Discover the best tips to get more pink leaves on Pink Princess Philodendron and sprinkle some colors in your indoor garden!
If you dream of having a plant with blushing pink leaves in your collection, grab a pink princess philodendron and follow these secrets to maximizing its vibrancy!
When Does Pink Princess Philodendron Produce Pink Leaves?
The perk of having a Pink Princess Philodendron is that it isn’t restricted to specific seasons for producing pink leaves. This variegation happens because of a mutation that disrupts chlorophyll production, which plants normally need for photosynthesis. Specifically, this mutation is called a chimeral mutation, where the DNA in certain cells alters, resulting in decreased or completely absent chlorophyll in those areas.
The pink coloration in this Philodendron is largely due to the presence of anthocyanins, a class of pigments that can appear red, purple, or blue depending on the pH level in the plant cells.
Naturally, this chlorophyll absence in other plants would result in white patches, but this philodendron variety comes up with a delightful quirk with the emergence of pink alongside white.
Tips To Get More Pink Leaves On Pink Princess Philodendron
1. Provide Ample Sunlight
It is a no-brainer that plants need enough sunlight to encourage variegation. Philodendrons can survive in medium light, but that might not fulfill your desire for prominent pink variegations. However, there’s also a caveat—too much sunlight can do more harm than good, fading the pink patches and crisping out the edges.
So, the trick here is to position your plant in a spot with a few hours of mild morning sunlight. That could be your north-facing window or a bright nook in the living. No matter where you decide to place it, keep an eye on the leaf edges so they don’t tend to show the signs of sunburn.
In cases of a shortage of sunlight, you can install LED grow lights placed about a foot above the plant to serve its purpose.
2. Go for Selective Pruning
The word ‘selective’ plays a big role here. The stem tips are concentrated with the plant’s growth hormone auxin. By cutting these tips off, you can encourage auxin to flow to the lower parts of the plant. This nudges these dormant areas to wake up and grow new leaves, which often flaunt more of that gorgeous pink variegation you desire.
Look for the leaf nodes and make a clean cut just above those tiny bumps. This will also encourage bushier growthalongside colorful variegation.
3. Take Care of its Nutritional Requirement
Since there’s no magic potion, you should aim for a balanced fertilizer for the overall plant health of your philodendron. Always keep in mind that excess can harm roots and disrupt nutrient uptake. So, opt for a balanced fertilizer formulated for houseplants during the growing season—spring and summer. Dilute it to one-fourth of its strength to bar risks of overfertilization.
You can also opt for slow-release organic formulas such as fish emulsion, seaweed extract, or worm castings that don’t even require regular upkeep for a long time to come.
4. Boost Humidity
Philodendrons are somewhat robust and won’t throw tantrums even if there’s a change in their environment. However, the pink princess actually stands by its name and might not show its pretty color if there’s some mixup in the air.
To keep things stable and happy, maintain a temperature of 65-80°F (18-27°C). Avoid dips below 60°F (15°C) as this can stunt growth and impact variegation. Also maintain a humidity level of around 50-60% to suffice its needs.
Scientific Fact— Elevated temperatures stimulate the activity of enzymes that catalyze the production of anthocyanins, pigments responsible for the red, purple, and pink hues in plant leaves.
5. Propagate the Offsets
This can be an interesting way to get your hands on more pink foliage. While propagating an offset will not affect the variegation of your existing plant, it will rather multiply your collection, boosting the chances of having a pinkier Philo.
Go for the offshoots with noticeable pink markings. This boosts the chances that the new plants will showcase that same striking variegation. However, chances are there, that it might revert on the greener side on maturity. In that case, you have enough tips to encourage pink leaves on your plant!
The Other Side Of Beautiful Variegation
Those pink variegations are just the wow side of the plant. You’re yet to know the negatives of this beautiful face. If all the leaves of your philodendron turn pink, then you have to roll up your sleeves and do everything possible to save your plant. All pink leaves mean the plant is not left with any chlorophyll and has no motive to live more. The plant is just starting to generate more energy.
After admiring its beauty, you should prune off all the leaves just below the nodes so that the parent plant can channel its energy into developing the new, lush leaves. To sustain your plant, you must strike a strategic balance between green and pink shades.
