Question
My young Syngonium plant is getting brown marks around it's leaves.  I have had the plant for a few weeks and the damage is spreading quickly.  The edges of the leaves are brown, and look like they'd be crisp, but are not.  I re-potted after buying, separating the plant and putting one half in an arrangement with other plants, and the other half in a small ceramic pot (6 inch diameter).  They receive a decent amount of indirect light, as my bachelor apartment is South facing, and I water when soil is dry on top inch or so.  The plant looks healthy otherwise and has been growing.  I inspected for bugs upon re-potting, as I always do, and found none. I read in your other answers that people often put too much soil on top when re-potting, could you elaborate on that (how to know how much to put) as well as any ideas as to what the problem is with my Syngonium.  Thank you, you were very helpful before when I asked about my Guzmanias.

Answer
Hi Jenn,

Your Syngonium is reacting to the damage done to tiny root hairs when you divided and repotted. Even when done very carefully, dividing root systems invariably causes some root damage. Assuming you provide proper light and water correctly, eventually the plant will stabilize and there will be no further leaf discoloration. New growth should be healthy and undamaged when it emerges.

Normal repotting involves taking an intact rootball and moving it into a pot one size larger. Soil is added to the bottom of the new pot so that the top of the original rootball is just below the rim of the pot. Soil is then added around the sides to fill in the space. If you added the proper amount of soil underneath the rootball, there is no reason (or room) to add soil on top of the original rootball.

When you divide a plant, the process is a bit more difficult, because the rootball has been cut through. However, the same principle applies and the top of the original rootball should be maintained with new soil added underneath and around the sides, but not above the original soil line. Damp soil that covers the lower portion of the stems can cause stem rot.

I hope your Guzmanias are doing well.

I have written articles on repotting, dividing plants and on Guzmania care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected]. I have also written an indoor plant care book in a PDF format that I can sell you if you contact me at my email address.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com