The once hard to find Pink Princess is a self heading philodendron native to Columbia and thanks to the big plant companies is now available all over! It’s know for its heart shaped leaves with pink variegation!
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If you haven’t heard by now, the Philodendron Pink Princess is and has been one of the most sought after Philodendrons. It has been for a few years now. It was once extremely hard to buy for a reasonable price or find locally. Many houseplant enthusiast paying hundreds of dollars just to have a tiny cutting of this princess. Now a days the Princess can be found at your big box stores for less than $30 which makes her more accessible to the masses. So now that you’ve snagged this beauty it’s time to learn how to take care of her!
Philodendron Pink Princess | What pot to use?
The Pink Princess will grow well in any pot that has a drainage hole. All materials are fine from ceramic to wood just as long as your pot has a way for water to drain. When repotting your plant is ready to be repotted choose a pot that is at least two sizes bigger than the current pot to allow for more growth.
When and how much to water?
When watering your plant you will want to wait until the top two to three inches of soil have dried out. Then either water your plant in place with a drip tray underneath or take your plant to the sink and allow water to run through until it is coming out of the bottom of the drainage hole.
How often you water your plant will depend on how quickly the soil dries up. Philodendrons can handle a full soil dry out without dying which makes them great plants for beginners. However allowing a plant to fully dry out isn’t ideal and can be very stressful for your plants.
If you are a forgetful gardener then set an alarm to check on your plants once or twice a week.
What soil should I plant my Philodendron in?
When picking soil for the Philodendron Pink Princess I find that she does fine in a well draining soil. So here’s my personal mix:
2 Parts Potting mix ( I like ProMix )
1 Part Fine Orchid Bark
1 Part Perlite
1 Scoop Organic Granular ( Measure per package instructions)
This mix is what keeps my Pink Princess happy. Her roots don’t sit in water for a long time and there’s enough air flow for healthy growth.
Best Lighting for Philodendron?
Putting your Philodendron Pink Princess in the right light is key to good growth and variegation. The thought is the more light you give your plant the more variegation your plant will have. So with this theory your best bet is to put your plant in bright indirect light. This plant should not be placed in direct lighting. Direct light is very strong and can burn the leaves of your plant. They also grow very well under grow lights so if you are lacking light in your home grow lights might be the answer!
Trellis or Pole?
You can use either but you’ll eventually need one! This plant will get taller and heavier as it grows and if you don’t provide it with some support it can flop and break.
Climbing plants like the Pink Princess produce aerial roots that can attach to just about any surface so choose a climbing material that is easy for you to maintain but also beneficial to your plant
Propagation
Philos are pretty good about making offsets and/or baby plants all on it’s own. You can separate these baby plants from the parent and plant them into their own pots.
Depending on where you live you won’t likely get your plant to flower, get pollinated and produce seed so most people propagate by division or cuttings.
You can chop your plant to make cuttings and either put them in a moist substrate or water to which your plant will easily root.
Fertilizing
The Philodendron Pink Princess does well with an organic fertilizer. A good fertilizing schedule is the weekly weakly, which means you fertilize weekly with a very watered down dose of fertilizer. It’s a good way keep your plants fed and healthy all year round.
Humidity
Like many Philodendrons the Pink Princess is tolerant of regular house humidity. If you provide extra humidity your plant will be happier however your plant may grow just as well without the added moisture. What’s most important is keeping your plant properly watered.
Philodendron Pink Princess Tips and Tricks
If your plant is struggling and you are unsure of why here is my goto checklist:
Is there a pest issue? Pest can literally suck the life out of your plants so that is the first thing you should check for. To treat any pest issue you will need to do research and buy or make the right product for the right pest. Pest treatments if not followed correctly can actually harm and cause more stress to your plant and some may even be harmful to you or your pets if used incorrectly.
Has your plant been watered recently? Philodendron are pretty forgiving when it comes to not being watered regularly but If it has been too long your plant will wither and droop.
Is your plant Root Bound? Your plant is root bound when you pull it out of the pot and all you can see are roots wrapped in the shape of the pot. Plants can tolerate being root bound for a little bit but it does slow down growth and vigour. When your plant is root bound the soil that’s left dries up quickly so you’ll notice that your needed to water it more often. Before you repot your plant into fresh soil try to unravel the root ball to allow those roots to grow into the fresh soil.
Is there too little or too much light? Lack of light can cause stress to your plant and too much light can cause stress to your plant. If your unsure move your plant into different lighting situations to see where it’s happiest.
The Philodendron Pink Princess is a pretty easy going, gorgeous houseplant to have in your collection and if your a lover of pink than this plant is for you!
Happy Gardening
Ciearra
