How to Care for Pink Princess Philodendron

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This striking houseplant is one of the easiest to grow!

If pink is your thing, you’re going to want a pink princess philodendron (Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’) in your houseplant collection!

Also known as PPP by plant collectors, this gorgeous houseplant was discovered in the '70s but has become hugely popular in the last few years.

PPP has heart-shaped dark green leaves splashed with dramatic pink splotches. Like Monstera or pothos, it is a type of plant called aroid, and is easy to grow despite its exotic looks.

Part of the charm of a pink princess philodendron is its unpredictability.

“It’s likely a naturally-occurring genetic mutation of the plant,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturalist with Costa Farms. “Every plant and every leaf looks different. You have no way of knowing what it will look like until the leaf unfurls.”

During the Covid-19 lockdown, pink princess became a darling on social media, and demand soon outstripped supply, with prices skyrocketing. Fortunately, it’s now widely available.

It's not the cheapest houseplant, but you can easily add it to your easy-care houseplant collection without needing to take out a loan.

Here’s what you need to know about how to care for pink princess and where to find pink princess:

Like most other types of philodendrons, pink princess is easy to grow if you give it the right conditions. It prefers bright, indirect light, but it can take some direct sunlight in places that get lower light levels in winter, such as the Northeast or Midwest.

If you don’t have a bright window, get an LED grow light, suggests Hancock.

Water it when the top few inches of soil feels dry; it does not like to stay wet. Poke your finger into the soil to test before giving it a drink. If soil sticks to your finger, wait a few more days and test again.

If you like, feed it with a regular purpose fertilizer, following the package instructions, during the growing season.

If new leaves seem to have trouble unfurling or appear deformed, try boosting humidity levels, suggests Hancock.

One way to do this: group pink princess with other plants. The moisture they release during transpiration will be mutually beneficial. Another option: run a small humidifier near your plants.

Don't bother misting them. You’d have to mist continuously all day long to make a difference.

Unfortunately, yes! But despite what you may have heard, it’s not because the plant is not getting enough light. Rather, it’s because of the plant’s unstable genetics.

“There’s always the chance that the plant will revert,” says Hancock. “Keep an eye on it, and if you notice that the new growth is not variegated, cut the plant back to a point just below where it has reverted. The new growth that occurs after trimming should appear variegated.”

Another misconception is that the more light you give pink princess, the more variegated the plant will become. Also not true!

Actually, the more light you give it, the more quickly it will grow—and the faster it grows, the more pretty new growth and unique markings you’ll see, says Hancock. But more light does not equal more pink splotches.

However, this plant is a beauty regardless of the markings. Like other philodendrons, pink princess can climb if you give it a moss pole and bright light.

“The leaves get much bigger when it climbs. Even if there’s a low level of variegation, if you have leaves that are 16-inches-long, it’s still a dramatic plant,” says Hancock.

Fortunately, PPP is now readily available and costs much less than in previous years. It’s not generally considered “rare” any longer.

Most of the major growers now mass produce this plant from tissue culture, although not every batch of plants will produce the same levels of variegation. But you can now find it at most big box retailers and online plant sellers, such as the ones below.

Unfortunately, according to the ASPCA, all types of philodendrons are toxic to pets. So keep this plant away from your cats and dogs.

Philodendrons contain insoluble calcium oxalates, which can cause oral irritation, drooling, swelling of the mouth or difficulty swallowing. If your suspect your dog or cat has taken a nibble or ingested this plant—even if you’re not sure—contact your vet ASAP. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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