Meet one of the pop stars of the plant world – the Pink Princess philodendron!
This variegated philodendron is always in high demand, thanks to the signature pink marbling on its leaves. For those who get their hands on one, it often becomes the centrepiece of their plant collection.
The most important factor in Pink Princess care is light, which is key for maintaining that variegation. Besides that, care is straightforward – keep it in a chunky aroid mix and water when the soil is almost dry.
Give your Pink Princess the royal treatment and make your friends pink (or rather, green) with envy. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pink Princess philodendron.
Soil | Light | Humidity and Temperature | Pot | How to Climb | Watering | Pruning | Fertilising | Repotting | Propagating | Common Problems
Pink Princess: A Royal Introduction
The Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’ is a prize for plant collectors – and for good reason!
This rare, stunning plant is characterised by iconic pink variegation and heart-shaped leaves.
Also called a blushing philodendron – or its online nickname, PPP – the Pink Princess is a variegated cultivar of the Philodendron erubescens, a tropical plant native to rainforests in South America.
Philodendrons are from the Araceae family, colloquially known as aroids, alongside popular houseplants like monsteras and aglaonemas.
The leaves will start out narrow and deep green with white variegation. They will widen and turn pink as the plant matures – sometimes getting as big as 12cm across.
Unlike the princess and the pea, the philodendron Pink Princess isn’t too picky. Your biggest issue will be getting enough light to maintain that stunning foliage.
NOTE: Along with many aroids, the Pink Princess is toxic to pets and can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested.
Pink Princess Philodendron Growing Conditions
Pink Princess philodendrons are best grown indoors as potted plants, so you can control their growing conditions.
Soil and light will be key factors in PPP care.
Soil
First up – what kind of soil is best for a Pink Princess philodendron? Aroid plants thrive in chunky, well-draining soil mixes that are slightly acidic.
Choose a good aroid mix or an indoor potting mix amended with perlite and orchid bark or coco coir.
The key is to ensure your Pink Princess philodendron soil mix isn’t too dense and doesn’t hold onto moisture. Well-draining potting mix will help prevent root rot.
Light
Indoors, your Pink Princess light requirements are at least 6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight. If you have a window with morning sun, the plant can tolerate a few hours of direct sun.
If you don’t have a sunny spot, keep it under full-spectrum grow light for 8-10 hours a day.
When placed outdoors (like on a balcony), position your PPP where it gets several hours of indirect or filtered sunlight.
Keep the plant out of direct afternoon sun, as the variegation is sensitive to leaf burn or scorching.
Getting enough light is the key to those gorgeous pink streaks! Too little light makes the leaves revert to green (more chlorophyll) to absorb additional energy.
NOTE: Do not keep grow lights on 24/7. Just like humans, plants need a period of darkness and rest to thrive!
Humidity and temperature
Pink Princess philodendrons appreciate mild to moderate humidity. Typical household humidity – between 50-60% – is fine, as are home temperatures up to 30ºC (85ºF).
You can group your PPP with other aroids and a pebble tray to help moisture levels.
Philodendron erubescens isn’t cold-hardy, so avoid exposure to temperatures below 15ºC (60ºF). Keep them out of cold drafts that can dry them out.
Type of pot
A philodendron Pink Princess needs a pot with proper drainage.
If your plant comes in a plastic nursery pot, keep it there! These typically have more and larger drainage holes, and clear pots even let you monitor soil dryness.
You can always pop that nursery pot into a decorative container – just make sure no water pools at the bottom.
Avoid planting your PPP directly in a ceramic or terracotta pot. Ceramic will retain too much water, while terracotta retains too little.
How to Care for a Pink Princess Philodendron
Thankfully, besides light requirements, PPPs aren’t too fussy!
Once you’ve got the lighting down, your PPP is pretty low-maintenance.
How to get a climbing Pink Princess
A philodendron can either trail or climb – and the Pink Princess is a climber!
Allowing your PPP to climb can encourage larger leaves and fuller growth.
Common supports for a Pink Princess philodendron include:
- Moss poles
- Wooden planks
- Bamboo trellises
- Wood or metal stakes
Use garden ties, fasteners, or twine to attach your plant to its support.
Always tie between nodes and avoid trapping the petioles (where leaf meets stem).
How often to water a Pink Princess philodendron
PPP is prone to overwatering, so be mindful of soil moisture levels. However, it doesn’t like sitting in dry soil for prolonged periods either.
When to water a Pink Princess philodendron? Only when the soil is halfway to almost dry.
The actual frequency will depend on the plant’s growing conditions, including light and temperature. Use your finger or a bamboo chopstick to check if the soil is dry or not.
A PPP can be bottom-watered (placed into a container of water) or top-watered. Make sure the soil is fully saturated and any excess water runs out of the drainage holes.
How to prune a Pink Princess philodendron
Generally, you don’t need to prune a healthy Pink Princess.
Only break out the pruning shears if you see:
- Leggy growth
- Pests or disease
- Lack of variegation
- Dead or dying stems/leaves
- Overgrowth or unruly growth
- “Balding” (lack of growth at soil level)
To prune a Pink Princess, use a pair of sanitised pruning shears. For leaves, cut as close to the stem as possible.
For stems, count 2-3 leaves or nodes above soil level, then make a clean cut between nodes. If you want to encourage variegation, cut right above a leaf with plenty of colour.
Pruning close to the soil level allows new growth that’s more lush and bushy. If you cut further up the stem, you’ll end up with leggy growth and big gaps between leaves.
Save healthy stems for propagation!
How to fertilise a Pink Princess philodendron
During the growing season (spring and summer), you can give your Pink Princess philodendron a boost with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser or organic matter.
Use your preferred fertiliser at half-strength about once a month.
During autumn and winter, or the rainy season, you can reduce fertilising to once every 8-10 weeks.
However, if you keep your plants under grow lights, it’s best to stick to a regular fertilising schedule.
When to repot a Pink Princess philodendron
Only repot when the Pink Princess has become rootbound or outgrown its container – usually every 1-2 years.
Younger plants may outgrow their containers quicker than mature ones.
Key signs that your Pink Princess needs repotting include:
- Slowed growth
- Roots circling the pot base
- Roots poking out of drainage holes
- Soil drying out more quickly or frequently
When repotting, only size up 2-6cm (1-2in) to avoid suffocating the roots with too much soil.
To repot your Pink Princess philodendron, carefully remove it from its current container. You can wiggle the plant out if it’s stubborn, but never pull it by the stems!
Avoid removing the soil around the roots if there are no issues! Instead, place the plant’s roots and soil together into the new pot, then fill in the gaps with fresh potting mix.
However, if there are signs of disease or soil problems (e.g. hydrophobic), gently remove as much soil as possible before repotting.
Give the new pot a little shimmy to settle the soil, then water the plant thoroughly.
How to Propagate a Pink Princess Philodendron
Like other aroids, you can easily propagate Pink Princess philodendrons in two ways – cuttings and air layering.
However, propagating a PPP does not guarantee that the new plant will develop the signature pink variegation.
Your chances are higher if you use a variegated cutting, but it’s not certain!
Propagating Pink Princess from cuttings
To propagate a Pink Princess philodendron, you’ll need:
- Stem cuttings from the main plant
- Preferred medium (water, perlite, or moss)
Tip cuttings – those at the end of the stem – propagate best in water. From the tip, count 2-4 leaf nodes and cut the stem there, then remove the bottom leaves.
Place tip cuttings in a clear jar with enough water to cover the bottom nodes. Keep the cuttings somewhere they get bright, indirect light – or better, under a grow light.
After about 6-8 weeks, you should start seeing new roots.
You can also try propagating in a box, especially for mid-stem cuttings.
Cut the rest of the stem into several pieces, each with at least one leaf or node. Lay them in a small translucent box with moist perlite or sphagnum moss, ensuring the nodes are partially covered.
Lightly mist the cuttings with water, then close the lid and place the box somewhere in indirect light. Open the box once a day to let the cuttings “breathe” and check for mould or rot.
Wait until you have at least 5cm of roots, ideally with secondary roots. Transfer the cuttings to a small pot with chunky soil mix and keep it moist for the first 2-3 weeks as the roots adjust.
Air layering a Pink Princess philodendron
Some plant lovers prefer air layering or air propagation, considering it less “traumatic” to the plant.
To air propagate a Pink Princess, choose a healthy, firm stem. From the tip, count about 5 leaf nodes down and look for nodes or aerial roots. You may have to remove a leaf.
Cover the node with dampened sphagnum moss, then wrap it with plastic wrap. You could also go with propagation pods or balls, which are reusable.
Make sure the sphagnum moss stays damp and in contact with the stem and node. Wait a few weeks, then unwrap the moss and check if the stem has started putting out roots.
When enough roots have grown, carefully remove the moss then cut off the stem below the root growth.
Transplant the rooted stem to a chunky aroid mix, and keep moist for the first few weeks to help the roots adjust.
Common Pink Princess Philodendron Problems
Pink philodendrons are usually problem-free, especially in indoor environments
However, issues can pop up due to improper care.
Why is my Pink Princess turning brown?
There are three common causes of Pink Princess leaves turning brown:
- Underwatering
- Lack of humidity
- Leaf burn from sunlight
Underwatering or lack of humidity will cause the edges of leaves to turn brown and brittle. On the other hand, leaf burn will cause brown spots on the variegation or in the middle of the leaves.
There’s no saving browned leaves, though – so you can choose to cut them or let them fall off naturally.
Why are my Pink Princess leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves on a Pink Princess philodendron are a sign of overwatering, especially if multiple leaves go yellow at once. The leaves may also look “sick” and splotchy.
Do not water your plant for a time, and check on the roots. If the roots are dark, mushy, and/or smelly, that’s a sign of root rot – you’ll need to cut off the dead roots and repot ASAP.
However, if it’s just a few yellow leaves at the base of your plant, that’s part of its natural cycle! Leaves yellow as they age, and will eventually drop off in place of new growth.
Why is my Pink Princess drooping?
A wilting or drooping Pink Princess philodendron is commonly caused by:
- Lack of light
- Underwatering
- Overwatering
- Lack of humidity
Check the soil, roots, and leaves to try and isolate the cause. Too-dry, crumbly soil points to underwatering while too-moist soil and dark roots indicate overwatering.
If there are no issues with the soil and roots, then it’s probably lighting or humidity.
What are common Pink Princess pests?
Like other houseplants, a Pink Princess is susceptible to pests like mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats.
Common pest solutions for an infested Pink Princess include neem oil or insecticidal soap. You can also dip a cotton bud in rubbing alcohol to spot-treat affected leaves.
In more extreme cases, you can water your plant with a 4:1 mix of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Many home gardeners also recommend watering with dissolved mosquito bits for large infestations.
What are common Pink Princess philodendron diseases?
PPP plants may also develop fungal diseases like root rot (from over-watering) or rust spot.
FAQs About the Pink Princess Philodendron
Here are some of the most common questions and concerns that plant lovers have about the Pink Princess philodendron.
Why are Pink Princess philodendrons so expensive?
Pink Princess plants are expensive because it’s hard to grow one with high variegation!
The Pink Princess is a type of Philodendron erubescens with a genetic mutation for variegation.
However, that variegation is hard to achieve. Even with tissue cultures grown in greenhouse conditions, the plants may have little to no pink variegation – lacking the iconic appearance.
Is the Pink Princess philodendron hard to care for?
The philodendron Pink Princess is generally low-maintenance outside of its light requirements.
So long as you give your PPP adequate sunlight and don’t let it dry out for too long, your plant should be healthy and happy.
How big do Pink Princess philodendrons get?
Mature Pink Princess philodendrons can reach 2m tall if allowed to climb, but will normally reach just 1m in cultivation.
How fast do Pink Princess philodendrons grow? These tropical plants have a moderate to fast growth rate – generally depending on the amount of light.
Does the Philodendron Pink Princess climb?
Yes, if you give it support! The plant won’t climb on its own, so it’s important to provide it with a base like a moss pole or trellis.
You can leave it to trail, such as in a hanging basket, but you’ll likely have smaller leaves and leggier stems.
How to make a Pink Princess more pink?
To encourage variegation, move the plant to a brighter location with more light or place it under a grow light.
However, avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon, as this could cause leaf burn on the variegated parts of the leaves.
You don’t want your plant to have too much pink, though. The plant will struggle to sustain itself and can begin to decline.
Philodendron Pink Congo vs Pink Princess
The key difference between a Pink Princess and a Pink Congo is the variegation. Pink Princess leaves have a “marbled” look, with splashes of white or pink mixed with green, while Pink Congo has solid pink leaves.
This is because the Pink Congo is a hybrid of the philodendron ‘Green Congo’ – or, in many cases, a Green Congo artificially coloured with chemicals.
If well cared for, a PPP will maintain its pink variegation and continue putting out colourful leaves. A Pink Congo often reverts to green as it matures or the colouring chemicals wear off.
Make sure you purchase your philodendron from a reputable nursery so you’re getting a real Pink Princess. No one wants to overpay for the wrong plant!
