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The Pink Princess Philodendron plant is a beautiful way of adding a touch of life to any room.
They create an atmosphere that is appealing and comfortable in any home decor setting.
Caring for your Pink Princess Philodendron plant is not difficult. Under proper care and maintenance, this plant can flourish and grow uniformly.
This guide will help you learn everything about this tropical plant and make your life easier by keeping it healthy.
What is Pink Princess Philodendron (Philodendron Erubescens)?
A Pink Princess Philodendron is a vining houseplant that has leaves that have pink variegation on a dark green background.
Even more brilliant is the color of the veins that seem to disappear as you look at them. Given the rarity of this plant, consider yourself lucky if you have one.
What Are the Origins of a Pink Princess Philodendron?
The Pink Princess Philodendron (botanical name Philodendron erubescens Pink Princess) is a vining plant from the plant family Araceae and the genus Philodendron.
Pink Princess Philodendron is a hybrid of Philodendron erubescens. Even though no one knows for sure where it came from, most people think it was made by plant breeders circa 1970.
It is a unique plant due to its variegated dark green leaves with hot pink variegation—something that no other plant has. The pink variegation is a result of a genetic mutation.
Its parent plants and the plant itself are native to South America. This vining Philodendron houseplant can grow upwards on a trellis, tree trunk, or in a hanging basket.
The most common names of this unique plant are Pink Princess, Pink Princess Philodendron, and Blushing Philodendron, and gardeners in the trade, refer to this plant simply as ‘PPP’.
Pink Princess Philodendron Details
- Botanical Name: Philodendron erubescens Pink Princess.
- Common Names: Pink Princess, Pink Princess Philodendron, Blushing Philodendron, or just “PPP” for those experienced gardeners that breed these plants.
- Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Mature Size: 2-4 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
- Max height: 60 ft outdoors, 12 ft indoors
- Maintenance: Medium
- Soil Type: Loamy, moist but well-draining
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Native Area: South America
On average, a mature pink princess philodendron will grow up to 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide.
However, in the wild, it grows aggressively and has been known to climb up to 60 feet in height. In contrast, if kept indoors, its stems can climb up to 12 feet.
The Pink Princess Philodendron can bloom with flowers that are green and white.
Blooming time is during their growing period, which is spring through summer.
Why is the Pink Princess Philodendron so expensive?
Because of gardeners’ high demand and low supply, pink princess philodendrons are very expensive.
Philodendron plant breeders claim that it is challenging to grow many Pink Princess plants because of its unique bright pink variegation on its dark green leaves.
In addition, social media influencers have marketed these plants, giving them more attention and appeal.
For context, several years ago, you could have bought a Philodendron Pink Princess for $5–10 per plant; now prices vary from $50 for a small-sized pink princess to $200 or more for a mature plant.
Philodendron Pink Princess vs. Philodendron Pink Congo
In the midst of all of these waitlists and competition for the pink princess, a new pink plant called the pink congo arose.
It resembles the Pink Princess, except that its leaves are slightly pointier and completely pink as if dipped in paint.
If you are lucky enough to spot a Philodendron pink princess in a plant store, you will know it by its variegated leaves, which come in a mixture of pink and green.
It is often mistaken for the Pink Congo philodendron, but there is a difference. The pink princess has a balance of pink and green heart-shaped leaves.
On the other hand, the Pink Congo leaves are only pink and will revert to green in time.
A cheap imitation of the Philodendron Pink Princess is the Pink Congo Philodendron plant. The Pink Congo has pink leaves, but they are unnatural.
The pink variegation is man-made by adding chemicals such as ethylene to change the leaf color.
The Pink Congo Philodendron leaves will eventually revert back to the base green color once the ethylene has dispersed.
So, be careful when you are on the lookout for a Pink Princess. Make sure you are not tricked into buying a “Pink Congo!”
Pink Princess Philodendron Varieties
Though having a Pink Princess Philodendron is rare in itself, there are several varieties of this plant.
There are four main varieties, all with different colored leaves.
Pink Princess ‘Sparkle’
The Sparkle Pink Princess Philodendron is one of the most popular pink princess varieties.
It has pink and green variegation on the leaves. The plant is sometimes half pink and half green.
It might look amazing, but you’ll need to care for it carefully as you risk the leaves losing their variegation and reverting to all solid green leaves.
Pink Princess ‘Marble Variegation’
The Pink Princess ‘Marble Variegation’ has speckled leaves in splashes of pink and white. The marbling is unique as it is only seen in a handful of plants.
A good example of marbling variegated plants are the Marble Queen Pothos and Monstera Albo.
Pink Princess ‘Black Cherry’
Pink Princess Black Cherry is a relatively new plant that is part of the family Araceae.
It has heart-shaped leaves in dark green, combined with a solid red color and a layer of wax on its surface, making it appear shiny.
It has been known to grow taller than 15 feet if you let it climb on a wall or on another larger plant, like a tree, or other larger plant.
Do not confuse this plant with the Red-Leaf Philodendron (also known as the Philodendron “Imperial Red”).
Both Pink Princess Black Cherry and Imperial Red have red foliage, but they are completely different plants.
The Red-Leaf Philodendron has oblong to elliptical-shaped leaves with a reddish tint, while the Pink Princess Black Cherry has heart-shaped leaves with a solid red color.
Philodendron ‘Pink Anderson’ or ‘White Anderson’
This Pink Philodendron is a hybrid of a Philodendron Pink Princess and a Philodendron White Knight.
Its leaves and color patterns are the same as Pink Princess. However, instead of the typical pink variegation, the variegation turns white as they mature.
How to care for Philodendron Pink Princess (Philodendron erubescens)
The Pink Princess Philodendron plant is as beautiful as it is challenging to take proper care of.
You need to know a couple of factors that affect their growth and variegation.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for Pink Princess plants is anywhere between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Protect your Pink Princess plants from heat or cold drafts, as they are sensitive to any sudden temperature change.
For example, in the winter, keep it away from the heaters and radiators, and during the summer, keep it away from the air conditioning.
Humidity
The humidity level you should keep your Pink Princess Philodendrons at is 50% or above.
If your home is not humid, there are several ways to increase the humidity around your plants.
First, you can relocate your plant near more humid areas, such as the bathroom.
Alternatively, you can mist the plant with a spray bottle on a regular basis. If that does not improve humidity levels, consider using a humidifier or a pebble tray.
A humidifier will quickly increase the humidity level by around 50–60%, while the pebble tray is a simple solution that raises the humidity by about 10–20%.
Finally, if you have other houseplants, you can create a naturally humid environment by bunching or grouping other plants around your Pink Princess Philodendron.
Light
Philodendron Pink Princess grows best in bright indirect light.
To produce beautiful pink leaves, the Pink Princess Philodendron requires just the perfect amount of sunshine.
We recommend giving your plant about 4 to 6 hours of light. Too much light and the plant’s pink leaves may only produce olive-green dots.
Even worse, if your plant is under direct sunlight too long it may start to burn the leaves.
One sign that it is getting too much sunlight is yellowing leaves.
So, if a few leaves have begun to yellow, relocate the plant to a more shaded location. On the other hand, too little light will only yield dark brown leaves.
Watering
Pink Princess Philodendron erubescens plants like moist soil but not so moist that it is waterlogged.
A good water schedule is once every 3-4 days during the summer, and approximately once every 7-10 days during the fall and winter.
With that said, a good rule of thumb is to wait till the top inch or so of the soil has dried out.
Do not water your from the top and get the leaves wet. Pour water into the pot until the excess water drains out the bottom.
This method of watering ensures that the plant roots receive adequate nutrition and that the pink leaves grow.
The biggest mistake people make when watering a Pink Princess is overwatering it.
Don’t Overwater Your Pink Princess Philodendron
Overwatering will cause a slew of problems, from root rot and wilting to yellowing of leaves that may turn yellow.
An alternative solution to prevent overwatering is to test the moisture content of the soil. You can do this by using a water moisture meter.
But again, we typically just use our fingertips to see if the soil is dry. If the soil is dry, then go ahead and water; in contrast, if it’s still wet, wait a day or two.
Use Filtered Water for Your Philodendron
If possible, use clean drinking water or filtered tap water to water your Pink Princess Philodendron.
Tap water is OK, but it may contain minerals such as chlorine, added salts, and fluorides, which might cause curling up of leaves or drying edges of the plant.
If you notice any of these symptoms, try filtered water to see if it helps.
Fertilizing
The variegated pink and dark green leaves may lose some of their vibrancy in addition to slow growth and small leaves indicate a lack of essential nutrients in your Pink Princess Philodendron.
If you notice any of these symptoms, a balanced fertilizer is needed to ensure healthy growth.
A high-quality fertilizer will help promote healthy, vigorous growth in your plants.
During the growing season, which is spring through summer, feed your plant once every 4 to 5 weeks. Remember, more is not always better.
Too much fertilizer can be harmful to the health of your plants. Signs of overfertilization are yellowing leaves.
The recommendation is to apply only half the strength of the fertilizer.
Soil
The Blushing Philodendron, like other philodendrons, does not tolerate excessively wet soil.
The ideal potting mix for Philodendron erubescens should be a well-draining potting mix rich in nutrients and soil amendments or organic matter like peat moss or coconut coir (which help retain moisture without becoming overly soggy) and perlite (which aerates soil that allows for the aerial roots to absorb moisture and nutrients, plus it allows excess water to drain downwards).
To achieve a well-draining potting mix, start with nutrient-rich potting soil and add some peat moss and perlite.
Another option is to buy pre-mix soil. We usually prefer doing this because it’s less hassle and it’s not much more than regular potting soil.
We particularly like this ready pre-mix potting mix.
Propagation
Taking stem cuttings is the best way to propagate a Blushing Philodendron.
Here’s how to propagate to make more plants:
- First, cut a stem just below one of the nodes, ensuring that the stem has a couple of healthy pinkish leaves still attached. The node is the stem branch from which the leaf arises.
- Then, put the stem cuttings in a container with water. You should expect roots to emerge in 2 to 4 weeks. Alternatively, you can put the stem cuttings in a very moist soil mix—keep misting them for a couple of weeks until roots sprout.
- Once the stem cuttings with roots are about 1 to 2 inches long, transplant your new plants into well-draining soil.
- Then take care of your new plants as you would a mature plant.
Note that if you are having issues getting your stem cuttings to root, you can try applying some rooting hormones (also called rooting powder).
Common Problems With Pink Princess Philodendron
From browning leaves to plant diseases, don’t forget to routinely inspect your plants for pests and diseases as you tend to care for your Pink Princess Philodendron.
Browning Leaves
The Blushing Philodendron’s variegated leaves might become brown if there is a lack of nutrients in the soil.
Also, too much direct sunlight, too much dry air (keep your plant away from heating vents), fully dried-out soil, or inappropriate watering (too much or too little) will result in brown leaves.
Dark Brown Spots
If you find brown spots – especially between the leaf veins – this could be the result of cold exposure.
This is conclusive evidence of cold damage caused by low temperatures. Temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit will trigger this issue.
Don’t put pink princess philodendrons near air conditioners, and if you can, try to keep the temperature above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leaf tips curling
Typically accompanied by dark leaf edges, curled leaf tips indicate your Blushing Philodendron plant has been overfertilized. Immediately stop adding fertilizer.
If you have a slow-release fertilizer in the soil, try to scoop out as much as you can.
As a last resort, you may need to repot your plant with the new potting mix as there might be too many nutrients in the soil.
Pests
The Pink Princess Philodendron is sensitive to a number of typical houseplant pests.
Aphids, mealybugs, scale, thrips, spider mites, and fungus gnats are typical pests.
In most cases, pests that attack Philodendron erubescens are the result of overwatering.
When there is a moist dark environment, it creates a perfect breeding ground for any pest.
A recommended treatment for most pest infestations is to wipe them off with alcohol-soaked cotton balls, followed up by using a houseplant pesticide spray.
Plant Diseases
From root rot and bacteria-based leaf spot, the Pink Princess Philodendron is not completely immune from plant diseases.
The best thing you can do for your plant is not to overwater it. Oversaturated soil that is always damp is the best environment for fungi and bacteria to grow.
Once you have a fungal or bacterial infection in the soil, it will inevitably spread to the roots and move upward to the foliage.
Most common plant diseases include root rot and leaf spot.
Root Rot
Root rot is most commonly caused by an overgrowth of fungi in the roots.
The roots begin to decay and the plant will no longer be able to absorb water and nutrients to keep the plant alive.
The only way to find out if your plant has root rot is to pull the plant out and inspect the roots.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
“Leaf spot” is caused by bacteria. You’ll know if your plant is infected with leaf spots when you see transparent spots on the leaf edges that eventually develop a reddish-brown halo. To stop this disease, cut off any infected leaves and apply a copper-based fungicide.
FAQ
Is the pink princess philodendron rare?
The pink princess philodendron is not rare, rather it is expensive because it can only be cultivated through tissue culture in a laboratory, and only a small percentage of each batch exhibits pink coloration. The pink variegation is a result of a genetic mutation.
How do you keep pink variegation in a pink princess philodendron?
To encourage the pink variegation of the Blushing Philodendron, you must give it enough supply of bright indirect light. The nutrients that come from the sun will help the leaves grow. If your plant begins to produce predominantly green leaves, it becomes a ‘green prince’. Cut back part of the leaves to just above the last variegated leaf and your plant should grow out variegated foliage again.
Why is my pink princess plant turning green?
The pink variegation in the leaves of the Blushing Philodendron starts turning green, it might be getting too much sun exposure. To avoid a ‘green prince’, provide partial shade for plants. However, when green leaves overrun your plant, the best thing to do is to prune it just above the last variegated leaf until you reach balanced variegation.
Other Philodendron Plants
Anyone who steps into your home will notice the pink leaf of the Pink Princess Philodendron. The pink variegated leaves really do stand out.
However, there are other philodendron plants that also display that stunning look you seek for your home decor.
Read further for our list of the most common philodendrons and some samples of our favorites.
- 24 Varieties of Philodendron Plants for Your Garden
- Vining Plants for Giving Your Home a Jungle Vibe
- How to Prune a Philodendron Plants
Philodendron Mayoi: Plant collectors covet the Philodendron mayoi, also known as the Fern-like philodendron or Palm-like philodendron, due to its huge palm-shaped leaves and crimson underside. This plant’s leaves can reach up to 7 to 10 inches in length! Although it grows like a weed in the wild, it is a tough plant to purchase because the demand for it exceeds the commercial supply.
Philodendron Gloriosum: Commonly known as the Velvet Philodendron due to its velvety leaves, the Philodendron gloriosum is a slender, ground-dwelling plant native to South America. It has heart-shaped leaves with a velvety feel, pink margins, and noticeable white, pink, or pale green veins.
Philodendron Melanochrysum: The Black Gold is known as Philodendron Melanochrysum. This philodendron is a rare form of vining philodendron that has acquired appeal as an indoor plant due to its attractive and very unique foliage. Their dark green velvety leaves are contrasted by bright yellow veins that can reach a length of 24 inches. It is really a beautiful plant for any home.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.