Basic Arrowhead Plant Care
Native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, the Arrowhead is a fairly easy plant to take care of. Below you will find our complete Arrowhead care guide to help you look after your plant and spot any issues that may occur.
| Light |
Bright Indirect LightI love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves. |
| Water |
Water ModeratelyI don’t like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I’m after. |
| Humidity |
High HumidityI thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often. |
| Soil |
Potting SoilI need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water. |
Arrowheads like bright, indirect light
Although Arrowhead Plants can survive in lower light areas of your home, it will thrive the most in bright, indirect sunlight. Make sure to keep it away from too much direct sunlight as over time this will burn its leaves.
Let your Arrowhead dry out between waterings
Arrowhead plants don’t like super dry soil, but they don’t like their roots to be soggy either. So water it well but then let your plant dry out before watering again.
Arrowheads prefer warmer temperatures
Your Arrowhead plant will be happier in the warmer areas of your home. Make sure to keep it away from any drafty windows or doors as the cold air coming in from the outside will shock your plant and harm its growth potential.
Only fertilise in Spring or Summer
The best time to fertilize your Arrowhead plant is in the growth months. Never fertilize in the winter as the growth will be minimal anyway.
Keep the humidity high for your Arrowhead
Your Arrowhead plant will reward you if you increase the humidity levels, especially in the colder months where the heating will dry out the air in your home. You can find out how to increase the humidity in our humidity guide.
Arrowhead plants are mildly toxic to pets and humans
Keep your Arrowhead plant away from small humans and pets who might likely eat some of the leaves. Ingestion can cause mild stomach and mouth irritation. Their sap can also cause mild skin irritation so we recommend wearing gloves when handling your Arrowhead.
It couldn't be easier to propagate your Arrowhead.
Arrowhead plants can be quite quick growers and are really easy to propagate. Simply take a cutting that includes a node and place it in water. After a few weeks, roots should begin to show and your cutting will be ready to pot into soil.
Where is the node on an Arrowhead Plant?
You can find the nodes on an Arrowhead Plant by finding where the leaves meet the stem. You will often be able to feel a small bump on the stem where the nodes are.
When propagating an Arrowhead Plant, you’ll need to take a cutting with at least one or two nodes on to ensure that roots and new leaves can develop. Without a node, there will be no chance of a successful propagation.
Arrowhead Plant FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Arrowhead Plant .
Are Arrowhead Plants toxic?
Ingestion of any part of the Arrowhead Plant can cause mild stomach and mouth irritation. Their sap can also cause mild skin irritation so we recommend wearing gloves when handling your Arrowhead, and especially when propagating where you might be taking cuttings.
Are Arrowhead Plants easy to care for?
The Arrowhead Plant can be fairly easy to care for but it’s not a total beginner or low-maintenance houseplant.
Can Arrowhead Plants tolerate low light?
Arrowhead Plants can adapt to lower light conditions, although bright but indirect light will always be best. In low light, you’ll find that growth is a lot slower and the leaves can be smaller.
How often should I water my Arrowhead Plant?
On average you want to be watering your Arrowhead Plant weekly in spring and summer and fortnightly in winter. Just make sure that the potting mix has time to dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.
How big do Arrowhead Plants get?
Arrowhead Plants can grow to about 6 feet if not pruned or propagated.
Common Problems with your Arrowhead Plant
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
Why are my Arrowhead's leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves on your Arrowhead plant may be caused by overwatering. Whilst that is the most common issue, it is also worth looking into the light levels around your Arrowhead as too much direct light can cause yellow leaves.
Why is my Arrowhead drooping?
If you notice that your Arrowhead is drooping or looking limb, it is most often caused by underwatering or a lack of humidity. Increase the frequency of watering and mist the leaves every few days and the leaves should perk up.
Why are my Arrowhead's leaves pale?
Pale leaves, similarly to yellow leaves, is an indication of too much direct sunlight. Try moving your plant to a shadier spot and removing any bleached leaves.
Why are the tips on my Arrowhead turning brown?
Dry, brown leaf tips on your Arrowhead plant is a signal of dry air. Luckily this is easy to fix by misting the leaves every few days to increase the humidity.
Why is my Arrowhead Plant losing leaves?
Your Arrowhead Plant will often lose leaves due to watering issues, either overwatering or underwatering. We recommend taking your plant out of its pot to see how much moisture is in the potting mix. Black soft roots also mean that your Arrowhead Plant is losing leaves due to overwatering.
Your Arrowhead Plant might also be losing a few leaves due to natural ageing. This is something that happens naturally and isn’t the result of anything you have done wrong. Like most other houseplants, Arrowheads will often lose a few leaves to focus their energy on new healthy growth. This rate of leaf drop should be slow and usually affect the smallest and lowest leaves on your Arrowhead Plant.
Why does my Arrowhead Plant have curling leaves?
There are a few factors that can lead to your Arrowhead Plant starting to develop curling leaves. The most common issues include: low humidity levels, underwatering, too much direct sunlight or temperature extremes.
It can take a little bit of time to diagnose the reason why your Arrowhead Plant is curling, so start by inspecting the moisture levels in the potting mix before monitoring environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and light levels.
Luckily, curling leaves on an Arrowhead Plant is often reversible, so with the right care, your plant should be back to normal soon!
