Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’

Background of the Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ hybrid

‘Pink Princess’ is a cultivated hybrid selection. As a cultivar, it has no natural geographic range.

Practical care for Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’

• Support: Add a firm pole or board as the stem lengthens, keeping nodes close enough for aerial roots to meet the surface
• Light: Use bright filtered light for strong growth and protect pale pink sectors from direct midday sun
• Watering: Let the upper part of the mix begin to dry, then water the whole root ball and allow complete drainage
• Substrate: Use a coarse aroid mix that stays airy after watering
• Repotting: Move up in pot size when roots occupy most of the current container

What to do when Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ has problems

• A new leaf has little or no pink: Variegation changes from node to node. Follow several successive leaves before pruning. If several new nodes stay entirely green, make the cut above a healthy node from a pink-marked section of the vine. New growth from that point can still vary
• Pink tissue develops brown edges: Check for direct sun first, then check whether the root ball has dried through. Move the plant out of the beam if the damage faces the light, or water the full root ball if it is genuinely dry. Keep healthy green tissue on the vine
• A new leaf opens with silvery scars or black specks: Inspect the soft growth for thrips. When confirmed, isolate the plant and use a houseplant treatment whose current label lists thrips, repeating it at the stated interval
• Yellowing appears in a persistently wet root zone: Hold the next watering and check drainage. If yellowing is followed by continued wilt, inspect the roots. Leave firm roots alone. If the substrate is compacted, replace it with fresh airy mix and remove only root sections that are soft or smell bad. Follow the root-rot guide if decay is present

Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Philodendron: where the name comes from

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.