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In this beginner guide of how to grow a Philodendron Pink Princess you will learn about this popular plant which has become a coveted houseplant for plant lovers, including;
- Why is Philodendron Pink Princess so expensive?
- How to care for a Philodendron Pink Princess.
- How do you keep Pink Princess Philodendron pink?
- How to propagate a Philodendron Pink Princess.
- Common pests and diseases of the Philodendron Pink Princess,
Philodendron Pink Princess are expensive but also still a type of philodendron which are incredibly easy to grow.
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Why is Philodendron Pink Princess so expensive?
The Philodendron Pink Princess is expensive.
For the past 15 years, this plant has remained largely unknown, until it gained notoriety as a result of numerous Instagram postings and flashy reels highlighting its unusual characteristics.
This is because growers cannot totally guarantee their philodendrons will turn out white enough to actually sell as a Philodendron Pink Princess, even if the mother plant is already heavily variegated with white.
Unfortunately, many of them end up being disposed of because of too much variegation which is also a bad thing.
The white parts of the plant do not photosynthesis solar energy to produce chlorophyll for the plant like the green parts of the leaves. Chlorophyll is the fuel for the plant.
Too much variegation or albino growth can look really cool, BUT, this type of growth cannot gather solar energy and will eventually die back. If all the new growth becomes albino, the plant will not survive.
Cultivators have struggled to maintain this plant in stock since then, which is why a cutting with two or more leaves can cost upwards of $100.
Avoid the Pink Congo
Beware of imitation plants. The Pink Congo philodendron has solid pink leaves that will eventually revert back to all green. The pink princess philodendron generally has a good balance of pink and green variegation, not lots of solid pink leaves.
Kaylee Ellen has an amazing rare plant shop and she explains the craziness around the Philodendron Pink Princess and the Philodendron Pink Congo.
How to care for a Philodendron Pink Princess
Soil
Make sure your philodendron pink princess is planted in well-draining potting soil. I personally just eyeball my potting mixture.
I mix roughly 65-70% Miracle Gro Indoor Potting Mix with 20-25% perlite, and 10% horticultural charcoal.
I’ve found that philodendron pink princess like to be on the drier side, so let the soil dry out a little between watering. If you’re worried about over-watering, make sure to use a terra cotta pot. Always plant in pots with drainage holes.
Water
Water when the top inch of soil dries out.
Take care not to overwater, since philodendron pink princess will rot if kept soggy. If the leaves are brown and falling off, the plant is likely not getting enough water.
Droopy leaves can mean the plant is getting either too much or not enough water, but they should revive once you correct the issue.
Light
Philodendron pink princess grow best in medium light and bright indirect sunlight.
Not sure of the difference between direct and indirect light?
If you place your hand between your plant and the light; and if you feel the heat of the sun on your skin, or if the shadow your hand casts has sharp, hard edges, your plant is indirect light, which is just too extreme for most indoor house plants. If the shadow is soft, that placement has indirect light, and most likely your houseplants are going to be happy there.
Older leaves turn yellow naturally. However, if you notice several yellow leaves at once, it could be an indicator that the plant is getting too much sun.
They will tolerate low light, but if the stems become leggy with several inches between the leaves, you may need to move the plant to a brighter location.
Temperature & Humidity
The temperature tolerance of pink princess philodendron is standard for the species. In general, they should not be exposed to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Indoors, protect them from cool drafts, such as those from an air-conditioning vent.
These plants do like humidity, so if you live in a dry climate you might have to boost humidity around your philodendron.
To do so, you can place a humidifier, such as this one, near your philodendron. You also can place the container on a tray of pebbles filled with water, ensuring that the bottom of the container isn’t touching the water, which can lead to root rot.
Brown leaf tips usually indicate that the humidity level is too low.
Fertilizing
Fertilizer is plant food. It aids in the replenishment of lost soil nutrients, supplies essential ingredients for plant growth, and aids in the maintenance of soil fertility.
Fertilizer comes in a variety of forms. We have the following:
- Liquid Fertilizer
- Granular Fertilizer
- Slow-Release fertilizers
How do you know which fertilizer is best for your plants?
Liquid Fertilizer
Water-soluble plant food is another name for this. It’s combined with water before being used to water the plant. Liquid fertilizer promotes the growth of larger flower plants while also providing a simple and effective method of nourishing both the plant and the soil.
Liquid fertilizer gives you a lot of control over the amount you apply and ensures a uniform application. My favorite organic liquid fertilizer that I use on my houseplants is LiquiDirt.
Balanced Super Foods for Plants - Balanced Blend of Vitamins Minerals Micro-Fungi and Bio-Organisms
Granular Fertilizer
This fertilizer is strewn across the soil. It’s more efficient for pre-plant application and easier to store.
When overfed into the soil, however, it will burn the plant’s leaves off.
Unlike liquid fertilizer, immobile nutrients like iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) may not be able to reach the plant’s root.
Slow Release Fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizers are available in a variety of forms, including shell, piton, and capsules. It gently releases nutrients into the soil. It’s a resin-coated fertilizer that gradually adds nutrients to the soil by breaking down naturally due to water, sunlight, and soil bacteria.
Because there are fewer spaces to cover, this form of fertilizer works well in small pots. Slow-release compost relieves the stress of adding fertilizer to the soil on a regular basis.
So, what should you feed your Philodendron White Knight in terms of fertilizer? Most houseplants do OK with liquid fertilizer when grown inside as houseplants. This is also true of our White Knight Philodendron.
Fertilizer Summary
That being said, get yourself a balanced liquid fertilizer, follow the instructions on the fertilizer, and maybe apply half of what is recommended.
Feed philodendron pink princess houseplants with a balanced liquid foliage houseplant fertilizer that contains macro-nutrients. Water the plant with the fertilizer monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter.
Slow growth and small leaf size is the plant’s way of telling you that it isn’t getting enough fertilizer.
Pale new leaves usually indicate that the plant isn’t getting enough calcium and magnesium, which are essential micro-nutrients for philodendrons.
Toxicity
Philodendron pink princess should not be consumed by animals or humans.
Being educated on poisonous plants can help you avoid any accidents all the while enjoying your greenery.
How do you keep Pink Princess Philodendron pink?
I know we all want our princesses to be as pink as possible, but actually, the pink parts have no chlorophyll. If you end up with a leaf that is majority pink, it will eventually die. So, it is important to have pink AND green variegation.
Make sure to give your plant plenty of bright, indirect light to help it maintain its variegation. We’ll talk more about light further down.
If your plant is losing variegation—and this goes for the leaves becoming too green OR too pink—prune your plant back to just above a well-variegated leaf. This should give your plant a good chance of pushing out new growth that is also variegated (although there is no way to know for sure until the leaf grows). We’ll talk more about pruning further down.
how to propagate a Philodendron Pink Princess
Pink princess philodendron can be propagated using either water or soil propagation.
As part of the pant genre’s survival strategy, most (but not all) Philodendrons are for the most part easy to propagate.
Imagine if an animal breaks a portion of a plant growing and living in the canopy of a tree, another one will start growing from the broken cutting on the forest floor.
Most philodendron species can be propagated rather easily thanks to this survival characteristic.
Propagate the Pink princess philodendron in 8 Easy Steps!
Taking a top stem cutting (not a leaf cutting) from a mature pink princess philodendron and putting it in a rich, organic potting mix is the easiest approach to reproduce your pink princess philodendron.
A lot of aerial roots are produced by healthy pink princess. You should cut right below a node with a lot of aerial roots coming out of it.
- Using moist coco coir, perlite, and worm castings, make a tiny pot.
- Choose a healthy section of the main stem with 1-2 nodes with aerial roots from the top of your mature pink princess.
- Cut the stem just below the node with a clean pair of pruning scissors.
- Dip the freshly cut stem in a rooting hormone powder or solution.
- Plant the stem in your pre-made potting mix, burying the aerial roots 2-3 inches into the soil.
- Fill the rest of the pot with potting mix that has been left over.
- Thoroughly wet the area.
- Place in a warm environment with plenty of bright, indirect light.
Roots can take anything from 3-6 weeks to form, and in some cases even longer.
Lightly tug (and I mean gently) on the base of the stem to see if roots have begun to grow.
You’ve got roots if there’s some resistance.
common pests and diseases of the Philodendron Pink Princess
Philodendron are not prone to insects, but you may encounter aphids and mealybugs.
You can wipe off mealybugs with cotton balls dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Periodically showering the plant with water and applying insecticidal soap will help keep pests at bay.
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good and complete article, thanks for the information about Philodendron Pink Princess, I enjoyed reading it.