Philodendron Pink Princess Care - Expert Tips

The key to philodendron pink princess care is to give it plenty of indirect light to encourage the variegation and to not over water it…

Philodendron Pink Princess Care Summary

Light needs:	Bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Check weekly, water if top half of the soil is dry.
Fertilizer:	A balanced fertilizer once a month in spring and summer.
Soil:	A well draining potting mix with 20% perlite.
Humidity:	50%.
Temperature:	18°C to 27°C (64-81°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Common issues:	Overwatering, mealybugs.

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Introduction

One of the most popular rare houseplants in recent years – the philodendron pink princess is known for it’s bright pink variegated splashes. It is a cultivar of the popular philodendron erubescens. It is relatively easy to care for, we run down all you need to know about this beauty…

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Light Needs

A philodendron pink princess will do best in bright indirect sunlight, as it will encourage growth and variegation. Do not let the plant get direct sun as it can burn the leaves, especially the variegated parts.

Pink Princess Philodendron All Pink Leaves

I have a few pink princesses, and there is such a thing as too much variegation, for example if you get an all pink leaf. In this case I would enjoy the leaf for a day or two and then cut it back. It will die anyway as it cannot produce enough energy on it’s own. I cut mine back past the node and then move it somewhere with less light to try to encourage less variegation. The perfect leaf for me is the half-moon to be honest, you do not want them producing all pink as they will die quickly.

One of my pink princesses put out an all pink leaf. They look stunning, but die off vey soon as they cannot support themselves without chlorophyll. I appreciated it for a coupe of days and then cut it off.

Half Moon Philodendron Pink Princess

Some plants are sold as half moon pink princesses. They are really sought after as they have an ideal amount of variegation. Be careful though as the leaves after the half moons could be different – they might be more variegated or have none, it can change per leaf, so don’t buy a half mon plant and expect every leaf to be half moon.

How To Propagate Philodendron Pink Princess

These beautiful plants are easy to propagate, the key is to get a stem cutting with one node and one leaf, and let the cutting callous over for an hour or two to reduce the risk of rot. Then plant the cutting up in a cup of moist sphagnum moss, and then put it in a bright window sill but to the side, away from direct sunlight. It should root within 4 to 8 weeks and start to put out new leaf growth in 2 months. You can then pot it up into soil and treat as a normal plant. Use a well draining Philodendron Soil.

You can use water, soil or leca too. I have used leca many times, but I have found that sphagnum is the best in terms of successful props.

Be careful if you’re squeamish! When cutting your pink princess hey have a blood-like sap.

How Often to Water

Check your plant every week and test the soil with your finger. Only water it if the top half of the soil is dry. Do not flush a pink princess with lots of water, but instead give it just enough water until water drips out the bottom, then stop.

Let the plant drain for about ten minutes before putting it back in its outer container, as it is really important that a ppp’s roots do not sit in water or wet soil as this can lead to root rot.

Fertilizer

Give it a balanced feed monthly in the spring and summer.

Soil

Use a very well draining compost to avoid root rot. This plant must not sit in wet soil. 20% perlite to 80% potting compost is a good mix. For more on Philodendron soil see our guide on what to buy or how to make your own: P h ilodendron Soil.

When To Repot

Repot your pink princess in spring to give it more space and to refresh the nutrients in the soil.

Humidity

50% humidity is ideal for a ppp, so give it a pebble tray with water under it or a humidifier.

Temperature

These plants do well in most households as the ideal temperature range is 18°C to 27°C (64-81°F). Just don’t let them get too cold in the winter.

philodendron pink princess vs pink princess marble

The pink princess marble refers to a cultivar that has a really in demand marble variegated pattern. Be careful, there is no guarantee that this patterning will remain on the new growth.

philodendron pink princess vs strawberry shake

These are easy to tell the difference, as the strawberry shake has a reddish/orange hue to it, the pink princess has a defined pink color in the variegation..

philodendron pink princess USDA Zone

Zones 9b-11.

Where To Buy

Try one of these Rare Plant Shops. Or Etsy.

Other Names

Philodendron erubescens pink princess.

Philodendron Pink Princess Care FAQs and Common Problems

Overwatering is the biggest cause of issues in these plants. Do not let them sit in soggy wet soil, make sure you tip all extra water out after watering, and only water them if they need it. Root rot and leaf-browning are very common issues from overwatering. Also keep an eye out for common plant pests like mealybugs.

Do Pink Princess Philodendrons Revert?

Pink princesses can revert. If they put out leaves with no pink variegation, you can cut them off, back to the last node that produced a variegated leaf. Then move it to a brighter location (but not direct sun). The light and cutting back to a variegated node should both encourage more variegation.

Pink Princess Philodendron Vs Pink Congo?

The pink congo and pink princess are different as the pink congo has all pink leaves at the top. The pink congo’s pink is not naturally induced, it uses chemicals and will fade over time., they are not natural and will grow out green. I personally would geta pink princess every time, they are thing of (natural) beauty.

Do Pink Princess Philodendrons Like To Be Root Bound?

They do not like to be root bound, consider potting them up to a bigger pot when the roots start to get crowded.

Where Does Pink Princess Philodendron Come From?

The philodendron erubescens grow naturally in South and Central America. The pink variegation you see in the pink princess occurs from genetic mutations and is then bred for a more stable pink variegation, so you are unlikely to see any pink princesses in the wild.

How Fast Do Pink Princess Philodendron Grow?

They can grow relatively quickly for a houseplant as long a you give them plenty of light (but no direct sun).

Can You Grow Pink Princess Philodendron From Seed?

The need to be propagated from another plant with good variegation and so cannot be grown from seed.

Why Are Pink Princess Philodendron So Expensive?

They are expensive as supply cannot meet demand. However in recent years the price has dropped as many plant breeders and collectors are propagating it for sale and so more have hit the market. Also the plant is being produced in bulk with tissue culture and as more and more of these hit the market there should be more price drops.

Additional Resources

Links:

More info on the RHS plant page.