Because of its famous heart-shaped waxy leaves with vibrant pink streaks, the pink princess philodendron is on the list of most-wanted indoor plants for houseplant collectors. They’re so popular, in fact, that PPP (as it’s known among plant enthusiasts) cuttings can fetch upwards of $100.
How do you get the pink princess philodendron?
Short Answer: Provide bright indirect light for at least 8 hours every day for your Pink Princess Philodendron, either under grow lights or by a south facing window. In order for pink leaves to unfold easily, you’ll need at least 65 percent humidity.
Are there pink philodendrons?
One of the most striking and lovely houseplants to grow is the Philodendron Pink Princess. This indoor plant is appropriately named the “pink princess” because of its dark green foliage and brilliant pink variegation. Pink Princess philodendrons thrive in pots or hanging baskets, where their trailing vines and pink foliage make for a lovely display. There is also a pink Philodendron known as the “Pink Congo,” however this is not the actual “princess” as explained in this article.
Is the pink princess philodendron rare?
The Pink Princess Philodendron is a rare variegated philodendron with vibrant pink and green leaves that appears effortlessly stylish. Because of the variegated character of this philodendron, no two plants are alike, and the plant itself can be difficult to find.
Why is pink princess philodendron so expensive?
The pink princess is a high-priced item. This is because, even if the mother plant is widely variegated with pink, growers cannot ensure that their philodendrons will turn out pink enough to be sold as a pink princess philodendron.
If you want to acquire one of these stunning plants, a pink princess philodendron can be easily found on Etsy! One of my favorite Etsy vendors has created this stunning pink princess.
Make sure you buy one from a reliable source, regardless of where you buy it.
Why is pink princess philodendron expensive?
“The Pink Princess is a rare and sought-after philodendron with gorgeous, variegated dark green and pink foliage,” Joyce Mast, Bloomscape’s Plant Mom, explains. “One of the reasons it’s so expensive is because producers can’t ensure that every plant of this kind will have enough pink on the green leaves to be sold as a pink princess,” she explains, noting that many of these plants are rejected if there isn’t enough or any pink variegation. Pink leaves, as attractive as they are, are not healthy for the plant’s health: “Growers must ensure that the leaves have both pink and green variegation – if a leaf is predominantly pink, it will eventually die due to a lack of chlorophyll,” she adds.
Why is my pink princess plant not pink?
The majority of plants are all green and do not show any pink until they are fully mature. When plants are young, they don’t have a lot of variegation, but they do consistently express pink. Despite the fact that this makes the ‘Pink’ Pink Princess even more rare, there is still hope.
How can I encourage more variegation in my plants?
The best thing you can do to encourage the lovely pink coloration in your plant’s leaves is to give it plenty of light.
Unless you’re growing it under a grow lamp, this means it has to be in front of a window.
It will benefit from some direct sunlight, but it should not be exposed to too much.
Most Northern windows, as well as those with an eastern or western exposure, will perform nicely.
You’ll have to experiment because not all windows are created equal. If the leaves are exposed to too much direct sunlight, they will scorch and lose their color.
If your plant has reverted to mostly green leaves, you should prune it before it’s too late and the plant only produces green leaves.
Simply cut your plant back to the final leaf with evenly distributed variegation.
How can I get all pink leaves?
Although it is everyone’s dream to have all pink leaves, you don’t want your plant to have all pink leaves! Sure, that’s fun, but the plant can’t keep up with it.
All-pink leaves (or all-white leaves in many other variegated plants) lack the chlorophyll needed to keep the leaf alive, hence they won’t endure as long as leaves with balanced variegation.
The plant will eventually “dispose” of your all pink leaf.
If you receive a lot of pink leaves, you should trim them out.
You can enjoy them for a while, but the plant will not be able to keep up with the growth.
You’ll want to trim out any pink leaves in the same way that you pruned away all green leaves in tip #1.
Pruning the vine back to a leaf with balanced variegation is a good idea.
This will stimulate more balanced variegation in new growth.
My plant just came in the mail recently and it doesn’t look so good.How can I save it?
Variegated plants aren’t as hardy as non-variegated plants, and shipping can be stressful for any plant! When you first receive your plant in the mail, there are a few things you should do and avoid.
There are a few things to remember as your plant goes through a transition stage.
DOs
As soon as you receive your plant, unpack it and discard any packaging it came in (any plastic wrap, packing paper, etc.)
For at least a couple of weeks, place your plant near a window but out of direct sunlight.
If you received your plant bare root, pot it in a well-drained potting soil, hydrate it, and place it in indirect light as instructed above.
DONTs
Don’t start repotting right soon! Before repotting, give it at least a month. Your plant is already stressed from being transported in the mail, so repotting it right away can only make things worse.
Your plant will need to go through a transition phase before you can start caring for it like a regular Philodendron Pink Princess.
All my other Philodendrons are happy except for my Pink Princess.Why?
The Philodendron genus as a whole is a cheerful houseplant genus. Most make excellent indoor houseplants.
Because variegated plants have less chlorophyll, they are less robust growers than non-variegated plants.
It’s quite normal for your Pink Princess to develop slower and less vigorously than the rest of your Philodendrons.
During the growing season, give your plants plenty of light and fertilize them on a regular basis.
Dyna-Gro Grow, which is available on Amazon, is my favorite houseplant fertilizer.
It’s simply incredible!
My pink leaves are starting to burn brown.Why?
This can be due to a number of factors. The variegated leaves might become brown if there is a shortage in plant culture.
Brown leaves can be caused by overexposure to direct sunlight, dry air (keep your plant away from heating vents), soil drying up completely, or insufficient watering (too much or too little).
If you put your plant in a container that is too large for its root system, the soil will take a long time to dry out, which might lead to brown blotches on the leaves.
It’s also common for extremely pink leaves to turn brown over time as the plant can’t keep them for long.
Why are my leaves curling under?
The most common cause is improper watering. When watering, make sure to water completely until the water drains out of the drainage hole. Then wait until the top inch or two of the soil has dried (depending on the size of the pot).
Overwatering is a term that most people are afraid of, but it doesn’t mean what most people think it does!
At the same time, as described earlier in this post or in my Pink Princess care post, you want to keep your plant in good light.
Keep in mind that you should only repot your plant in the next pot size up from the one it is currently in.
Don’t be tempted to repot into a much larger pot; otherwise, the soil will take too long to dry out. Your leaves may curl and develop brown spots as a result of this.
Why are my my new leaves small, misshapen and sometimes torn?
Misshapen leaves are most usually caused by extremes in moisture and/or a lack of light.
If your new leaves are significantly smaller than your old leaves, your plant is most likely growing in less-than-ideal conditions.
Make sure your plant is getting enough light (as close to a window as possible!) and that you’re treating it regularly with a good fertilizer like Dyna-Gro Grow.
These will help you grow in a healthy way!
My plant is leggy.What should I do with it?
You are most likely not providing enough light for your plant. Make certain it’s in front of a window (North, East, or West is best). For the optimum development, keep it within a foot or so! This is something I can’t stress enough.
If you don’t like the way your plant looks, take advantage of the opportunity to prune it back and propagate it.
Your plant will grow back stronger than ever after being moved to brighter light.
Check out my step-by-step post on Philodendron Pink Princess Propagation: 3 Easy Methods if you wish to revitalize your plant and start from scratch, and your plant is big enough to propagate!
Why are my leaves yellowing?
The yellowing of houseplant leaves can be caused by a variety of factors. If you just got your plant in the mail, don’t be startled if one or two of the leaves turn yellow. To move your plant to your home, make sure to follow the guidelines in point #3.
Is it normal for my plant to shed its lower leaves?
There are no leaves that will last indefinitely. Plants eventually lose some leaves, and the lowest ones are usually the first to go. It doesn’t always imply that something is wrong.
However, if you allow your soil to become fully dry, the lowest leaves will often turn yellow and fall off.
I can’t seem to find a Pink Princess!Where can I get one?
Do you want to buy a Philodendron Pink Princess? Etsy is one of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops for buying almost any plant. Today, have a look at the Philodendron Pink Princess collection (link to Etsy)!
Remember that for the best results, you’ll need the appropriate balance of LIGHT, proper watering techniques, a well-drained soil, the right sized pot, and frequent fertilizing!
How do you encourage variegation pink princess?
In terms of temperature, these plants thrive in temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. A temperature range of 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 29 degrees Celsius) is ideal for growth. If temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night, it’s fine as long as it’s only temporary. In general, keep your plant above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
CLIMBING SUPPORT
Because Philodendron erubescens is a vining plant, provide it with a trellis or post to climb on. Tie the vine lightly to the support structure as it develops.
You’ll get the best results from this plant if you give it some nice support.
Your plant will enjoy the support, whether you use a moss post, a cedar board, or something else.
Don’t miss my tutorial on how to make your own moss pole.
It’s better and less expensive than any moss post on the market!
If you don’t want to deal with providing support, you can always cut and propagate your plant.
The original plant will produce new growth and become bushier as a result of this.
If you want to go for that look, go for it!
PRUNING TO MANAGE VARIEGATION
There are a lot of folks that prefer pure pink leaves. However, be cautious about what you desire for. The all-pink leaves have no chlorophyll, and if you don’t take care of your plant, it will die.
I’ll refer to an interview I had with Steve’s Leaves’ owner and greenhouse manager.
We talked about variegated plants and how important it is to prune them when necessary.
On your plant, you want a balance of non-variegated and variegated leaves.
If your plant becomes inundated with all green leaves, it may eventually revert to all green and you’ll have to say goodbye to Pink Princess.
You could have a Green Princess, and who wants a Green Princess?
On the other hand, if you receive ALL pink leaves or leaves that are more than half pink, your plant will slowly deteriorate over time because the variegated areas of the leaves lack sufficient chlorophyll to keep the plant alive.
If you don’t intervene, the plant will essentially starve to death.
Chlorophyll is used by plants to photosynthesize and produce food using the sun’s energy.
If your plant has a lot of variegation, it suggests it isn’t producing enough nourishment.
My Philodendron Pink Princess needs to be pruned since it was producing totally pink leaves.
I genuinely rooted and sent the part I chopped off to someone.
I don’t know if it made it or not, but she was prepared to take a chance!
You’ll need to cut your plant back a bit if it’s started to grow all green leaves or all pink foliage.
Simply cut back your plant to the next leaf with a balanced variegation.
My plant began to sprout back leaves with a more balanced variegation after I clipped off the all-pink leaves.
The plant’s growth from the node where you trimmed it back should be more variegated.
Simply said, the “node” is the point where the leaf meets the stem.
At the nodes, new growth is formed.
Of course, if you do receive entirely pink leaves, it’s good to take a moment to appreciate the beauty.
Simply don’t keep them on for too long, or your plant may begin to wilt.
PINK PRINCESS PROPAGATION
I’ve published a separate page outlining three amazing propagation methods, including one that’s a little different, to help you grow your collection as quickly as possible!
Growing Pink Princess from seed is one approach that I do not discuss in that propagation piece.
Pink Princess seeds can be found in a variety of places online.
If you try to grow these from seed, you’ll end up with Philodendron erubescens, which has all green leaves.
You won’t get an exact genetic replica of the plant from seeds.
So save yourself the aggravation and money by not buying any Pink Princess seeds.
Are you looking to purchase a Pink Princess?
On Etsy, look for Philodendron Pink Princess (link to Etsy).
One of my favorite places to buy plants is Etsy, which has an incredible selection!
It’s an excellent one-stop store.
IS YOUR PINK PRINCESS DYING?
Have you recently received a Pink Princess in the mail that doesn’t appear to be very appealing? Maybe it’s having trouble developing, or it’s growing slowly? Are there any brown stains on the leaves?
Don’t miss my blog post, Pink Princess Philodendron:11 Critical Problems & Solutions.
I’ve compiled a list of the most common issues that my readers have encountered and discussed why they arise.
If you just got your plant in the mail, make sure you don’t do these five rookie blunders.
What is a pink Congo philodendron?
The pink congo philodendron is a plant with a name that seems like something out of a spy novel. It has bubblegum-colored leaves and is caught up in a global con that reveals a lot about how we live now. Wired’s Arielle Pardes has an article about it.
SHAPIRO: To begin, set the scene. The world of plantfluencers, which barely existed a decade ago, is the setting for this story (ph). What are their names?
PARDES: As a result, sales of houseplants have skyrocketed in recent years. According to some estimates, they’ve increased by 50% in just the last three years.
PARDES: There are always influences where there is money, where there is a market. So there’s a burgeoning class of people who post photos and videos of their rare plant hauls on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media sites.
PARDES: It’s difficult to say why the pink plants have become so popular, but humans have had houseplant crazes for ages. There was fern fever and tulip madness in Victorian England. And the color pink happens to be the current horticultural passion.
SHAPIRO: As a result, you start the story with a plant that actually exists and can be propagated and shared. It’s referred to as the pink princess. How did the pink princess become a social media sensation?
PARDES: The pink princess is a man-made hybrid created in the 1970s by crossing two different varieties of philodendrons. For a long time, it served as a unique but common houseplant. It was marketed for around $6 per plant. Then, during the last few years, these plantfluencers have developed a keen interest. And it’s basically become an obsession thanks to visual sharing on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and other sites like these. As a result, this plant, which was formerly very inexpensive and rather exotic, has become nearly hard to locate. There are hundreds of people on waiting lists for it, and the same farmers who once charged $6 are now charging $150 to $200 for a four-inch plant.
SHAPIRO: All right. As a result, the pink princess is in the upper echelon. Introduce us to the pink congo philodendron, the central figure in the conspiracy.
PARDES: These pink plants are quite popular with plantfluencers. And, you know, a new pink plant called the pink congo has emerged among all of these waitlists and screaming for the pink princess. Its leaves are a little pointier than the pink princess’s, and they’re completely pink, like if they’ve been dipped in paint. Then word got out that this wasn’t a naturally variegated plant like the pink princess, but rather one that had been chemically gassed in greenhouses to generate a plant hormone that would change the color of its leaves briefly.
PARDES: You’re absolutely correct. People were spending hundreds of dollars on this and then discovering that it had reverted back to an average philodendron, and it wasn’t anything uncommon or special at all, according to reports in the plant world.
SHAPIRO: Did the pink congo vanish from the Internet after collectors discovered it wasn’t what it promised to be?
PARDES: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, When I was researching this story, I discovered that some merchants on sites like Etsy were still offering it for upwards of $80. But now that it’s becoming a little more well-known among plant enthusiasts, sellers are starting to vanish or, at the very least, cut their prices.
SHAPIRO: As you point out, in the 1600s, there was a tulip fever in Holland. Is this a brand-new story or just a reimagining of an old one?
PARDES: The preoccupation with houseplants isn’t new, and I don’t think it’ll ever go away. Susan Orlean, in her research on rare orchids, makes the point that collecting these items might be akin to a love affair. Collecting a living creature has a wonderful and compulsive quality to it. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon. What has changed, though, is the Internet’s impact on these obsessions, as well as the potential for scams.