhead Plant Growth Rate)

How cold is too cold for arrowhead plants?

Originating from tropical and subtropical regions, arrowhead plants or Syngonium can’t tolerate temperatures lower than 50°F.

Arrowhead plants require warm conditions with temperatures between 60-80°F.

But if the temperatures drop below 50°F, it can cause serious damage and even kill the plant.

Therefore, if the temperatures drop below 50°F in your region, consider keeping the plant in a safe and warm room.

Avoid exposing your Syngonium to cold drafts or frosty windows, and don’t take it outside in low temperatures.

Can arrowhead plants survive winter?

Yes, arrowhead plants can survive winter with some attention and care from your end.

Caring for the arrowhead plant in spring and summer is different from caring for it in winter.

So, I have mentioned all the changes you need to make in the care routine when your Syngonium goes dormant.

1. Stop fertilizing your arrowhead plant in winter.

Arrowhead plants require fertilizer when it grows actively in the spring and summer months.

It uses up all the fertilizers you give it for root and foliage growth.

But the plant slows down its growth significantly in winter, so if you continue giving it fertilizer like the growing season, it will build upon the soil and burn the roots instead of getting used up.

So, if you don’t want to damage your Syngonium or burn its roots, reduce fertilizing in the fall and stop fertilizing completely in winter.

You can resume fertilizing in the spring season.

Also read: How Often Should You Fertilize Arrowhead Plant? (Best Fertilizer For Arrowhead)

2. Reduce watering your Syngonium in winter.

An arrowhead plant will require watering 1-3 times a week, depending on how fast the soil goes dry.

But in winter, the soil takes much longer to get dry.

The intensity of the light reduces, so it takes time for the water to evaporate, and since the plant slows down its growth, it uses less water than the growing period.

Therefore, you must reduce the amount and frequency of watering during winter to keep your arrowhead plant happy and healthy.

But don’t forget to check the soil before watering to avoid overwatering your Syngonium.

Also read: How To Water Arrowhead Plant? (How Often+Summer & Winter)

3. Keep the arrowhead plant in a well-insulated room.

First of all, if your Syngonium is outside, bring it inside before the temperatures drop below 50 degrees.

Since the plant prefers temperatures between 60-80°F, you must place it in a well-insulated room.

• Place your arrowhead plant in a bright spot.
• Don’t keep the plant too close to any heating source as that can burn the leaves.
• You must also avoid placing your Syngonium near frosty windows or doors that are closed and opened frequently.
• Avoid exposing the arrowhead plant to the cold and dry air of the AC.

4. Consider artificial lights to provide enough light to your Syngonium.

One of the main reasons behind the dormancy of plants is the reduction of the duration and intensity of sunlight during winter.

Sunlight determines photosynthesis which is the process through which the plants generate energy.

Without enough light, photosynthesis slows down, and therefore, the plant doesn’t grow as much as it does in the growing period.

Although the plant goes dormant to cope with the lack of light, you can use artificial lights to provide light and warmth to your arrowhead plant.

You can purchase artificial lights online and use them on your houseplants when they don’t get enough natural light.

Also read: Arrowhead Plant Light Needs: What Type, How Much & More

5. Provide enough humidity to your arrowhead plant.

Most tropical plants, including arrowhead plants, prefer high humidity levels.

Arrowhead plants receive over 60-70% humidity in their natural habitat.

Even when you can’t provide high humidity levels, you must not let them drop below 40-50%.

In winter, the humidity levels drop drastically, and the air becomes too dry for these plants.

There are various ways of increasing the humidity levels for your plants, but using a humidifier is the most efficient way to increase humidity around your arrowhead plant in winter.

If you don’t have a humidifier, you can prepare a pebble tray or mist the plant to raise the humidity levels.

Also read: Do Arrowhead Plants Like Humidity? (+Misting?)

6. Use room-temperature water on your arrowhead plants.

Check the water temperature before using it on your plant in winter.

The water temperature becomes too cold in winter and using this to water your plants can severely shock and damage them.

If the water feels too cold on your skin, it is too cold for your plant too.

Instead of using cold or freezing water, switch to tepid or room-temperature water to avoid stressing your arrowhead plant.

7. Try not to repot your arrowhead plant in winter.

Arrowhead plants don’t need frequent repotting, and you must repot it when it becomes root-bound.

But you should not do it in winter.

Since winter is the dormant period for your Syngonium, it doesn’t receive the ideal conditions for growth during this time.

The repotting stress will impact the plant more in winter, requiring more time and energy to recover from that stress.

Repotting the plant in winter can also disturb the roots and cause damage to the plant.

Therefore, instead of repotting in winter, consider repotting your arrowhead plant in early spring.

If the plant experiences any situation like root rot where repotting is urgent, you can do it in winter.

8. Keep the leaves of your Syngonium clean in winter.

Coming back to the lighting conditions during winter, I already mentioned how the intensity reduces, affecting the photosynthesis process in plants.

If the leaves of your Syngonium are not clean, the rate of photosynthesis will drop even more, which can damage the plant.

After misting the plant, which will raise the humidity levels for the plant, you can wipe the droplets with a clean cloth to clean the leaves.

9. Beware of pests!

You must always beware of pests, but in winter, since the air goes dry and the environment loses moisture, the plants can also experience a dry environment, ideal for pests like spider mites.

You must not leave your arrowhead plant dry during winter and provide it with sufficient humidity and water.

Spider mites will not attack a plant that is in a healthy condition.

Similarly, avoid overwatering the plant in winter as that can bring pests that prefer moist conditions such as mealybugs, aphids, or scales.

You can mist your arrowhead plant with a neem oil solution to protect it from pests.

Final thoughts

Now you know that arrowhead plants go dormant in winter and require a little support from your end to survive it effortlessly.

Here’s a sum-up of all the care you need to provide your Syngonium during its dormancy.

Factors	Winter Care Tips
Light	Since the duration and intensity of sunlight reduce in winter, consider using artificial lights to cope with it. Clean the leaves frequently to keep them dust-free and allow them to absorb more light.
Water	Reduce the amount and frequency of watering and check the soil before watering the plant. Water your Syngonium with room-temperature water.
Fertilizer	Avoid fertilizing your Syngonium in winter.
Temperature	Keep your arrowhead plant in a well-insulated room where the temperature doesn’t go below 50°F. Don’t expose the plant to cold drafts, frost, or low temperatures.
Humidity	Maintain at least 40-50% humidity around your arrowhead plant with the help of a humidifier, misting, using a pebble tray, or grouping it with other humidity-loving plants.
Pest infestation	Keep pests away by not letting the plant go too dry in winter. Spray a neem oil solution once a month to keep pests at bay.
Repotting	Avoid repotting your Syngonium in winter, unless urgent.

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Reference: CABI, Britannica, United States Department of Agriculture, Wikipedia, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Missouri Botanical Garden.