If you are a plant lover, then Pink Princess Philodendron should be on your wish list for its gorgeous leaves with different pink variegation. Because of this unique characteristic, Philodendron (Philodendron erubescens) is popularly recognized as Pink Princess. Despite the fact that the heart-shaped deep green leaves of this plant have bubblegum pink variegation on them, this plant is completely different from Philodendron Pink congo. The variegation in Pink Princess is natural, whereas the variegation in Pink congo is the result of chemical injection.
Pink Princess Philodendron is one of the most trending on social media. This rare and stunning houseplant can enhance the aristocracy of your room. However, to maintain the pink variegation of Pink Princess Philodendron, you should have a clear understanding of how to grow and care for this colorful plant. This article aims to cover every aspect of plant care and offer a complete guide on how to care for Pink Princess.
Information About Pink Princess Philodendron
| Name | Philodendron Pink Princess |
| Botanical Name | Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’ |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Family | Araceae |
| Height | 2-6 ft |
| Sun Exposure | Medium to bright partial or indirect sunlight |
| Watering | When the top half soil is completely dry |
| Soil Type | Loamy and well-draining |
| Soil pH | Acidic |
| Bloom Season | Summer and Spring |
| Flower Color | Green, white |
| Native Area | South America |
| Cost | Approximately $50 to $100 depending on the size |
How to Care for Pink Princess Philodendron?
Pink Princess Philodendron is native to South America (especially Columbia) and is a tropical aroid that belongs to the Araceae family. Even though Pink Princess is quite expensive, people love to buy this plant as it is easy to care for. However, for better variegation on the leaves, you should take care of a few things. While the bloom time for this plant is summer and spring, if you are growing it indoors, you can hardly expect the plant to flower.
Here are some key things to consider-
Sunlight
Philodendron Pink Princess grows well under several hours of bright indirect sunlight. However, this plant can survive in lower light conditions. But if you want the leaves to become bigger and the vines to not become leggy, you should place the plant in bright light conditions. To boost pink variegation, you should ensure that your Pink Princess gets bright indirect sunlight for over six hours every day. Sometimes, the leaves of Pink Princess can revert back to green regardless of lighting. However, you should keep providing bright indirect light to boost the stunning variegation of the leaves.
Soil
Like every Aroid, Pink Princess Philodendron requires nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. To prepare the soil for Philodendron, take one part of standard potting soil, one part orchid bark, and one perlite and mix them well. In order to avoid root rot, you should make sure that there is no moisture-retaining crystal in the soil.
Water
When the top half soil is completely dry, you can then water the soil well. Overwatering can lead to root rot. If you are unsure about when to water, then look for wilting sign of the leaves. If you find the leaves to wilt, then water the soil. Watering also depends on the season, for instance, Philodendron requires more often watering in the growing season rather than winter.
Temperature
The adequate temperature for the Pink Princess Philodendron ranges from 65°F to 80°F. Therefore, the typical household temperature is good enough for the growth of Philodendrons. You should not keep the plant under 55°F. If you expose this plant to cold temperatures for a long time, that can be deadly for this tropical indoor plant.
Humidity
As a tropical indoor plant, Pink Princess Philodendron grows well in higher humid conditions. For most tropical houseplants, average household air is okay. You should only make sure that the air-moisture level is more than 50% for Pink Princess Philodendron.
Fertilizer
Regular fertilizing is essential for the significant growth of indoor plants. During the growing seasons, you should feed your plant with a weak solution of liquid fertilizer after every two weeks. Usually, you do not need to fertilize your plant during the months of winter. However, if you find your plant to grow during all seasons, then you can provide liquid fertilizer during different seasons by minimizing its strength.
Growth Rate
The Pink Princess Philodendron is a fast-growing plant and usually, it grows up to 2 to 6 ft. However, if your plant gets a significant amount of bright indirect light and humid conditions, it can grow up to 8 feet in height and 10 inches in width. For healthier and faster growth, place this gorgeous vining plant very close to a north or east-facing window, or nearby to a west or south-facing window.
How to Propagate Pink Princess Philodendron?
You can easily propagate the Pink Princess Philodendron by stem cutting. Propagation will help you not only to get a new plant but also to make your plant bushier and boost pink variegation. Follow these below steps to propagate your Pink Princess Philodendron-
- Pick a stem which you want to cut. Your cutting stem should have 2 to 3 exposed nodes at the bottom and at least 2 to 3 leaves at the top. Use sharp and sterilized scissors or shears to cut the stem.
- Take off the bottom leaves from the cutting. However, the leaves of the top.
- To let the edge of the cutting callous over, you should set aside the cutting for 12-24 hours.
- When the edge will get calloused, you have to place the cutting in water and put that under bright indirect sunlight. While you are placing the cutting in water, you should make sure that all the exposed nodes get submerged in the water.
- After 2 to 3 weeks, you will start to see new roots sprout from the cutting.
- When the roots will grow up to 1 inch, you can replant the cutting. Make sure that you plant the cutting in well-draining soil and water the soil thoroughly.
How to Repot Pink Princess Philodendron?
- Repotting is essential to allow your Pink Princess Philodendron to grow well and have enough space for the roots. If your plant is young, you should repot the plant once a year. If you have older plants, you can repot the plants after two to three years.
- The initial pot should be two inches taller and two inches wider compared to the root ball so that there is enough space in the pot for the roots to grow. The pot should have adequate drainage holes so that the excess water can drain out.
- In the case of repotting, choose a pot that is 2 inches larger all around than the previous pot.
Common Issues with Pink Princes Philodendron
If you properly care for your Pink Princess Philodendron, you are not likely to face any issues. The major and common problems with this plant are improper light, humidity, and watering.
- Browning Variegation
If you expose your Pink Princess to direct sunlight or harsh light, you may witness brown spots on the pink variegation. Because of the harsh lighting conditions, the pink spots get burned and become brown spots. Browning variegation can also occur due to a lack of humidity.
- Browning Edges
A lack of humidity can also cause browning edges on the leaves. As a result, the leaves of your Pink Princess Philodendron will start to dry out. This damage can not be reversed; however, you can prevent further browning by increasing the humidity.
Common Pests and Diseases for Pink Princess Philodendron
Common pests that can affect the Pink Princess Philodendron are spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, and scale. The diseases that you can commonly witness in this plant are root rot (due to overwatering) and rust spot (due to a fungal infection). Hopefully, this article will guide you to properly care for Pink Princess Philodendron. Keep your pets away from Philodendron as this plant is toxic to your pets.
