Syngonium Wendlandii Green Velvet - The Velvety Silver-Veined Beauty
Prepare to fall in love with one of the most tactile and visually striking Syngoniums available! The Syngonium Wendlandii, affectionately known as Green Velvet or Silver Goosefoot, features absolutely gorgeous velvety dark green leaves with a bold silvery-white stripe running down the central midvein. The contrast is simply stunning, and that soft, touchable texture makes this plant completely irresistible!
Native to the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, this beauty naturally grows as an epiphyte, climbing up tree trunks in the humid understory. That climbing heritage means you can train it up a moss pole or totem for impressive larger leaves, or let it trail elegantly from a hanging basket or shelf. Either way, it's an absolute showstopper that collectors and casual plant lovers alike can't resist.
What makes the Wendlandii extra special is how the leaves change as the plant matures. Young leaves emerge as simple arrow shapes, but as your plant grows and climbs, the foliage develops dramatic deep lobes that almost look like separate leaflets. It's like watching a plant evolve right before your eyes!
Light Requirements
Your Syngonium Wendlandii thrives in bright, indirect light, which helps maintain that stunning silver variegation and encourages healthy growth. An east-facing window is ideal, or a spot a few feet back from a north or west-facing window works beautifully. The plant will tolerate lower light conditions, but you may notice smaller leaves, slower growth, and the silver midvein becoming less pronounced.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch those delicate velvety leaves and cause them to lose their beautiful colouring. If you notice your plant stretching toward the light or the variegation fading, it's asking for a brighter spot!
Watering
The Wendlandii tends to be slightly thirstier than other Syngoniums and doesn't appreciate drying out completely. Allow the top 2-5cm of soil to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom. This plant communicates thirst subtly, so rather than dramatic wilting, it may simply look a bit dull or start dropping older leaves when drought-stressed.
It's important to only water when it suits the environment your plant is living in because everyone's home is different! In brighter, warmer conditions your Wendlandii will need more frequent watering, while in winter you can cut back as growth naturally slows. One important tip: avoid getting water on those velvety leaves, as they can develop stubborn white water marks that are difficult to remove.
Humidity and Temperature
As a true tropical rainforest dweller, Syngonium Wendlandii appreciates higher humidity levels, ideally between 50-80%. While it can adapt to average household conditions, you'll see the best growth and healthiest foliage with humidity above 50%. If you notice brown, crispy leaf tips or edges, that's your plant asking for more moisture in the air.
Try grouping your plants together to create a humid microclimate, or consider running a humidifier nearby. The Wendlandii also makes an excellent terrarium plant where humidity is naturally high! Due to the delicate velvety leaf texture, avoid misting directly onto the foliage and boost humidity through other methods instead.
Temperature-wise, keep things warm between 15-29°C. Avoid cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and temperatures below 13°C which can cause stress, yellowing, and leaf drop.
Potting Medium
A well-draining aroid mix with good moisture retention is perfect for your Syngonium Wendlandii. Our Ultimate Aroid Mix works brilliantly, or create your own using a combination of quality potting mix, perlite, orchid bark, and coco coir. The key is balancing drainage (to prevent root rot) with enough moisture retention to keep this slightly thirstier Syngonium happy between waterings.
Feeding Your Green Velvet
Support that stunning velvety foliage with regular feeding during the growing season. We recommend Growth Technology Foliage Focus at 3-5ml per litre of water at every watering for optimum results. This complete, balanced formula provides all 12 essential nutrients in ionic form for immediate absorption, keeping those dark green leaves and silver variegation looking their absolute best. Pair this with Growth Technology Rootzone at 1ml per litre every 2-4 weeks to encourage strong root development. Reduce or pause feeding during the cooler months when growth naturally slows.
Growth Habits and What to Expect
Syngonium Wendlandii is a versatile grower that can climb or trail depending on how you display it. Give it a moss pole or Grow Vertical Propstick to climb, and you'll be rewarded with progressively larger, more dramatic leaves with deeper lobes. Without support, it will trail beautifully from a hanging basket or cascade over the edge of a shelf.
This is a slow to moderate grower, so don't expect explosive growth overnight. But with consistent care, you'll be rewarded with a stunning specimen that only gets more impressive with age. Propagation is straightforward via stem cuttings, making it easy to share with fellow plant enthusiasts!
Important Note About Pets
Please be aware: Like all Syngoniums and members of the Araceae family, the Wendlandii contains calcium oxalate crystals which are toxic to cats, dogs, horses and humans if ingested. Symptoms can include oral irritation, drooling, difficulty swallowing, and vomiting. Keep this plant out of reach of curious pets and children, or consider our range of pet-safe plants if you have particularly adventurous furry friends!
Perfect For
- Texture Lovers: That velvety foliage is absolutely irresistible to touch!
- Collectors: A sought-after Syngonium that's still relatively uncommon!
- Climbing Plant Enthusiasts: Train it up a pole for impressive mature foliage!
- Terrarium Builders: Loves the high humidity of enclosed environments!
- Intermediate Plant Parents: Easy enough for beginners but interesting enough for experienced growers!
- Hanging Basket Displays: Trails beautifully for elegant cascading effect!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the silver variegation on my Wendlandii fading?
Fading variegation typically means your plant needs more light. Move it to a brighter spot with more indirect light and new growth should show improved silver colouring. The plant won't lose its variegation entirely, but good light really makes that silver midvein pop!
Why does my Green Velvet have white marks on the leaves?
Those velvety leaves are sensitive to water marks! Avoid getting water directly on the foliage when watering, and if you need to clean the leaves, use a soft dry cloth rather than water. Any existing marks are permanent but won't harm the plant.
What's the difference between Syngonium Wendlandii and Syngonium Rayii?
These two species are often confused but have distinct differences. Wendlandii has larger, broader leaves with a lighter green colour and a brighter silver midvein. Rayii is smaller overall with darker, more compact leaves and a more subtle silvery sheen. Both are gorgeous collectors' plants!
Please Keep in Mind
Every Syngonium Wendlandii is a unique individual with its own distinct leaf patterns and growth habit. The photos are representative examples of the quality and characteristics you can expect, but natural variations in silver variegation intensity and leaf shape make every plant one-of-a-kind. This individuality is part of what makes growing plants so special!
If you are from a quarantine restricted state & would like to purchase this plant we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service, make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
