Botanical name: Philodendron erubescens’pink princess’
Common name: Philodendron pink princess, blushing philodendron
Family: Araceae
Plant type: Perennial
Mature size: 2-4 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide
Sun exposure: Partial
Soil type: Muddy, moist but well-draining
Soil pH: Sour
Bloom Time: Our summer
Flower Color: Green, white
Hardiness zones: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Homeland area: South America
Pink Princess Philodendron Care
Native to Columbia, the pink princess philodendron is a tropical aroid in the Araceae family. Despite its high price tag, this colorful plant is actually quite easy to care for. That said, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure you maximize the variety on the blades. While the Pink Princess does produce flowers, the spatters are insignificant compared to the plant’s foliage and it is rare for them to bloom indoors.
Light
Providing your pink princess philodendron with enough light is the most important factor that affects the amount of variety it will have. Choose a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light. When grown indoors, the pink princess philodendron can also tolerate a few hours of direct light, which can help increase its variety. If you do not have a place in your home that receives enough light, it is recommended to buy a grow light for this plant. Without enough light, the leaves of the pink princesses will quickly begin to return to green and it will lose its amazing variety.
Soil
As an aroid, the pink princess philodendron enjoys airy, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A mixture of one part regular potting soil, one part perlite and one part orchid bark is ideal for the pink princess.
Water
Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly. Make sure your pink princess never sits in waterlogged soil as they are susceptible to root rot. It is much easier to overwater your pink princess philodendron than to under water, so if you are unsure if it needs water, gently aerate and wait another day.
Temperature and humidity
The pink princess philodendron does best in warm, humid conditions—although typical household temperatures and humidity levels are fine for these hardy plants. Ideally, keep your plant in temperatures between 65 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 26 degrees Celsius) and avoid exposing it to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).
Fertilizer
During its growing season (spring and summer), the pink princess philodendron benefits from regular monthly feeding with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing your plant in early fall when it enters its dormant period.
Propagating Pink Princess Philodendron
As with most philodendrons, the Pink Princess can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Not only will this help you create a new plant to share with a friend, but propagation also results in a bushy plant and can help encourage variety (especially if the leaves on your plant have started to go back). Here’s how to propagate your pink princess philodendron with stem cuttings in just a few simple steps:
- First, choose where to cut the stem of your plant. You want your cutting to have 2 to 3 leaves and 2 to 3 exposed nodes at the bottom of the cutting.
- Using a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears or shears, cut the stem and separate your cutting.
- Remove the lower leaves from your cutting, leaving only 2 to 3 leaves on top.
- Set the cut aside for 12 to 24 hours to allow the cut edge to become rough.
- Once the edge has hardened, place the cutting in water and place it in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Make sure the exposed nodes of the cut are submerged in the water at all times.
- Within 2-3 weeks you should start to notice new roots sprouting from the cutting.
- Once the roots have grown to at least 1 inch in length, the cutting can be transferred back to the soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and water well.
Common pests and plant diseases
The pink princess philodendron is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scales and fungus gnats. Common diseases include root rot, which is a result of overwatering, and rust spot, which is a result of a fungal infection.
Common problems with Pink Princess Philodendron
With proper care, pink princess philodendrons are relatively problem-free. Common problems with these tropical plants usually arise from improper watering, humidity or light.
Browning edges
Browning edges on the leaves of a pink princess philodendron is usually a result of a lack of moisture causing the leaves to begin to dry out. Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the damage once it has occurred, but increasing the humidity around the plant should prevent further browning.
Browning Variegation
The last thing you want to see on your beautiful pink variety are brown spots, but that can unfortunately happen if you’ve exposed your plant to light that’s too harsh. The delicate pink spots on the leaves are prone to burning under harsh light conditions, resulting in large burn spots. Sometimes this can also be a result of a lack of humidity, as mentioned above.
These tropical plants have exploded in popularity due to their stunning foliage, making it difficult for growers to keep up with demand. The cost is particularly high because these plants are not easily grown from seed due to their variation being a result of mutation. This has resulted in sky-high prices, despite the fact that pink princesses are actually relatively easy to care for.
This is most likely due to a lack of light. Make sure your plant is exposed to bright, indirect light and avoid low light conditions to promote strong variety.
Low growth is an indication that your plant is not getting enough light, causing the leaves to reach more light. Move your plant to a brighter location to prevent new growth from coming in leggy.
