The beautiful and immensely popular plant (Philodendron erubescens’ pink princess’) is something that many people want. It has dark green, heart-shaped leaves with pink patterns, taking it a step beyond special. Some might confuse it for the Philodendron pink congo, but the pink princess doesn’t dye its skin like that one does. The normal and rare kinds of this species have different shades of pink, while the color comes from chemical additions in a type known as “pink congo.” The leaves tend to change into green after several months.
For your pink princess philodendron to stay looking good, it has to be given sufficient care. Fortunately, like many other philodendron plants, it’s not that hard to look after.
| Scientific Name | Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’ |
| Common Names | Philodendron pink princess, blushing philodendron |
| Family | Araceae |
| Type of Plant | Perennial (lives for more than two years) |
| Size When Grown | 4-5 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide |
| Amount of Sunlight Needed | Partial sunlight |
| Soil Characteristics | Loamy soil that is moist but drains well |
| Soil Acidity | Acidic |
| Time of Flowering | Spring and summer |
| Colors of Flowers | Green and white |
| Suitable Hardiness Zones | 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b |
| Region Where It’s Naturally Found | South America |
Pink Princess Philodendron Care Guide
Origin: A member of the family Araceae (tropical aroid), Columbia was born amidst large philodendron leaves, the pink princess philodendron.
Ease of Care: Although its upkeep is more costly than other plants, caring for this lively plant is a piece of cake. Yet several factors are rather important to the variegation on its leaves and need improvement.
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Lighting Requirements
Maximize the variegation. Also important is providing adequate light [for your pink princess philodendron]. Select a place where it gets several hours of bright, indirect light. Cultivated inside, this plant can stand a few hours of direct sunshine. These may produce more variations of variegation in it. Since your home may not have a bright, well-lit area for the plant to stay in, you would be advised to buy grow light. Lack of light will cause the leaves to revert from white back to green, and the striking variegation you invested in so much time for will be reduced.
Soil Requirements
As an aroid plant, the pink princess philodendron does well in airy soil with good drainage and one rich in organic matter. One good soil mix is a five-way combination of equal parts standard potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark. Pink princesses will grow well in such an environment.
Watering Guidelines
In order to keep the philodendron pink princess plant healthy, allow the top half of the soil to dry out after each watering, then water it again thoroughly. Generally speaking, this means a watering program once per week during spring and summer, depending on weather conditions. Watering in fall and winter is less frequent (once every 1 to 2 weeks). If you leave the pink princess in waterlogged soil, you may cause root rot. I generally don’t water more than it can drink so as not to put the plant at risk. If in doubt about its water requirements, give it an extra day; it’s better to delay harvesting.
Temperature and Humidity Preferences
When pink princess philodendron was first found in Chile, these plants grew only under conditions of constant warm and humid air. Today, they can grow quite tolerably at the average room temperature and humidity level of a typical household. Temperatures should range from 65 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 26 degrees Celsius), and they shouldn’t be subject to temperatures below the freezing point of water at sea level.
Fertilization Routine
The Pink Princess Philodendron needs a balanced liquid feed as often as monthly when it is in its growing season from spring to summer. As the plant goes dormant in early fall, stop fertilizing to avoid the accumulation of salt.
Pink Princess Philodendron Repotting Guidelines
The Pink Princess Philodendron should be repotted every 1 to 2 years or when it outgrows its current pot. If roots are poking through drainage holes or curling around inside the pot, repotting is in order.
Although it is technically possible to re-pot the pink princess philodendron every day of the year, in practicality, it should be done during spring and summer when the roots are growing. One should wait until the plant is due for watering before repotting, for it must be watered thoroughly to secure it in its new pot properly.
Step-by-Step Repotting Process
- A pot of choice (plastic nursery pots or terracotta pots preferable) 2 to 4 inches larger than the current one, with drainage holes.
- Have plenty of fresh, well-draining potting soil on hand for the plant.
- With tender care, pick off the pink princess from its current pot.
- Loosen the root ball as well, removing as much of the old soil as possible.
- One hand holds the plant steady in position while with the other, you pour fresh soil into the new pot.
- Gently water the newly repotted plant until a small amount of excess water drains out from the holes in the pot.
- Move the philodendron pink princess plant back to its original site and continue watering on schedule.
Pink Princess Philodendron Propagation Guide
Similar to many other philodendrons, the pink princess can be easily multiplied through stem cuttings. Besides creating new plants for sharing, propagation promotes a fuller plant and can enhance variegation, particularly if the existing leaves are showing signs of reverting. Here’s a simple step-by-step process for propagating your pink princess philodendron using stem cuttings.
Step-by-Step Propagation
Step # 1: Select Cutting Location
Choose a spot on the stem with 2 to 3 leaves and 2 to 3 exposed nodes at the bottom for your cutting.
Step # 2: Cutting Process
Use sharp, sterilized pruning shears or scissors to cut the stem of a large pink princess philodendron and separate your chosen cutting.
Step # 3: Trimming Leaves
Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting, leaving 2 to 3 leaves at the top.
Step # 4: Callous Formation
Allow the cut edge of the cutting to air dry and form a callous over 12 to 24 hours.
Step # 5: Water Propagation
Once calloused, place the cutting in water, ensuring the exposed nodes are always submerged. Put it in a location with bright, indirect light.
Step # 6: Root Development
Within 2-3 weeks, you should observe new roots emerging from the cutting.
Step # 7: Transfer to Soil
Once the roots reach at least 1 inch in length, transplant the cutting into soil. Use a well-draining pot mix and water thoroughly.
Common Pests and Diseases in Pink Princess Philodendron
Many different pests and diseases attack the philodendron pink princess plant, which is a popular houseplant. Some pests, including mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and simple scale or fungus gnats, are relatively common. Diseases are common and include root rot, caused by overwatering, and rust spot, resulting from fungal infections.
Resolving Some Common Problems Related to Pink Philodendron Princess
Pink princess philodendrons with good care aren’t too troublesome, but pink folks can have problems with watering levels, humidity, and light.
The pink color is lost and leaves variegation
If the leaves are not pink as they normally should be and, of course, aren’t variegated either, then it’s probably just a matter of too little light. To encourage intense variegation on the plant, bright, indirect light should be provided. Active intervention is necessary because once a pink princess philodendron has been completely reverted, it can never return to its variegation.
Leggy Growth
If the leaves are long and thin, it means that they lack light. The philodendron pink princess plant extends its limbs in an attempt to catch more beams of sunlight from above. In future growth, the plant will get leggy, so relocate to an even brighter position.
Browning Leaves
The edges of leaves turn brown if humidity is low. It dries the leaves out. Although the damage is done, going forward, a humid environment just around the plant helps keep it from browning.
Brown Spots on Variegated Leaves
Thin, pink variegation The daintiest brown spots can come from just a little over-exposure to harsh light. These spots are produced by the burn under generally intense lighting conditions. There is another factor, too; perhaps a lack of humidity. From this point of view, keeping up a proper level of humidity becomes all the more important.
Pink Princess Philodendron Purchases
Are you thinking of adding a pink princes philodendron to your collection? The following guide will assist with that decision.
Why Are Pink Princess Philodendrons Expensive?
The charm of the pink princess philodendron has made it one of the number I’s, but demand for this beauty far outstrips growers’ supply. One reason is that these plants take double work cultivating them from seeds because their variegation’s origins are in mutations. Their ease of care, however, is countered by the rarity of the variegation process, which pushes prices up steeply at first. But as the result of being produced massively in the last few years.
Pricing Overview
In 2021, fully-grown pink princess philodendrons fetched over US $ 2,000. On platforms like Etsy and Facebook Marketplace, even single-leaf cuttings could run to hundreds of dollars. Currently, due to increased accessibility, it is possible to buy a smaller plant for less than $ 100, and cuttings are available for between US $ 5 and US $ 10.
Choosing the Right philodendron pink princess plant: What to Look For
You should also carefully check the foliage and stems before buying in order to secure a healthy specimen that is highly variegated. When you look, make sure that the variegation is consistent (even check the petioles). Their leaves are especially vulnerable to fungal rust spot diseases; look for small brown spots on the leaves to ensure you get an uninfected plant.
Where to Find Pink Princess Philodendrons: Beyond Online Markets
The lady’s favorite pink princess Philodendron: Etsy and Facebook Marketplace used to be the only sources for this plant, but now it is available in all sorts of houseplant shops and nurseries. They are also available in major retail stores, such as Home Depot and Costa Farms. Worth noting is that prices on marketplaces such as Etsy and Facebook Marketplace are gradually returning to affordable levels.
Read also What Is Dipladenia and Mandevilla?
Conclusion
With its captivating beauty, the Pink Princess Philodendron needs special care to ensure good growth. But lighting arrangement, soil preferences, the watering routine, and coping with pests–it’s all worth it as you try to nurture this tropical perennial. As they have become available to more people, prices have come down and, although expensive by Chinese scales, are reasonably priced so that they can be added quite justifiably as a horologic work of art. Whether you buy online or locally, it’s important to understand a few common problems and how to get uniform threads and variegated colors when purchasing. Aesthetics aside, plant lovers will trek a glorious exploration of nurture and care through the Pink Princess Philodendron.
