Philodendron-Pink princess 10”

The gorgeous and highly sought-after 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.

While it can be easily confused with the Philodendron pink congo, the variegation of the pink princess is stable as it occurs due to natural processes, whereas the pink congo variegation is a result of chemicals that are injected into the leaves, usually reverting to green a couple of months after being purchased. 

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.

• 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: A mixture of standard potting soil, perlite,and orchid bark is ideal for the pink princess.

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.

When grown indoors, the pink princess philodendron can also tolerate a couple hours of direct light, which may help to increase its variegation. If you do not have a location in your home that receives enough light, buying a grow light for this plant is recommended. Without enough light the pink princesses leaves will quickly begin reverting back to green and it will lose its stunning variegation. 

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.

Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings and 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 1 to 2 weeks in the fall and winter.

Ensure that your pink princess is never sitting in waterlogged soil as they are susceptible to root rot. 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.

The pink princess philodendron does best in warm, humid conditions—although typical household temperature and humidity levels are fine for these hardy plants. Ideally, keep your plant in temperatures between 65 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit and avoid exposing it to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

During its growing season (spring and summer) the pink princess philodendron benefits from regular monthly feedings with a balanced liquid or pellet fertilizer. Stop fertilizing your plant in the early fall as it enters its dormant period.