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Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’ is a tropical plant in the Araceae family. It has beautiful variegated deep green and pink leaves. It thrives in well-drained soil; 60-80° temperatures; plenty of bright, indirect light; moderate humidity. Fertilize in summer and only water when dry.
When choosing a Philodendron with pink leaves, be sure that the plant is a true Pink Princess. There is another Philodendron plant which is marketed as the Pink Congo. This plant has solid pink leaves due to artificial coloring.
The Pink Congo will revert to solid green leaves, in about six months. The true Pink Princess has natural leaf variegation, and ensuring this plant has all its preferred requirements, the variegation will last for as long as the plant does.
Philodendron Pink Princess Characteristics
Philodendron Pink Princess is a hybrid of Philodendron erubescens created by a grower in 1970. Like all Philodendrons, this plant is native to Columbia and has a striking appearance of beautiful heart-shaped, blush pink, and dark green variegated leaves.
Due to this variegation, all plants look different as they have different shades of variegations.
Some show large splotches or small streaks of pink, and some also produce solid pink or green leaves. Below are some scientific facts about this stunning hybrid.
| Plant Summary | |
| Family | Araceae |
| Species | Hederaceus |
| Genus | Philodendron |
| Botanical Name | Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’ |
| Common Names | Philodendron pink princess Blushing Philodendron |
The Leaves Of The Philodendron Pink Princess
The leaves of this plant are heart-shaped, shiny, with a waxy feel, and are strikingly beautiful, variegated colors of blushing pink and dark green. These leaves can grow to 9” in length and 5” wide.
The leaves of this Philodendron are exceptional, but they can revert to their original green color. If only one or two of the leaves on the Pink Princess plant has reverted, these leaves can be removed to keep them from taking over the entire plant.
The ideal is for a balance of pink and green variegated leaves, and although the solid pink leaves are stunning, they will not last long. To keep a Pink Princess from producing variegated leaves, ensure that the plant has enough bright light but not direct sunlight.
Growth Rate Of A Philodendron Pink Princess
The Pink Princess is a slow grower due to the variegated color of its leaves. Wherever the variegation occurs, these leaves lack the chlorophyll needed for the plant to photosynthesize and produce food from the sun’s energy.
To stimulate the growth of this plant, give it plenty of light. Although the plant cannot be placed in direct sunlight, standing near a window where it can benefit from as much light as possible will help boost growth.
The Philodendron Pink Princess can reach a height of 2 to 4 feet and a width of 2-4 feet. This plant is a climbing vine, so it will grow well on a grow pole or if left to trail down.
Caring For A Philodendron Pink Princess
The Philodendron Pink Princess plant is not too demanding but balancing the pink and green variegation of the leaves is necessary for a healthy plant. Below are some guidelines for keeping this plant happy.
Soil Preference of Philodendron Pink Princess
A Pink Princess grows well in loose soil to aerate the roots and soil with good drainage. Mix one-part organic soil, one part perlite, one part coco coir, and add in some horticultural charcoal for an ideal potting mix for this plant.
When To Water Philodendron Pink Princess
Give Philodendron Pink Princess Plants a drink when the top half of the soil is dry. Deep watering is best for this plant. Place the Pink Princess in a tub and water thoroughly and allow the water to drain out completely.
Watering the plant only when the top layer has dried helps combat pests such as fungus, gnats and other bugs that thrive on the top few inches of damp soil.
Be careful not to overwater the plant as the leaves will become droopy and turn yellow.
Constant overwatering can also cause root rot, so if the plant is still drooping even after being watered, this could be the problem. If this is so, the plant would need repotting.
Growers Tip – use a moisture meter to gauge the water level of the Pink Princess. When the water level reaches level 4, it is time to water the plant.
Temperature Requirements Of Philodendron Pink Princess
The ideal temperature for this plant is between 65 to 80°F and not lower than 55°F at night. However, they do grow well in any warm household temperature. If the plant is not comfortable with the temperature, it will droop and show signs of wilting.
Protect the plant from direct heat such as radiators in winter and in summer avoid any cold drafts or the stream from an aircon or cold air from an open window.
Humid Conditions Ideal For Philodendron Pink Princess
This plant will need some dehydration as the household humidity may be too dry. Here are some methods to use to dehydrate a Pink Princess:
Use A Room Humidifier
If there are many tropical plants in the room, use a humidifier at a 40% set to keep the plants happy and comfortable.
Mist The Leaves
Using a spray bottle filled with tepid water, mist the leaves once or twice a week, or daily if the weather is very hot.
Use A Pebble Tray
Place some pebbles on a wide tray and fill the tray with water until it covers the pebbles halfway. Set the plant on the pebbles. The pebbles will keep the plant from constantly being wet, and as the water in the tray evaporates, it rises and increases the moisture level around the plant.
Group Houseplants Together
All plants lose water through their stomata, which are tiny pores in their leaves, in a process called transpiration. This water vapor enters the air around the plant and increases the humidity.
When grouping plants together, transpiration increases significantly, and the humidity levels will improve.
How Much Light Does A Philodendron Pink Princess Need?
The Pink Princess plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but can be placed in the mild morning sun for a few hours. However, be very careful not to place the plant in intense sun rays.
This plant needs a minimum of 6 hours of light per day to produce the food required to remain healthy. Having enough light plays a major role in the variegation this plant will produce. Placing the plant near a window with plenty of indirect light is best.
When To Fertilize Philodendron Pink Princess
Fertilize this plant moderately every 4 to 6 weeks in spring during the growth period. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer. Always dilute the fertilizer to half strength to not damage the Pink Princess.
Fertilizing Tip – water the plantwellbefore fertilizing so that the fertilizer will dissolve throughout the root ball and will not cause the root tips to burn.
Climbing Support For Pink Princess
Philodendron Pink Princess is a vining plant by nature and will benefit from a trellis or post for support and to climb on. Add a moss pole or cedar board to the plant pot.
This plant will grow without support, just continue to prune the plant to force new growth resulting in a bushier plant.
Pruning A Philodendron Pink Princess
It is essential to prune this plant in the fall. While solid pink leaves are very beautiful, they will not last very long due to no or very little chlorophyll in them, so remove these leaves.
If the plant is not producing much variegation of pink in its leaves, it could revert to an all-green leaf Philodendron and stop producing pink in its leaves.
The main reason to prune this plant is to keep a good balance of variegated green and pink leaves. Pruning is also required when leaves become yellow or look unhealthy.
Prune the plant by trimming unwanted leaves with a clean and sharp hand pruner or scissors. Make sharp and clean cuts just above the node where the leaf is attached to the stem. Pruning will encourage new pink and green leaves to grow from this node.
Propagation Of A Philodendron Pink Princess
Propagate this plant by using one of the three methods:
Philodendron Pink Princess Water Propagation
This method is the easiest method to propagate and is mostly successful. Follow these steps:
- Select a stem with nodes and leaves and cut off 6” of this stem above the nodes. Remove the leaves so that two of the nodes are bare.
- Insert the stem in a glass filled with water. The nodes should sit in the water and the upper leaves above the water.
- Change the water every 3 days, and after about 10 days, the roots should appear.
- Wait until these roots are an inch or more long and plant in a 4″ planter with good draining soil. Keep the soil moist.
Water Tip: Fill the glass with water and allow it to stand overnight so that the chlorine in the water can disperse. Or use distilled water or rainwater that has no chemicals for propagation.
Philodendron Pink Princess Soil Propagation
Soil propagation is another easy method and is less work as the cutting is planted directly into the soil.
- Remove the cutting as for the water method. Leave only a small length of stem under the node.
- Half fill a 4″ wide planter with a good draining soil mix. Soak the soil thoroughly with tap water.
- Plant the cutting in the pot. It should stand sturdy and upright.
- Cover the plant with a clear plastic covering like a tent to hold in the moisture. Or sit the planter on a pebble tray or use a humidifier.
Philodendron Pink Princess Bare Stem Cutting
This method uses only the segments of the stem. The best time to propagate with this method is during spring and summer when the plant is growing. Follow these guidelines:
- Cut the stem on the side of each node and remove the leaves.
- Fill a clear plastic container, with a lid, with a mixture of half potting soil and half perlite. The clear plastic with lid container will allow light to penetrate and keep the humidity high which will help propagation.
- Moisten the soil but make sure there is no water lying at the bottom of the container.
- Place the segments in the soil, half-buried, with the eyes faced up. The eyes are the slightly raised pink areas that appear where the leaf was cut off. This is where the cutting will grow a new plant.
- Once all the segments are buried in the soil, close the lid, and place the container in a room with plenty of light but no direct sunlight. Lift the lid for a few minutes once or twice a week for fresh air.
- After a few weeks, some growth should be visible. Remove the lid to give the cuttings room to grow but keep the soil moist.
- Transplant the new leaf into a 4″ wide pot and bury the original stem beneath the soil.
Rooting Tip – dip the stem cutting in a rooting hormone to speed propagation.
Repotting A Philodendron Pink Princess
If the Pink Princess is growing well, it will only be necessary to repot every year or every second year as the plant outgrows its original pot. When the roots grow out from the drainage holes, this is a sure sign that the pot is too small.
The growing period in early spring is the best time to repot this plant. Choose a pot with drainage holes that is one size larger than the original pot. Fill the pot with a good drainage mixture.
Release the plant from its original pot and gently remove the soil around the roots. Look for any signs of discoloring or rotting in the roots. Cut these unhealthy roots off with clean and sharp scissors. Healthy roots are bendable and are either white or a light tan color.
If the roots have developed a ball, cut a few vertical cuts from top to bottom around the ball to free the roots. Half fill the new pot with the soil mix, place the plant in the pot and cover with soil until the plant stands firm and straight.
Water deeply and allow the water to run out from the holes in the pot. Place the plant back in its usual spot in the home.
Potting Tip –a good idea is to thoroughly water the plant the day before repotting to minimize stress.
Common Problems In Philodendron Pink Princess
Problems that are an occurrence in a Pink Princess plant are:
Brown Leaves On Pink Princess
This could be exposed to too much direct sunlight, or the temperature is too cold, or from fertilizer burn. Move the plant away from direct sunlight and ensure the temperature is between 65-80°F and never below 55°F.
Green Leaves On Philodendron Pink Princess
Pink Princess plants that produce solid dark green leaves are not receiving enough light. Move the plant to a room with bright but indirect light. Prune the green leaf to try and promote new variegated growth.
Diseases In Philodendron Pink Princess
The Pink Princess is susceptible to root rot.
- Root rot is caused by overwatering the plant. If the Pink Princess shows signs of stunted growth, the base of the stem turns brown and mushy, and the plant looks unhealthy, it could be a sign of root rot.
Remove the plant from the original pot and cut away any unhealthy roots. Wash the roots to get rid of any contaminated soil. Repot in new soil mix and a new pot or disinfect the original pot.
Pests Commonly Found On Pink Princess
Pests that Philodendron Pink Princess plants could encounter are:
- Mealybugs are white cotton ball-like bugs and are quick breeders. To rid the plant of these bugs, spray all the plant’s leaves with a solution of 1 cup rubbing alcohol, some dish soap, and ¼ cup of water. Repeat the treatment weekly until the bugs are gone.
- Spider Mites are little black or red dots that move on the plant and have webbing, just like spiders. Give the plant a good rinse under a faucet until the spider mites and the webs have washed away.
Treat the plant by spraying with the same solution as for mealybugs. This is to make sure no spider mites have survived.
Philodendron Pink Princess FAQ’s
Below are some FAQ’s about the Pink Princess Plant:
How Do I Get My Pink Princess To Keep Growing Variegated Leaves?
Bright light is an important role in caring for and encouraging pink and green variegated leaves. Placing the plant by a window without direct sun is best.
Where Can I Get A Philodendron Pink Princess?
Philodendron Pink Princess plants can be bought from nurseries or from collectors and growers, on the internet, or from Etsy.
Why Are My Pink Princess Leaves Stuck?
Pink Princess leaves get stuck and do not unfurl because of too little moisture in the room. This plant requires 50-75% humidity to thrive. Misting the plant every day or placing the plant on a pebble tray will help to increase the moisture levels.
Why Is Philodendron Pink Princess So Expensive?
It is expensive because growers cannot ensure that every plant will have enough pink on the green leaves to sell as a pink princess. The plant must have a good mix of pink and green variation, or if it’s mostly pink, it will not last long due to a lack of chlorophyll.
Philodendron Pink Princess Plant Care Conclusion
Philodendron Pink Princess is a sought-after plant for its beautiful dark green and pink variegated leaves.
The plant must get enough light to ensure the leaves remain variegated. Taking care of the needs of this plant is easy, and in turn, it will be the blushing beauty of your plant collection.