Philodendron White Princess
Philodendron,  Plant Care,  Rare Houseplants

Philodendron White Princess

In this article we’ll run down how to get the best out of your philodendron white princess. I have lots of these at home and I propagate them for sale too, they’re a really impressive and popular plant. The key is to give it plenty of indirect sunlight and humidity but don’t overwater it...

Philodendron White Princess Summary

Light needs:Bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:Check once a week and water if top 50% of soil is dry.
Fertilizer:A balanced feed once a month in summer.
Soil:Really well draining, with added perlite.
Humidity:60%-70%.
Temperature:18°C to 25°C (64-77°F).
Where to buy:Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Common issues:Root rot due to overwatering.

Introduction

The philodendron white princess is a very in demand white variegated philodendron. I really like how these philodendrons grow, and the white paint-flecked variegation on the green leaves make it real show stopper.

See also: Philodendron White Princess Propagation, Philodendron White Princess Tricolor, Philodendron White Knight, Philodendron McDowell, Philodendron Black Cardinal.

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

A note about affiliate links: when you buy a plant, pots, soil, or other goods through links on this article we sometimes earn a commission. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it really helps us out if you do use them. Thanks a lot! An example of this is if you buy a plant on Etsy using this link. Read our privacy policy for more information. Thanks again.

Philodendron White Princess Light Needs

Bright indirect sunlight is ideal to encourage the variegation, as they can revert (lose their variegation) if not given enough light. I have my variegated philodendrons in a bright room but quite far back from the window and they do well.

Tip: The leaves can get burned really easily, so give them plenty of indirect light, but no direct. It can burn the variegated parts easily.

How Often to Water

Check your plant once a week and water it if the top 50% of soil is dry. You do not want to over water a philodendron, they are better underwatered if anything.

When watering the plant you can check for pests too, like Fungus Gnats.

Philodendron White Princess Propagations
Some of my white princess props in leca. You can see one of them is a Philodendron White Princess Tricolor.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced plant feed once a month in the summer months. Dilute the feed the first few times you feed them to be careful you don’t get fertilizer burn which can easily show on the white parts of the leaves.

Philodendron White Princess Soil

A really well draining potting compost with added perlite. The roots do not want to sit in soggy soil. Be careful as root rot this is the number one cause of a dead philodendron! A really good mix for them is an equal parts mix of perlite, orchid bark and potting compost. For more on Philodendron soil see our guide here, on what to buy or how to make your own: Philodendron Soil.

When To Repot

Repot it once a year, Spring is the best time. Pot it up a size if it is growing through the bottom. It’s a good idea to give the roots some space and fresh soil annually in any case.

Humidity

60%-70% humidity is good for these tropical plants. Give them a humidity pebble tray, and they’ll grow really well, or even better a humidifier.

Tip: Get a humidity meter to monitor the temperature and humidity (they give maximum and minimum read outs so you know if they are falling off at night). They’re really cheap these days, under 10 euros / dollars.

Temperature

18°C to 25°C (64-77°F) is the ideal daytime range for a philodendron white princess. They’ll be fine in most homes as far as temperature is concerned, just don’t let them get too cold in winter or at night, try to keep them above 12°C (54°F).

Where To Buy

Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.

Philodendron White Princess Propagation

This is the best method I’ve found to propagate a p.w.p, and it’s super simple too:

  1. Take a cutting with one leaf and one node. You have to be really careful as the nodes are so close together on this plant.
  2. Put the cutting in a cup of water-soaked moss.
  3. Put the cutting in bright, but indirect sunlight.
  4. Wait for it to root and produce growth from the top of the node, this can take anywhere from one to six weeks.
  5. You can then pot the plant up into soil.

I’ve tried both water and sphagnum moss methods and moss is by far the most successful in my experience.

This will only work on a larger plant, as when small you will not be able to get at a node as the growth is so close together. So on smaller plants the best method is divide them at the base.

Leca is also a great medium to use. I water propagate the cutting for a month or so then put it in leca so it has already started rooting in the water. I use leca when propagating a lot of plants as you can put a lot of cuttings in a jar water with hardly any effort, then you can pot them up en masse a month later using presoaked leca which is really quick as you can just pour it in around each cutting.

Philodendron White Princess
Some of my white princess cuttings ready to propagate.

Philodendron White Princess Marble

The philodendron white princess marble is an in demand variegation patterning that looks like marble. It’s a term used by sellers for plants with this patterning. It has been tissue cultured fairly recently and it is claimed that the marble variegation is stable and so most leaves will be marbled.

Philodendron White Princess Half Moon

The philodendron white princess half moon is a ‘perfect’ half and half variegation pattern with half the leaf white, split evenly down the center of the leaf. It is a very pretty pattern, but be aware that a plant sold with this pattern may well put out leaves with other patterns after that, it is not at all guaranteed that every leaf will have this pattern, and if fact quite unlikely.

Is Philodendron White Princess Rare?

The white princess is not as rare as it use to be as it is being propagated en masse. This has meant the price has come down considerably which is great!

Is It Toxic To Cats?

They are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, causing vomiting and numbness. Seek vets advice if you think your pet has eaten any.

Is It A Climber Or Crawler?

The white princess is actually a self heading philodendron.

Philodendron White Princess USDA Zone

Zones 10-12.

white princess propagation in leca
My white princess propagation in leca. For more on propagation see our guide: Philodendron White Princess Propagation.

Philodendron White Princess Tricolor

The white princess tricolor is a white princess with some pink variegations on it too. It is a really spectacular variegation of the plant and a very much sought after rare houseplant. It’s care needs are the same a the white princess as we’ve covered above.

See our post on the tricolor here: Philodendron White Princess Tricolor.

Philodendron White Princess FAQs and Common Problems

Root rot is a common issue from water logging, makes sure you let the soil dry out a lot before watering again.

Also any issues will how quickly on the white variegated parts of the leaves and cause browning, from under and overwatering to too little humidity. So pay special attention to your variegated plants and give them what they need. And keep it out of direct sun for sure, as it will burn easily.

Difference Between White Wizard And White Princess

The difference between white wizard and white princess philodendrons is easy enough to tell: the white princess is self heading (small and bushier) so it is smaller and much more compact, but the white wizard is much bigger and a climbing philodendron with much bigger leaves and stems, and more space where you can see the stems as it is not self heading.

Philodendron White Princess Vs White Knight

They are really similar plants, but the stems and leaves are different, the white princess has pink on the stem, while the white knight has a dark red wine, burgundy colored stem. The leaves on the white princess a narrower than the white knight which has rounded leaves.

Philodendron White Princess Vs Philodendron Pink Princess

Apart from the color (one is white and the other is pink!), the white princess is a self heading and a smaller plant generally. The pink princess is a climber and can grow much bigger.

Yellow Leaves

They can get yellow leaves from their care needs not being met, but it is mainly due to over and under watering. Be really careful of overwatering this plant, they should only be watered when the soil is almost dry.

Philodendron White Princess Brown Leaves

The leaves brown in he variegated parts fairly easily, normally due to under or overwatering.

Additional Resources

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Other Articles You Might Like

Hope you found this guide useful, you might also like our other guides to philodendrons: Philodendron Gabby, Philodendron Imperial Green, Philodendron Tortum, Philodendron Florida Ghost, Rubber Plant Care.

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