Influencers, plantaholics, and all the Instagram celebrities are always looking for plants with a unique appearance. Be it variegated monstera, indoor palms, Pothos, or selenicerus grandiflorus.
One such variety that we have is a picturesque viral plant, the pink princess philodendron.
The rare, the expensive, the most demanding plant in the world.
But, how can you get your hands on this exotic, loveable, and stunning plant variety? And, most importantly, is spending a huge sum of money on this expensive flora worth the hype?
Disclaimer: We have mentioned the reason for the high price of the pink princess, if you can grow pink princess philodendrons at home, and how.
Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Pink Princess Philodendron
Plant Species | Pink Princess Philodendron |
Common Names | Philodendron Erubescens, Philodendron Pink Princess |
Family | Araceae |
Growth & Size | 7”-10” in height & 3”-7” inches in width |
Confused With | Pink Congo Philodendron |
Care | Medium |
Famous For | Variegated Pink & Green Leaves |
Philodendron (Erubescens) pink princess is a beautiful trailing flora from the Araceae plant family. First developed in Florida by Maloy’s household, it became popular due to its gorgeous pink and thick green leaves.
The vine-like pink princess plant is relatively small and can grow up to 7-10 inches in height and 3-7 inches in width.
It has an irregular pattern of dark green leaves with a pink hue. However, the amount of pink is not definite in all the varieties.
The leaves can have a splatter of pink color, a half pink leaf or just a little hint of it.
A whole pink leaf (philodendron pink congo) is not considered healthy as it may have no chlorophyll, which can cause it to revert, droop or even fall.
But, overall, the pink philodendron is an easy to grow plant that demands a little care, like ponytail palm.
Then,
What Makes Pink Princess Philodendron So Expensive?
As we said earlier, the amount of pink hue in the philodendron is not definite. In fact, sometimes, the cultivator fails to get a single plant with a bright pink color.
So, when even a small pink plant is produced with a unique color, they put it up for sale at a higher price. For instance, a small pink cutting for sale or mini pink princess plant can be $35 to $40.
However, they don’t sell such small plants and wait to grow a little, making them even pricier.
If you are the lucky one to be able to get the stunning pink princess philodendron for sale at a reasonable amount, don’t let it die and waste the money you spent on it.
But, how can you maintain or keep the color of pink philodendrons? Or, how do you grow a philodendron princess to get that unique pink Instagram plant?
Here, read easy princess pink care steps to let its pink hue thrive for a long time:
Pink Princess Philodendron Care
Philodendron is a unique pink princess that can be a trailing plant or a climber if you provide enough support to its leaves.
Although the pink and green classic combination has made it the favorite of all the plant-lovers when it comes to growing, people usually ask,
How can I take care of my pink philodendron?
As it is so expensive, you can’t really mess up its growing, caring, or other essential needs, or it will lose its specialty, the pink color leaves.
They are not challenging to care for. Don’t believe it? Here is the basic care of pretty pink princesses:
Soil: Any well-drained soil potting mix with perlite and orchid bark Watering: Once a week or every 8-11 days (don’t overwater) Temperature: 13°C (55°F) to 32°C (90°F) Humidity: 50% or more (likes to grow in high humidity) Fertilization: Any organic fertilizer Propagation: Easy to propagate & grow.
Let’s find how can you easily grow a pink princess in detail:
Placement & Light
Pink princess philodendron prefers to sit in bright sunlight as long as it is not directly falling on them. However, they also do well in the artificial filtered growing light.
You can place them in an east-facing or west-side window, but, in general, any spot where they can get enough bright indirect light is perfect for their growth.
So, can this philodendron take full sun?
They can handle a little direct sunlight during the morning when the rays are not strong.
Princess philodendron is a slow grower plant with pinkish-white, dark pink, and green leaves. However, you can provide it with the support of a bamboo or moss pole to let it fully grow.
The leaves can be 5 inches wider and 10 inches long.
Watering
Watering is one of the crucial steps in pink princess care. They are among the tolerant plants that can do better underwater but will rot if you overwater them.
The ideal routine is to water them once every week.
Another tip is not to follow a specific watering schedule. Instead, always check the soil moisture before you water your pink princess philodendron.
Also, let the soil dry between the watering session as soggy and wet soil may cause root rot, drooping, or yellowing of leaves.
Note: Practice thorough watering (water until it starts coming from the plant pothole) and avoid shallow watering (letting the only top soil moist).
So, does watering and misting play any role in keeping the pink leaves of this gorgeous plant?
Well, you might be doing nothing wrong and still end up losing that beautiful pink leaf. It won’t be wrong to say that this plant is quite unexpected in retaining its uniqueness.
But, you must do all the care right to make sure the loss of the leaf is not due to your fault!
Soil
The ideal soil mix for philodendron erubescens pink combines perlite, potting mix, and orchid park. It does well in well-drained organic soil.
You can DIY the soil mix by combining one part perlite, one part orchid bark, and two parts of the houseplant potting mix.
Humidity
Watering, light, and humidity are some of the basic care steps that, if you do right, can help your pink plants grow forever (Literally).
Philodendron pink princess loves to sit in a high humid environment. Yes, it can survive in low humidity, but balance the room moisture at more than 50% for the best growth.
You can put a water-filled pebble tray under the plant or place a good humidifier along it to maintain the humid environment.
Temperature
This is one of the philodendrons that loves to sit in a humid and moist environment, but the extreme temperature may affect their growth. Or even cause scorching or yellowing in the pink leaves.
The ideal temperature for the best growth of your philodendron plant is from 13°C (55°F) to 32°C (90°F). It may tolerate up to 35°C (95°F), but any temperature higher than the range can affect their leaves.
Pro-Tip: If you want to give your plant the best growing conditions, avoid rapid temperature fluctuations.
Fertilization
The best fertilizer for the pink princess plant is any organic houseplant fertilizer diluted with water before pouring into the soil.
You can give the fertilizer once every two weeks during summer or spring (the growing season), but it is best to avoid any fertilizer during the first year as it may disturb the plant’s growth.
Also, if you freshly bought it, the soil mix must have already filled with all the essential nutrients, so you don’t need to fertilize it immediately.
Repotting
As the princess philodendron is a slow glower, you don’t need to repot it often. However, it becomes necessary when it is root bound, or you notice the overgrown roots coming out of their terracotta pot.
For repotting, take a 1-2 larger pot than the previous one, add the freshly prepared potting mix and some of the old one into the pot, and carefully place your plant inside.
Also, the best time to prune a plant is while repotting so that it doesn’t get to experience the same shock twice.
For pruning, use a grafter kit, scissors, or a sterile knife to cut the damaged roots or leaves carefully. Remove any drooping, wilted, yellow, or brown leaves.
You can prune pink princess philodendron before spring or during summer.
Pro-Tip: If you notice all the pink leaves reverting to green, prune them immediately right above a healthy variegated leaf. It will save your entire pink princess from losing the unique variegation.
Propagation
These pink house plants are really easy to grow and propagate. The basic three methods are water, soil, and seed propagation.
Seed propagation is possible for pink philodendrons, but there’s a higher chance for the new plant to grow like a normal philodendron and not the pink variety.
How to Propagate in Water:
Cut a healthy stem (with at least one variegated leaf) above the node and put the fresh cutting into the water. Now, wait for some roots to grow, and once they are 2-3 inches, shift the plant into a pot with soil mix.
Keep the new plant in a humid environment with bright indirect light and take extra care of its watering needs.
Also, only put the node in the water by keeping the leaf above it.
Note: Prepare the new soil mix by combining fresh potting mix and old (from parent pink princess plant) soil on a gardening mat to save the plant from shock.
How to Propagate in Soil:
Propagation in the soil is almost the same as in the water. The only difference is that pink princess philodendron cutting goes directly into the potting mix.
There’s no water-rooting process.
Pro-Tip: Cover the freshly prepared propagated plant process with a plastic bag to give it extra humidity and heat.
Pink Princess Philodendron FAQ’s
Before ending our complete guide on pink princess philodendron, here are answers to some frequently asked questions by plant-lovers:
Is the Philodendron Pink Princess Rare?
When it first got popular, yes, it was rare. But, since numerous cultivars are developing this beautiful, unique pink plant, it is not so rare anymore.
However, it is still hard to find a princess philodendron that’s not too expensive or damaged.
How Can You Tell a Fake Philodendron Pink Princess?
If you notice, the pink hue of your princess plant starts to fade away after 6-14 months of its purchase. It’s a clear sign that it was not cultivated through a natural process. So, is it fake?
Yes, the plant you have is actually a pink congo philodendron developed by injecting chemicals to get those beautiful bright pink leaves.
Moreover, a pink princess plant always has a contrast of green and pink leaves.
Do Pink Princess Philodendrons Revert?
If your philodendron plant has too much pink hue in it, like two-three leaves that are entirely pink with no green pigment, there’s a higher chance it will revert.
To survive, plants must have green and pink variegation as the pink part has no chlorophyll.
However, the reverted pink plant could be due to a high amount of direct sunlight or poor care.
How Much Is a Pink Princess Philodendron?
It is surely on the pricier side of the plants as it has unique variegation of beautiful bright pink and natural green colors.
An extra small philodendron pink plant can cost you a minimum of $35. However, a large philodendron princess can be available for sale for up to $300 or more, depending on where you purchase it from.
Note: The wholesale price may differ, but it will still cost you more than the average houseplant.
Is the Pink Princess Plant Toxic?
Yes! The unique and beautiful pink philodendron is toxic and poisonous for pets. So, keep your cats and dogs away from your plant!
How Big Can a Pink Philodendron Princess Get?
Princess philodendron is a slow grower trailing plant with beautiful dark pink (or pinkish-white) and green leaves.
It can be grown indoors and outdoors. The stunning variegated leaves of the pink plant can grow up to 10 inches tall and widespread 5 inches.
Do Philodendron Pink Princess Attracts Pests?
It is a perfect picturesque plant to grow indoors. However, like any other variety, it may also attract pesky bugs like mealybugs, tumid, aphids, scales, or mites.
Brown Leaves of Pink Philodendron?
Bright direct sunlight, less humidity, or an improper watering routine may cause the leaves to turn brown.
Bottom Line
Pink Princess philodendron is one of the most sought-after varieties among plant influencers and flora enthusiasts.
You will surely get its hype once you get your hands on this awesome, unique, and gorgeous variegated philodendron.
However, we leave that to you to answer if it’s really worth all that extra money you spent because it is easy to propagate but not easy to variegate plants.
But there’s a chance that you might get lucky and end up propagating the beautiful combination of pink and green leaves after following the guide with all the essential care.
Lastly, make sure to visit Inspire Uplift Blog to read about more such fascinating plant varieties.