Why Is My Arrowhead Plant Falling Over? (6 Causes+Solution)

The Arrowhead plant or Syngonium is a beautiful trailing or climbing vine widely grown as houseplants. But what if the plant starts to fall over? If your arrowhead plant is falling over and you don’t know what to do, we are here to help you out.

Arrowheads will often start to lean over as they grow since they are not self-supporting plants. Lack of proper light, improper watering, insufficient nutrition are the main reasons that make your arrowhead plant fall over. Other reasons include lack of pruning and pest infestation.

Falling over is a common phenomenon that happens to most plants due to lack of care or unfavorable conditions.

This article will discuss what makes your arrowhead fall over and how to fix it.

What is my arrowhead plant falling over?

The common reasons behind an arrowhead plant or Syngonium falling over are:

• Lack of light
• Insufficient nutrition
• Improper watering
• Root-bound plant
• Lack of pruning
• Pest infestations

Let us now understand all the above points in detail. 

Your arrowhead is not getting proper light.

If your arrowhead plant is falling over from one side, it means that they are not receiving enough light.

Arrowheads can adjust to different lighting conditions, but keeping them under low light for a long period will make them fall over.

The plant will start to fall towards the side where it receives more light in search of light.

Low light and sometimes intense sun rays can also make them fall over.

Arrowheads are sensitive to direct sunlight, and if by any chance you place them under harsh sunlight, their leaves and stem will get sunburn and damages.

Such leaves won’t not able to function properly, and due to this, the process of photosynthesis will get affected, and the plant will become weak.

Due to a lack of food and energy, the plant will fail to hold itself and fall over.

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

You are not providing them adequate fertilizers.

Fertilization provides necessary nutrients that the soil may not provide and is needed for growth.

Although arrowheads are not heavy feeders, they need some vital nutrients during their growing season.

They take the nutrients from the soil, and each time you water them, the soil drains some of its nutrients and water.

So, after one time, the soil will become nutrient-less, and plant growth’s get affected.

Due to the shortage of nutrition in the soil, the plant will start getting weak and stressed, which will cause them to fall over.

Overfertilization can also cause your Syngonium to fall over.

Fertilizers contain salts, and an excess of them can damage and burn your plant’s roots and make them weak, making the plant lean.

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

Your arrowhead plant is getting too much or too little water.

It is important to understand your plant’s moisture requirements before watering them.

Lack of proper understanding of your plant watering needs can create both underwatering and overwatering situations.

Overwatering is a more serious problem, and the damage caused by it is hard to recover.

Overwatering will make the soil soggy, and due to the excess moisture in the soil, the roots will start to rot and get damaged completely.

Such rotten roots will not provide any nutrients or water to the plant, which will make the plant weak and, as a result, fall over.

Yellow leaves are one of the first indicators of overwatering. 

Underwatering is less damaging than overwatering, but the plant will suffer if it is underrated for a long period.

The plant will start to fall over on one side as the leaves and stems will not share food from the roots.

As a result, they will get dehydrated and will become weak.

Whenever you notice that your plant is falling over, check the moisture in the soil.

If the soil seems very dry and starts to crack, you should thoroughly water your plant.

You will see your plant getting healthy again.

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

Your arrowhead is root-bound.

Arrowheads are fast growers, and so they need timely repotting.

Otherwise, their roots will get root-bound.

If you haven’t repotted your arrowhead plant for a long time, you may notice the plant falling over.

The roots will not get enough space for growing and expanding, and they will fail to take up the vital nutrients or water from the soil.

As a result, they will have stunted growth, increasing their chances of falling over.

When your arrowhead gets root-bound, its roots start to come out of the drainage holes present at the bottom of the pot.

In such a case, you must repot your arrowhead before it’s too late.

Also read: Do Arrowhead Plants Like To Be Root Bound? (+Signs & When To Repot)

You don’t prune your arrowhead plant.

Lack of pruning can also cause your arrowhead plant to fall over.

Pruning is essential for removing the damaged parts of the plant and keeping them in shape.

If you fail to prune the plant timely, it will start to get heavy on one side, so it will become difficult for the plant to maintain a proper balance, due to which it will fall.

Your arrowheads are infected with pests.

Arrowheads can get infected with pests due to unfavorable conditions like high humidity levels, warm temperatures, or overwatering.

Pests can be one major reason that will cause your plant to fall over.

The most common pests infecting arrowheads are spider mites, mealybugs, or scales.

These bugs are sap-sucking insects that stay on the leaves and stem and suck moisture and essential nutrients from the plant.

As a result, the plant will become very weak and fall over.

Pests can cause discoloration of the leaves and stunted growth in your plant.

Pests live in colonies, and it isn’t easy to recover a pest-infested plant.

If you notice any signs of pests, then inspect the plant properly and be ready to deal with them.

Also read: Bugs On Arrowhead Plant: Common Pests+How To Get Rid Of Them

How to fix a falling arrowhead plant?

We have discussed why your arrowhead plant is falling over, now is the time to discuss how you can fix this problem and add life to your plant.

You can fix the falling-over problem by caring for your plant and providing basic needs such as proper light, water, and nutrition.

Let’s understand the steps you can take to save your Syngonium from falling over.

Choose a bright location for keeping your arrowhead plant.

Arrowheads are plants that do not like to grow in too bright or too dark locations.

Therefore, you should keep your plant near a window that can provide bright, indirect, or dappled throughout the day.

Bright indirect light for 6-8 hours is enough for the healthy growth of your arrowhead. 

They can tolerate direct sunlight in the morning and evening, but they need indirect light for the other times as the direct sun rays can make the leaves scorch.

The ideal spot for an arrowhead plant would be near a north-facing or east-facing window, as this window will provide them with consistent levels of light throughout the day.

But use a curtain or blind if these windows get direct sunlight, or place your arrowhead 5-7 feet away from the window.

If you think your Syngonium is not getting sufficient light, you can use artificial lights.

You can find these artificial or grow light online and use it to provide light to your plant. 

Maintain a proper watering routine for your arrowhead.

Arrowhead needs maximum water in its growing season. 

It will require watering once in 1-2 weeks.

But before watering:

1. Check the moisture level of the soil.
2. Water only when 50-75 % of the soil feels dry.
3. Water your arrowhead thoroughly until the excess water drains out from the pot. 

You should reduce watering to half in winter as the plant goes into a dormant state, tries to survive the adverse conditions, and slows down its growth.

Since the plant grows slowly, it doesn’t require much watering in the dormant season.

You can water your arrowhead plant once in 2-3 weeks in the winter.

If you are a beginner, you can opt for a moisture meter to check the soil’s moisture level.

If the reading shows 2 or 3, you can water your Syngonium.

Avoid overwatering your arrowhead as they hate sitting in standing water, and the excess moisture in the soil creates a damp environment for fungi and diseases to grow.

Also, never let them feel thirsty.

Water your plant only after checking the soil to avoid any problem. 

Fertilize your arrowhead plant at the right time.

Arrowheads should be fertilized once a month during their growing season, i.e., spring and summer.

You should fertilize your plant with a well-balanced NPK liquid fertilizer in the ratio 10:10:10 or 20:20:20.

Fertilize the plant every two weeks during its growing season.

While fertilizing, dilute the dose and reduce it to half strength to avoid the situation of over-fertilization.

Before fertilizing, always read the instruction on the label to avoid any uncertain circumstances.

Never fertilize the plant during winters as it is dormant and slows down its growth.

Prune your arrowhead plant on time.

To keep your arrowhead bushy and healthy and prevent it from falling over, trim the plant frequently during the growing season if it has grown too large for your home.

Prune the uneven growth, damaged portions, older or climbing stems as they grow.

For pruning, cut back the tips of the stem and the long vines as you notice on your plant.

Arrowheads are toxic, so always wear gloves and sanitize the pruning instruments before trimming the plant.

Never remove 1/3 portion of a plant, which can put the plant in shock. 

Take appropriate actions for treating pests.

If you have a pest-infested arrowhead plant, consider taking immediate actions for its recovery.

• First, give a bath to your plant so that pests runoff along with the water.
• You can remove the visible pests by handpicking them. 
• If the pests are tiny and not visible, you can use rubbing alcohol solution to remove them. For this, dip cotton swabs in the solution and rub the leaves pests on them.
• You can also use neem oil solution and spray over the plant every week until the pests disappear.
• If pests are still present, use suitable pesticides or insecticides to remove them. Follow the package instructions carefully before using such chemicals.

Repot your arrowhead plant once in 2-5 years.

Arrowheads have thick and vigorous roots that grow fast and can get root bound if you don’t repot the plant.

You should repot your arrowhead plant in the spring or early summer as it is its active period, and they can easily recover from the repotting stress.

Never consider repotting during winter, as repotting in such time can put your plant in shock.

If you feel that your Syngonium is getting root-bound and falling over, you should repot it in fresh new soil and pot.

For repotting, choose a pot 2 inches bigger than the previous one.

Also, the pot must have drainage holes to drain out the excess water.

Choose a well-draining and nutritious soil for your arrowhead plant to ensure healthy growth.

You can consider a mix of potting soil, pumice or perlite, and coco coir.

Before repotting, water your arrowhead thoroughly and also after you repot it.

This will help the plant to settle in its new environment.

How can I keep my arrowhead plant upright?

If your arrowhead plant has become large, it may fall as it cannot hold itself and stand upright.

Here are two ways that will help you keep your arrowhead upright.

• Prune the top of your arrowhead plant
• Use wooden stakes to keep the plant upright

Pruning the top of the plant

If you have a tall arrowhead plant that has become bushy, start clipping off the top portion to reduce the length.

Pruning from the top is a good option as it will prevent your arrowhead plant from falling over and keep them upright.

If you notice any extended stem, clip it off from its tip to encourage new growth.

If your plant is still leaning, you can use wooden stakes to support its growth.

Supporting the Syngonium with wooden stake

A wooden stake is a useful material that will keep your arrowhead plant upright and help them grow in a particular direction.

Insert the wooden stake about 1-2 inches deep in the soil from the base of your plant.

Attach the stake with the plant by using tapes.

You can also use more than one stake if one is not enough for supporting your plant.

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