Maintenance: Intermediate | Climate: Warm + Humid | Light: Bright + Indirect | Watering: Semi-frequent | Pet Safe: No
CHARACTERISTICS
The Pink Princess is a hybrid variety, sharing the qualities and needs of its Philondendron family. The stunning pink variegations of this plant make it easy to want inside your home. A slow grower, it can reach about 4 feet tall with climbing support. Learn all about what this rare masterpiece needs below.
LIGHT
The Pink Princess prefers bright, indirect light to maintain its appearance. Sunlight filtered through blinds or curtains, and placement a few feet away from a bright window is ideal. Well-lit conditions produce a range of leaf variegation with pinks and greens. It will tolerate lighting in between bright and low, however, it will affect its size and color. Keep it away from direct sunlight and rotate it regularly for even growth.
WATER
Water generously once the top 50%-75% of soil has dried, allowing excess water to drain out. It can tolerate brief periods of drought on occasion but keep in mind that this plant is native to tropical environments. Reduce watering frequency during fall and winter. To maintain the quality of your soil and leaf appearance, we do not recommend tap water.
AIR
Mimic a tropical environment in your space to keep your Philodendron happy. Maintain temperatures between 65º-85º and create extra humidity in the room. Provide a boost of humidity by:
- Misting the leaves 3-4x per week with non-tap water
- Adding a humidifier nearby
- Making a pebble tray that lives underneath the pot
- Placement in a bathroom or kitchen, if lighting is suitable
Keep your plant away from drafts, air vents, and heat sources. Extreme temperature fluctuations will cause your plant distress.
PLACEMENT
Philodendrons symbolize health and abundance, offering a deeper and intentional connection to its care. Thoughtful placement in your home can channel positive energy for health and positivity. While keeping the environmental needs in mind, consider placing it at the center of your room, where you gather with family, or in a bedroom, so you can keep its symbolism in mind daily.
POTTING & SOIL
We recommend a ceramic planter with plenty of drainage to provide an ideal moisture balance for your Philodendron. When repotting, keep it in a planter of the same size or no more than 2 inches larger. To grow your plant larger, pot up in size annually for the first 1-2 years. Mature Philodendrons can be repotted less often and will continue to grow when provided with climbing support. Read through Pruning and Propagating below to keep your plant at a manageable size.
A well-draining soil with amendments such as coco coir, perlite, and bark will provide a healthy balance of moisture retention, aeration, and drainage. This is important to ensure its roots have space to spread and are not suffocated by waterlogged soil.
SEASONAL CARE
When you’ve gotten the hang of it, Philodendron care is pretty simple year-round. Like all plants, there are a handful of seasonal notes to remember:
- Maintain comfortable temperatures and moderate humidity levels through fall and winter
- Move your plant a few feet away from cold or drafty windows
- If possible, bring it to a brighter area to make up for shorter daylight
- Water less frequently, and be sure to schedule it only once the soil has dried about 75%
- Avoid repotting, fertilizing, and other drastic changes that stress the plant
PRUNING & PROPAGATION
Pruning is key for maintaining a healthy and robust plant. Removing damaged and old leaves allows the plant to direct all its energy to healthy growth. With strategic pruning, you can also propagate the Pink Princess to grow your collection.
To propagate your plant, you’ll need:
- Clean + sharp pruning shears or scissors
- Jar or glass of room temperature, non-tap water
- Healthy, mature Pink Princess
- Cinnamon (optional)
How to propagate:
- Choose healthy stem(s) with a node or aerial root at the end. Make your cut above the node on a stem with multiple healthy leaves. Aerial roots are brown roots that grow above the soil.
- Allow your cutting to sit out for 24-48 hours so the cut can callous before placing it in water. You can also sprinkle cinnamon on the exposed cut(s) to prevent infection.
- Fill your clean glass with non-tap, room-temperature water.
- Place your stem cutting(s) inside the jar and put it in a bright, indirect spot.
- Refresh with clean water + pot into soil when roots are at least 3 inches long.
Be aware that the longer your propagations sit in water, the harder it will be for them to transition to soil when they're potted. Never prune plants more than 10-20% at a time.
COMMON ISSUES
You may see few issues when caring for this intermediate-level plant but when changes are spotted, you'll want to address it quickly. Some common issues your Philodendron Pink Princess might experience are:
YELLOW LEAVES
Leaf discoloration is often due to overwatering, low light, age, or a nutrient deficiency. To identify the cause of your yellowing or discolored leaves, check the soil moisture to confirm if it's moist or dry. Soil should be watered after it has dried about 50% down and bright, indirect light is best. The oldest leaves will also yellow off as the plant makes room for new growth.
BROWN LEAVES, TIPS, OR EDGES
Dry, crispy leaves or edges are a sign of underwatering, low humidity, leaf scorch from direct sunlight, or fertilizer burn. Start by assessing the soil moisture, lighting, and how much humidity you’ve provided. If you recently used a fertilizer treatment, the concentration may have been too strong. Prune away damaged leaves if needed.
CURLING LEAVES
Philodendron leaves curl when the soil or air is very dry. It can also happen as a result of temperature stress and pest infestations. Check the soil moisture and give it a generous drink, if needed. Be sure to mist regularly, create a pebble tray, or add a humidifier nearby to give it a tropical, humid environment.
DROOPING, LIMP LEAVES
Drooping leaves are common when your plant is under or overwatered, while adjusting to an environmental change, pest and fungus infestation, or when your plant needs a bigger pot. Check the soil moisture and read above to assess its environment.
The Pink Princess is naturally inclined to climb vertically. Without a pole or stake to encourage this style of growth, leaves will droop downward and take on a trailing appearance. This is normal!
LOSING OR LACK OF PINK COLOR ON LEAVES
The beautiful variegation on the leaves of the Pink Princess are only encouraged under the right light conditions. Lighting that is too low will not produce pink coloring and can even cause your plant to become fully green. Ensure your plant is in a bright room and move it closer to a window out of (direct sunlight) if it's losing the pink pattern.
SMALL GROWTH
Philodendron's will see stunted growth under low lighting, poor nutrition, and without climbing support. Provide a pole or stick for your plant to attach to while it's growing or after it has developed aerial roots.
PRO TIPS
- This plant is a natural climber, wanting to wrap itself around something and climb upwards. Keep it happy with climbing support such as a coco coir pole or wooden stick. In its early years, it will need to be trained to climb by gently attaching it to the stake with garden velcro or twine.
- Aerial roots are above-soil roots that are used to attach, absorb nutrients, and climb. As the plant matures, aerial roots grow longer. Let them hang, tuck them into the pot, or trim them back.
- If your plant is producing lots of green, place it in a room that gets plenty of bright light (at least 6 hours daily) or add a grow plight nearby.
- If your plant is taking on a predominantly pink color, move it a few feet away from its light source and prune away a few leaves to encourage development. Without green leaves, the plant lacks the levels of chlorophyll it needs to stay healthy.
You're a pro now! If any of your questions haven't been answered, let us know!
