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Philodendron White Princess Care | Complete Plant Guide

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The Philodendron White Princess does well in a nutrient-rich, well-draining soil mix. You can keep her in bright, indirect light with around 60% humidity and temperatures of 55℉—water her once every seven to 14 days and fertilize bi-monthly for optimal results.

Philodendron White Princess Plant Care

This beautiful Princess is a cousin to the Red Emerald Philodendron. The White Princess Philodendron care guidelines are quite similar as well. However, this cultivar requires a little more indirect light to maintain its striking variegation.

While caring for these plants is relatively easy, most of us know the struggle of overwatering or finding just the right place to put your beauty. Luckily, this guide will help any plant parent ease into the world of royalty.

Keep reading to learn more about the rare Philodendron White Princess care.

How to Identify a White Princess Philodendron

The White Princess is easily confused with the rest of the Trinity or The Royal Court. This is a combination of the White Knight, White Wizard, and White Princess.

When the Philodendron White Princess matures, you’ll notice white marbled variegation on the leaves. It also has green petioles with a pinkish line running across.

Foliage

The White Princess Philodendron’s white leaves are typically blotched or marbled variegation.

You can expect more significant sections of white with tiny dots on the green pieces as well. The foliage tends to grow upward and bushes together along the stem. In mature plants, the stem is quite challenging to see.

Grow lights and bright indirect lights will increase the variegation naturally. You could even get entire white leaves.

Although, too much variegation means that your plant is not making as much food as it usually would have made. Since the green parts of the leaves are responsible for chlorophyll production and photosynthesis, this feeds the plant.

Philodendron White Princess Climbing

The Philodendron White Princess is not a climbing plant. It is a self-heading plant. This means that the plant can sustain itself without any support or training and vining upwards.

These kinds of plants are usually cultivated through seeds or tissue cultures.

This variety tends to be less vigorous than your usual heart-shaped Philodendrons.

Philodendron White Princess plant

Philodendron White Princess Plant Soil Requirement

A Philodendron White Princess needs to be planted in the most regal soil. Think dark, nutrient-rich soil with orchid bark, compost, and perlite to add a well-draining factor.

You can create a DIY mix or purchase premium potting soil. Just be sure that it has lots of yummy nutrients and can drain water within 30 to 60 seconds.

You can also treat your Princess to LECA balls. This inorganic clay substrate makes for a tidy and easy-to-keep soil replacement.

The Princess Philodendron would need to be fertilized more often as the LECA doesn’t contain any natural nutrients.

White Philodendron Watering Requirement

The crucial watering schedule is usually the downfall of many plant parents. I understand that plants need to be watered at least once every seven to 14 days.

Usually, we struggle with how much water to give and tend to either over or underwater our plant babies.

It’s best to water plants in the morning as they will have time to dry out during the day. Watering your plants at night leaves you at risk for bacterial infections and mold.

Add about a cup of water and wait between each pouring to see if any water flows out through the bottom. Be sure to throw out any excess water as leaving it here could cause root rot.

Philodendron Mamei Care - read on for more. from repotting to fertilizer, watering schedules, light, temperature, and

You can also try bottom watering. It is a long process but ensures that the soil is thoroughly wet and evenly watered.

Place the pot in a bucket of water and allow it to sit for as long as needed. You’ll know it’s ready when the topsoil is moist or there are collections of water floating on the top.

A definitive schedule on when to water your plants and how often you should be watering your plant can change based on the plant itself as well as the other environmental factors.

With a plant as beautiful and as rare as the White Princess, it’s good to use a soil meter. A meter will tell you it’s time to water and guide you into figuring out how much water to add. 

Philodendron White Princess Light Requirement

If you’re wondering how to encourage variegation in plants, light is the answer. The bright light will promote chlorophyll production, which aids in photosynthesis and allows the plant to create food.

Bright indirect sunlight is needed to help the White Princess retain its variegation and produce big and healthy leaves. If you’re struggling with light, you could place grow lights in the area.

Philodendron White Princess Temperature

The temperature around your Philodendron White Princess needs to be around 55℉ for a healthy and happy plant.

It’s also best to avoid any cold, windy chills as this may also impact your plant’s strength and how well it grows.

Philodendron White Princess Humidity

Humidity for your Philodendron White Princes is quite essential as it allows your plant to retain water instead of having it evaporate from the leaves and into the air. Humidity levels of around 60% are quite a good measure.

If you’re struggling with dry air, you can place a humidity meter near the plant for an accurate reading. If the humidity is too low, there are a few ways to fix this issue.

How Do I Increase Humidity?

A pebble tray is a quick way to amend the humidity around the plant. Find a big enough tray and add a bunch of pebbles to the bottom.

You can fill the tray with water (about two inches worth) and place the pot above it. You can also add a second tray between the pot and pebbles so that the water from the tray doesn’t soak up into the plant.

Another method most advised by plant enthusiasts is misting. While this method may sound simple, it does come with some extra added issues like how often you’ll have to mist.

Put some water into a spray bottle and spray the leaves once a day (preferably in the morning).

Misting will increase the humidity around the plant alone. Keep in mind that droplets on the leaves can become a breeding ground for bacterial infections if the water stands for too long.

The most ease-free method for increasing the humidity is to add a humidifier to the area. A humidifier will release water into the air.

This means that the plant won’t give off too much moisture into the air and can help the leaves retain moisture for longer.

Philodendron White Princess Fertilizer

Whether your plants are in soil or LECA, you’ll have to fertilize them regularly. A good fertilizer contains a healthy balance of all the necessary nutrients and minerals.

A bi-monthly addition (especially during growing seasons) to your plants will ensure healthy and consistent growth.

Liquid fertilizer is best as it ensures even coverage throughout the pot and allows the roots to soak up whatever they need.

 While fertilizer granules and powders can work, these options are usually slow-release fertilizers making it difficult to gauge just how much fertilizer you need to use.

In soil, you’ll want to water down your fertilizer until you find the right amount. Use half the recommended dose at first to ensure that the plant does not burn. Fertilizing plants in LECA is slightly simpler because you can easily wash out any excess fertilizer if you’ve added a bit too much.

 Does Philodendron White Princess Need Fertilizing?

Yes. Your Philodendron White Princess will do a lot better after receiving a healthy dose of fertilizer. Fertilizer ensures that the plant will receive everything it needs to flourish.

The best fertilizer is a 10:10:10 ratio of NPK. This ensures overall plant health and may even get your Philodendron White Princess to flower.

Philodendron White Princess Repotting

Your Philodendron White Princess will need repotting after you’ve noticed that the plant is root-bound or outgrowing its pot.

A root-bound plant will typically put out smaller leaves, and you may even see some roots protruding out of the bottom.

Repot the plant into a pot one size bigger. A pot too big will end up wasting water, nutrients, and fertilizer while stunting the growth of the plant itself. 

As the plant will only absorb what it needs, a bigger pot for a small plant is counter intuitive.

Be sure not to mess around with the roots too much, as this can cause shock. Gently shake out the root ball of any excess soil and replace it in its new home.

Try to use clean nutrient-rich soil and a sterilized pot.

Philodendron White Princess Pruning

Pruning your Philodendron White Princess is necessary once every couple of months. It’s best to remove any dead or dying leaves to keep up appearances and redirect nutrients to the parts of the plant that need it.

Be sure to use clean and sharp shears and cut the plant off at the base. Some people also prefer to cut off any brown tips, although this comes down to personal preference. 

Top Tip: Always sterilize your shears after use to best preserve the sharpness as well as to kill off any pests and bacterial infections.

How to Propagate Philodendron White Princess

Propagation is an easy way to ensure that you’re getting more of your favorite plant. Propagating a White Princess Philodendron is not as easy as propagating a Dracaena Marginata or Pothos plant.

You will need a suitable leaf node or adequate root cutting to ensure success. Once you have this, you can grow your new plants in a few easy steps.

Step One: Prune a cutting with one node and one leaf.

Step Two: You can place the cutting in water, moss, or soil (although water and moss are preferred).

Step Three: Place it in a medium-light area with lots of indirect light and no direct sunlight.

Step Four: Wait about six weeks for the cutting to take roots. Change the water as necessary.

Step Five: Plant the cutting in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Water as needed and avoid fertilizing until roots are strong enough.

Step Six: You can keep tabs on how well your plant is doing by assessing the leaves. You can use a kelp or seaweed solution to help promote root growth and chlorophyll production.

Common Problems With Philodendron White Princess

Philodendrons are typically affected by pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Other problems that can occur are root rot and chlorosis (especially if you’ve been overwatering).

Keep reading for some of the most common plant problems, learn how to spot them and which methods are best for prevention and cure.

What Does Yellow or Brown Leaves Mean?

The leaves of a plant often show the first signs that something is wrong with your plant. They’ll either show signs of spots, yellowing, chlorosis, or even sunburn.

Keeping an eye on your leaves will help you decipher what issues you may be facing.

Your Philodendron White Princess Has Yellow Leaves

Yellowing leaves on a Philodendron White Princess can be due to several reasons. Sometimes there’s a nitrogen deficiency in the soil, or you’ve accidentally over-fertilized your plant.

Although, the most common issue stems from overwatering. Root rot happens when there is too much water in the soil, and the roots end up turning to mush, browning and dying off.

The lack of nutrients in the plant will turn the leaves yellow.

If you catch this early, you can quickly recover from overwatering by rinsing out the plant’s root ball (carefully avoiding breaking off any healthy roots) and replanting the healthy plant.

Be sure to prune off any dead or dying foliage and place it in a darker room to recover. Harden the plant off by introducing more light after a week until it returns to its former glory.

Your Philodendron White Princess Has Brown Leaves

Brown leaves are quite a common occurrence in plants. The older leaves will shrivel up, die and fall off.

If you’re noticing brown tips, this may be an issue of sunburn or underwatering, not enough light, and even humidity.

Sunburn will usually appear in brown spots, whereas crispy brown leaves indicate insufficient water (underwatering or high humidity may be the main culprit).

You can move your plant out of direct sunlight if you think it may be sunburned.

You can also add a couple of watering globes to your plant if you’re prone to irregular watering. Watering globes are tiny tubes with globes at the end that regulate the watering schedule and make life a bit easier. 

Is My Philodendron White Princess Getting Enough Sunlight?

Philodendrons are typically famous for thriving in low light conditions and medium to bright light.

A clear-cut sign that your Philodendron White Princess is not getting enough light will appear in the leaves.

You’ll see that the variegation will disappear slowly from leaf to leaf, and the plant may revert to green instead of having its white marbled effect that we all know and love.

It may be best to move the plant into a brighter part of your home. If this is not possible, you can quickly add some grow lights in the vicinity to increase the light exposure.

Although, be clear on instructions and voltage as your houseplants can burn if the grow lights are too close.

Pests – Spider Mites and Mealybugs

Indoor plants tend to attract bugs. This is primarily due to the warmth and moistness of the soil and the homely environment amongst the foliage.

These pests usually include aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.

While the aphids and mealybugs are pretty easy to spot thanks to their white appearance, the spider mites tend to be red, tiny, bugs which could be a bit more challenging to see on the reddish petioles that the White Princess is known for.

These kinds of pests will suck the life from your plant, but in small doses, they won’t damage your plant all that much.

However, it is possible for them to grow out of control, and they will usually transfer themselves from one plant to another — spreading the infestation. 

If they’re spotted early enough, you can remedy the situation by cutting the infected section of the plant right off and dousing your plant in an organic neem oil pesticide solution.

Be sure to dilute the solution in water so that it won’t burn your leaves.

Step by Step Guide To Pest Management:

Step One: Rinse your plant in the shower or allow it to sit in the rain.

Step Two: Use an organic pesticide and spray it on the infected area.

Step Three: Prune any parts of the plant with too many bugs.

Step Four: Wipe it away with cleaning wipes.

Step Five: Quarantine the plant from the rest of your beauties.

Step Six: Monitor the infestation to see if it dissipates.

Repeat these steps as needed to ensure a clean and healthy plant. 

Philodendron White Princess Best Products

Here is a quick-click list of the best products to maintain a stellar White Princess plant:


FAVOURITE PLANT SUPPLIES

What Is the Difference Between a Philo White Princess and Other Philodendron Varieties?

There are a few Philodendron Erubescens varieties and cultivars. Each one is as beautiful as the next.

The most recent craze is the Philodendron White Princess Tricolor, a Philodendron White Princess with pink dappled throughout the leaves.

The White Knight vs. White Wizard is another debate — similar to the Philodendron White Princess v.s White Wizard argument.

The differences are pretty specific, and it’ll take a pro to quickly identify the Philodendron White Wizard vs. White Knight or White Prince Philodendron.

Keep reading to learn a little bit more about how each one differs.

What Is the Difference Between Philodendron White Princess vs. White Knight?

The Philodendron White Knight is very similar to the White Princess. The main difference is the curved leaves on the Knight, where the Princess has a pointed tip.

The Philodendron White Knight vs. White Princess comparison is also distinguishable by whether or not the plant can climb. A White Princess is self-heading, and the Knight tends to climb.

The White Knight will have reddish stems with white as well. This is different from the White Princess, which only has green and pinkish stems.

What Is the Difference Between a White Princess and a White Wizard?

The Philodendron White Wizard vs. White Princess is quickly distinguished by the petioles.

The White Princess has a pinkish line along the stem where the White Wizard is entirely green.

What Is the Difference Between Philodendron White Princess vs. Pink Princess

The White Princess Philodendron with pink is usually a tricolor. A Pink Princess Philodendron is very similar to a White Princess Philodendron, the only difference being the pink and white colors.

A Pink Princess Philodendron reverted will not turn white. It will revert to a dark green color.

So, if you’re wondering if you could get a White Princess from a reverted Pink Princess Philodendron? Unfortunately, you cannot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Philodendron White Princess

Have a look at some of the frequently asked questions about the crazed Philodendron White Princess for some more care tips and helpful information.

Where Can I Buy a Philodendron White Princess?

Locating a Philodendron White Princess will probably be a long wait and a few searches away. Since the plant is not readily available in most retail outlets, you’ll have to trust the online plant shops or plant enthusiasts for a White or Pink Princess Philodendron cutting.

Whenever dealing with sellers online, be sure to communicate with them about the quality of the plant and ask for images so that you can be confident that you’ll get what you expect.

How Do I Get My Philodendron White Princess to Flower?

A flowering Philodendron is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. You can expect more blooms with some extra added fertilizer that’s higher in phosphorus.

You’ll have to wait for a mature plant and keep your fingers crossed.

Is Philodendron White Princess Toxic?

Yes. The Philodendron White Princess contains calcium oxalate crystals. These are typically associated with things like kidney stones in higher doses.

Although it exists in smaller doses in the sap of the Philodendron, these crystals make the plant toxic if ingested.

Is the White Princess Philodendron Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Yes. Unfortunately, the Philodendron family is not a part of the air purifying plants safe for pets.

The crystals found in their sap can quickly cause gastro issues if ingested. Your pet may start to vomit or have diarrhea as the crystals irritate the throat and bowel. 

Is White Princess a Climber?

No, the Philodendron is not a climber. You can stake this beauty up and watch as she towers around three meters high, but she is a self-heading plant.

A self-heading plant means holding her own for a couple of years before needing some assistance from a moss pole.

Is the Philodendron White Princess Rare?

The Philodendron White Princess is quite a rare commodity. While the Philodendron Erubescens is more common, many of its cultivars are not mass-produced for leading retail nurseries to sell en masse.

This leaves cultivars like the White Princess and the Royal Court as beautiful collector’s items.

How Fast Does Philodendron White Princess Grow?

Philodendrons typically grow quickly depending on which cultivar or variety it is. The Philodendron White Princess is a variegated plant that isn’t as vigorous as all green types.

It takes around five years to reach maturity and grow a good couple of inches each season.

How Big Does A Philodendron White Princess Get?

A Philodendron White Princess can grow around one meter wide and three meters tall. These self–heading plants tend to grow rather bushy and remain rigid for a long time (unlike vining and climbing Philodendron).

Where Is a Good Location to Place My White Princess Philodendron?

The Philodendron White Princess is best suited to a bright area with very little direct light. It needs some indirect sunlight to retain the variegation and maintain chlorophyll production.

If the plant receives too much light, you’ll notice an uneven balance between the white and green sections.

Ready to Care For a Philodendron White Princess?

Out of all the Philodendron varieties, the White Princess is one of the most coveted and prettiest.

With its beautifully marbled variegations and striking green to set off the white, there’s no wonder it’s a must-have collector’s item.

Remember to care for your plant by setting it within the right temperature, humidity, and light. Water your plant once every seven to 14 days, and be sure to fertilize bi-monthly.

Place your plant in the proper soil ratio of compost, soil, and perlite to ensure a well-draining, nutrient-rich substrate.

Keep track of your plant changing throughout the seasons to ensure it grows as best as possible. Your plant baby will reward your time and effort with beautiful foliage that can liven any dead space within your home.