How to Grow and Care for Pink Princess Philodendron

The gorgeous and highly sought-after pink princess philodendron (Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’) is at the top of many plant collectors’ wish lists, and for good reason. Characterized by deep green, heart-shaped leaves with bubblegum pink variegation, the pink princess is truly unique in the plant world.

Learning how to properly care for your pink princess philodendron is the key to ensuring it maintains its brilliant pink variegation. Luckily, as with many plants in the philodendron genus, its care is pretty straightforward.

Botanical Name	Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’
Common Name	Philodendron pink princess, blushing philodendron
Family	Araceae
Plant Type	Perennial
Mature Size	4-5 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Loamy, moist but well-draining
Soil pH	Acidic
Bloom Time	Spring, summer
Hardiness Zones	9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Native Area	South America

Pink Princess Tips for Beginners

• Where to Put It: Place your pink princess philodendron in a spot that receives several hours of bright indirect sunlight.
• How to Water It: Only water when the soil dries out to prevent overwatering, likely once per week in the summer.
• Soil Type: Choose a mixture of standard potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark.

Pink Princess Philodendron Care

Native to Columbia, the pink princess philodendron is a tropical aroid in the Araceae family. Despite its high price tag, this colorful plant is actually pretty easy to care for. That being said there are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure that you are maximizing the variegation on the leaves.

Light

If you want pink princess philodendron’s stunning variegation, you’ll need to provide several hours of bright, indirect light.

This philodendron can also tolerate a few hours of direct light when grown as a houseplant. If you don’t provide enough light, the plant’s leaves will stay green, so try getting a grow light to get the pretty pink color the pink princess philodendron is known for.

Soil

As an aroid, the pink princess philodendron enjoys airy, well-draining soil that is high in organic matter. A mixture of one part standard potting soil, one part perlite, and one part orchid bark is ideal for the pink princess.

Water

Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings, then water well. Usually, this means you will need to water your plant approximately once a week in the spring and summer, and once every one to two weeks in the fall and winter.

As a general rule, it is far easier to overwater your pink princess philodendron than to underwater it so if you are unsure about whether it needs water, err on the side of caution and wait another day.

Temperature and Humidity

Though pink princess philodendron can survive in typical household temperatures and humidity levels, they absolutely thrive in warm, humid conditions. Avoid exposing your pink princess philodendron to temperatures below 60°F for a longer-lasting plant.

Fertilizer

During its growing season (spring and summer), the pink princess philodendron benefits from regular monthly feedings with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Repotting Pink Princess Philodendron

Pink princess philodendron should be repotted once every one to two years, when it’s outgrown it’s previous container. If you’re noticing roots coming out the drainage holes, it’s a clear sign to repot.

You can technically repot your philodendron any time of the year, but spring and summer are the best times to do so. Here’s how to get it done.

How to Repot a Pink Princess Philodendron

1. Gently remove your pink princess from its old pot.
2. Loosen the root ball to remove as much of the old soil as you can.
3. Fill a new pot that is 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the previous pot with a one-inch layer of fresh, well-draining soil. Ideally the pot has one or more drainage. holes.
4. Place your plant in the new pot and hold it in position with one hand while you fill in around the plant with more fresh soil.
5. Water the newly repotted plant thoroughly, allowing the excess water to drain from the pot’s drainage holes.
6. Return the plant to its original location and resume a regular watering schedule.

Propagating Pink Princess Philodendron

Pink princess philodendron is easy to propagate through stem cuttings if you’re looking at add new plants to your collection. Not only is this an affordable way to have more plants, but it can also make your plant look bushier and encourage more variegation. Here’s how you can propagate your pink princess philodendron by stem cuttings in just a few easy steps:

1. Cut a piece of stem. Using a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears or scissors, cut a piece of stem that has two to three leaves and two to three exposed nodes at the bottom of the cutting.
2. Remove lower leaves. Remove any lower leaves from your cutting, leaving just two to three leaves at the top.
3. Place cutting in water. Place the cutting in water and put it in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Ensure that the exposed nodes of the cutting are submerged in the water at all times.
4. Refresh the water regularly. Replace the water with clean water at least once a week. Within two to three weeks you should begin to notice new roots sprouting from the cutting.
5. Transplant to soil once roots have grown. Once the roots have grown to at least one inch in length the cutting can be transferred back to soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and water thoroughly.

Pruning Tip

Looking for the best pruners to use on your pink princess? We tested dozens of pruners in our Lab to find the top-rated pruners to make sure your houseplant stays happy and healthy.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The pink princess philodendron is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scale, and fungus gnats. Common diseases include root rot, which is a result of overwatering, and rust spot, which is a result of a fungal infection.

Pests to Watch

If you spot mealybugs, aphids, or spider mites on your pink princess, apply an insecticidal soap or neem oil sprayed on the plant.

Common Problems With Pink Princess Philodendron

With the proper care, pink princess philodendrons are relatively problem-free. Common issues with these tropical plants usually arise from improper watering, humidity, or light.

Leaves Are Not Pink and Losing Variegation

This is most likely due to a lack of light. Ensure that your plant is exposed to bright, indirect light and avoid low light conditions to promote strong variegation. It is important to catch and fix this problem early since a fully reverted pink princess philodendron cannot recover its variegation.

My Plant Is Getting Leggy

Leggy growth is an indication that your plant is not receiving enough light, causing the leaves to reach for more light. Move your plant to a brighter location to prevent new growth from coming in leggy.

Leaves Are Turning Brown

Browning edges on the leaves of a pink princess philodendron are usually a result of a lack of humidity which causes the leaves to begin drying out. Unfortunately there is no way to reverse the damage once it has happened, but if you increase the humidity around the plant it should prevent further browning.

Leaf Variegation Is Turning Brown

The last thing you want to see on your beautiful pink variegation is brown spots, but unfortunately this can happen if you have exposed your plant to light that is too harsh. The delicate pink spots on the leaves are prone to burning under harsh lighting conditions, resulting in large burn spots.

Lower Leaves Are Falling Off

A philodendron pink princess’s lower leaves falling off is not immediate cause for panic. Older leaves eventually fall off so the plant can direct its energy to growing new leaves. If your plant is growing new leaves, the soil is not overly saturated, and the light it’s getting is right, the lower leaves dropping shouldn’t be cause for concern.