Everything about the Shingle plant

The exotic Shingle Plant (Rhaphidophora cryptantha and Rhaphidophora hayi ) is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Araceae family. This wonderful green vine is native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Its leaves can grow 3 inches in length and its vines can climb to 8-10 feet.

This plant thrives in warm, tropical temperatures, thus people usually grow it as a houseplant. Caring for the Shingle Plant is relatively easy, and this makes it a very attractive choice for beginner gardeners.

Care

If you live in a warm climate (e.g.: Florida), you should not have any problem growing a Shingle plant outdoors. Anywhere else, growing it indoors is the way to go. In a nutshell: just keep it out of direct sunlight, keep it warm and moist.

• Soil: This plant loves moist but well-draining, slightly acidic (pH 6.1 – 6.5) soil. We recommend using aroid soil mix for the best results.

• Water: The Shingle plant is a relatively thirsty one. Since it is native to rainforests, you just cannot let its soil dry out (check the top 2 inches of the soil). Our suggestion: water it every 2-3 days.

• Light: Nothing tricky here, just keep it out of direct light. It thrives in bright, but indirect sunlight.

• Pruning: The Single plant does not require much pruning. Just cut off the damaged or dead leaves when they appear.

Propagation

You can easily propagate a shingle plant using stem cuttings.

1. Cut off a small (4 to 6-inch) stem with at least 2 nodes and a leaf.
2. Put the stem in moist soil with at least one node buried.
3. Cover the pot with a bag and keep it in a humid, warm place for about 2 weeks.
4. Remove the bag and put something in the pot so it can start climbing.

Common Pests

• Mealybugs
• Aphids
• Scale
• Spider mites

Frequently Asked Questions