One of the coolest philodendrons you could throw into your indoor plant mix is the White Princess Philodendron. This dude has green leaves with white patterns on them, adding a pop of color and fun to any room. But, like all plants, the White Princess Philodendron needs a decent amount of care and attention. We’ve got all you need to know about taking care of this beauty in Famiplants blog post.
What is White Princess Philodendron?
White Princess Philodendron is part of the Araceae family and calls South America its home.
We don’t know exactly where this hybrid came from, but it’s definitely become one of the most in-demand philodendrons.
The Philodendron White Knight and Philodendron White Wizard, both rockin’ sweet white patterns on their bright green leaves, are often mistaken for this plant.
The real tell-tale sign is the color of the stems. The White Princess has a green stem, while the White Knight’s stem is a dark pink that can look purple. And the White Wizard and White Knight, well they show off with bigger leaves compared to the White Princess’ slim ones.
People are big fans of the White Princess Philodendron for its beautiful leaves and slow growth and compact size.
And it’s not just a pretty face – it’s also a practical pal with a natural knack for helping to clear the air of nasty stuff.
White Princess Philodendron care overview
| Botanical Name | Philodendron erubescens ‘White Princess’ |
| Common Name | White Princess |
| Family | Araceae |
| Genus | Philodendron |
| Native Area | South America |
| Bloom Time | rarely |
| Mature Size | 40 inches |
| Soil Type | Rich, quick-draining |
| Temperature | 64-73˚F (18-23°C ) |
| Light | Bright indirect sunlight |
| Watering | Every 7-10 days, water if the top half of the soil is dry |
| Humidity | 60%-80% |
| Fertilizer | A balanced feed once a month in spring and summer |
| Propagation | Root in water or soil |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets |
Caring for a White Princess Philodendron
The White Princess Philodendron is a favorite houseplant ’cause of its stunning leaves. This tropical stunner should thrive if you know the ins and outs of White Princess Philodendron care. So, here’s the lowdown on looking after this plant:
Light Requirements
The White Princess Philodendron loves bright, indirect sunlight, just like the dappled light it’d get under the trees in rainforests. You’ll wanna give this tropical gem 6-8 hours of daily indirect sunlight, ideally in a room that faces west or south, or next to a window that faces north or east.
Too much direct sunlight can burn the plant, and stuff like scorched or yellow leaves means it’s getting too much sun. You don’t want your White Princess Philodendron sitting right under the sun as too much sun can damage the leaves and could kill the plant. The secret to this plant’s good health is balancing the right amount of light without the harmful effects of direct sunlight.
Soil
Luckily, this Philodendron White Princess doesn’t need any special soil ’cause it likes the same soil as regular Philodendrons.
The soil for White Princess Philodendrons needs to be breathable and quick-draining to stop too much water from hanging around.
The best pH for the White Princess plant is between 5.6-7. (a bit acidic-neutral).
The ideal soil mix should have stuff that’s high in nutrients but also light and airy. If your White Princess Philodendron’s roots soak up too much water, they could rot, which could kill the plant.
Here’s a killer recipe you can use, with 10% of each thing:
- Compost
- Sphagnum peat mossand perlite
- Vermiculite
- Coco coir and Pine bark chips
Watering
When the top couple inches of soil are totally dry in the spring and summer, or as soon as you see the leaves start to droop, give your plant some water.
Water the soil until it starts coming out of the bottom hole of the plastic, terracotta, or clay pot. If you’re using a tray to catch any extra water, make sure to empty it to keep root rot and other nasty stuff at bay.
A really good way to water a White Princess Philodendron is to dunk the pot in a bucket of water and let it soak for a few minutes.
In the winter, you won’t need to water it as much. Keep giving your plants a good soak, but don’t do it as often.
You might only need to water it every week to 10 days. Just water when the top half of the soil feels dry after you check it.
Just be careful not to overwater and make sure you’re not waterlogging it.
Temperature
Your white princess philodendron likes it cozy, needing a temperature between 64-73˚F (18-23°C ) to do well.
If it gets hotter or colder than that, your plant could start having problems.
In a room, it should be pretty easy to get the right temperature for your White Princess.
In summer, you could move it outside, but make sure it doesn’t get too much sun.
And even when it’s inside, keep it away from air conditioning and cold drafts to stop it getting damaged.
Humidity
Your White Princess plant will be happy with high humidity, between 60 and 80%. A White Princess needs a good amount of humidity to do well, it’s not really a plant that can handle dry conditions.
There are a few tricks you can use to get the right humidity level for your White Princess Philodendron:
- Group your tropical plants, which need high humidity, around a little humidifier that’ll moisten the air around them.
- Put the philodendron on a tray with water and pebbles.
- Or, the easiest way, just spray the leaves with distilled water every day. Giving the leaves a mist a couple times a week can really help boost the humidity around your White Princess.
- Give your plant a good spray about once every ten days to keep it hydrated during the dry winter months.
Fertilizer
To get your White Princess Philodendron to grow thick and lush leaves, it’s gonna need some steady food. To do this, feed your plant regularly.
In the spring and summer, it’s a good idea to feed your White Princess Philodendron once or twice a month. When fall and winter roll around, cut that back to once every couple months.
Use a balanced liquid houseplant food to make sure your White Princess grows the best it can.
Don’t feed it when the soil is dry, ’cause it’ll just run through and not get soaked up.
Put it on the White Princess plant right after watering to make sure the food gets evenly spread throughout the soil.
For White Princess Philodendron, a balanced 10-10-10 food mix is the way to go.
Related: Philodendron White Knight Care And Grow: The Ultimate Guide
Repotting
When it’s time to give your White Princess Philodendron a new home:
- As your White Princess plant gets bigger, plan on repotting it every 12 to 18 months.
- If the new leaves start getting smaller or the roots start poking through the drainage holes.
Be careful with picking the new pot size; plants can actually have a hard time in a pot that’s too big. Don’t go more than a few inches bigger around.
Use new soil when you’re potting your White Princess Philodendron, and make sure to leave room for the root ball.
Before you give it a good watering, gently loosen the roots and pack the soil down.
Pruning
If you’ve got a young White Princess Philodendron, it’ll outgrow the pot fast as it keeps spreading.
No need to repot if the plants are rooted and growing ’cause they’ll climb onto different supports.
Snip off any dead or damaged leaves every now and then. If your princess grows up to around five feet, you should only trim it to keep it growing in the middle.
Use a sharp pair of scissors or a knife to prune the White Princess. To stop any diseases spreading among your plants, it’s a good idea to clean them with alcohol or a flame first.
Cut the leaf stem off clean at the base, then chuck it or compost it. You can also get rid of any yellowing leaves that are sick or infected.
White Princess Philodendron Propagation
Propagating White Princess Philodendrons is an easy way to get more of these gorgeous tropical plants. Wait until your White Princess Philodendron gets big enough before you take cuttings big enough.
Early summer or spring is the best time to get this propagation job done. Starting with stem cuttings is a good idea. You can put your stem cuttings in water or soil.
Stem cuttings in soil:
- Start with cuttings of the White Princess plant that are at least 3 inches tall, have a couple nodes, and at least one leaf. Make a cutting with nodes showing. Use clean scissors to stop bacteria.
- After soaking the cutting, bury the nodes in damp soil. Press the soil around the stem to secure the cutting.
- Take off the cutting’s lower leaves before putting them on the soil.
- Keep the soil damp to get the roots growing fast.
- Put the plant by a window so it gets lots of strong, indirect light.
In about 2-3 weeks, you should see new buds starting to appear on the top leaves.
Cut Stems in Water You can also plant your White Princess in water by following these easy steps:
- Cut a stem that has fresh leaves and a couple nodes.
- Put your cutting in water and put it in a mason jar or another clear container.
- Put your propagation jar in a room that’s around 68°F on average and well-lit.
- Change the water every few days to stop fungus.
- Once the roots are about an inch long, move the cutting into damp, sterile potting soil.
White Princess Common Pests, Plant Diseases & Common Problems
White Princess Philodendron Usual Problems You gotta be aware of potential White Princess Philodendron problems, like with any houseplant.
Keep an eye on the leaves for signs of fungus or bugs.
Common Pests
Aphids are little green bugs that hang out on the bottom of leaves, while spider mites leave little brown or gold spots on the leaves.
For both these bugs, use bug soap or neem oil.
Fungus gnats show up as grown-up flies that look like tiny mosquitos or as cream-colored larvae on the soil. On the top of the soil, spread some diatomaceous earth, and keep it dry.
Scale bugs stick to the leaves or stems. They come in gray, green, brown, and black. They’ll be knocked down by neem oil. Mealybugs look like little cotton puffs on leaves and stems. To get rid of them, you can use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Common Plant Diseases
Diseases in White Princess Philodendrons are often caused by overwatering. Most of the time, problems can be fixed by removing the damaged plant tissue and changing watering habits.
If your White Princess plant has watery patches on its leaves that turn dark or black with yellow edges, it’s got a bacterial leaf spot.
Too much moisture is the cause of this. Keep your White Princess Philodendron away from all other plants and remove any damaged leaves. Stop misting the leaves and use a fungicide as directed.
Yellow leaves and stems that are dark and mushy are signs of root rot. After cutting out the damaged roots, plant the plant in new, well-draining soil.
Common Problems
The White Princess Philodendron is a gorgeous and popular houseplant that doesn’t need a lot of care. Here are common problems to watch out for:
- Yellowing leaves: Too much direct sun, overwatering, or both can cause leaves to yellow.
- Brown spots: Too much direct sun or dry air could be the cause.
- Leggy growth: This can be caused by wrong pruning or not enough light.
FAQs White Princess Philodendron Care
The following are some usual questions about White Princess Philodendron care:
Q: How often should I water my White Princess Philodendron?
A: Water your White Princess Philodendron when the top inch of soil feels dry. Depending on how humid and warm your home is, this usually means watering once a week, but it can vary.
Q: Is low light okay for my White Princess Philodendron?
A: The White Princess Philodendron can deal with low light, but it won’t grow well in it. It’s best to give this plant bright, indirect light.
Q: How can I make my White Princess Philodendron more humid?
A: You can increase the humidity for your White Princess Philodendron by using a humidifier, putting a tray of water near the plant, or spraying the leaves with water.
Q: When should I feed my White Princess Philodendron?
A: During the growing season (spring and summer), you can feed your White Princess Philodendron every two to four weeks with a balanced plant food. Don’t feed when the plant is resting. (fall and winter).
Q: How fast does a White Princess Philodendron grow?
A: The White Princess Philodendron grows super slowly; it can take up to 10 years for it to reach its full size of 3 feet.
Q: How big does a White Princess Philodendron get?
A: The White Princess Philodendron will get to be 3 feet tall and will spread out 1-2 feet. It doesn’t need pruning because of its compact shape.
Q: How can I speed up the growth of White Princess Philodendron?
A: To get the fastest growth, give your White Princess Philodendron its dream growing environment of warm temperatures, high humidity, and semi-shade.
Q: Is White Princess Philodendron toxic to pets?
A: Yes, White Princess Philodendron can be poisonous to pets. Make sure your plant is somewhere your pets can’t reach so they can’t eat the leaves.
Conclusion
The White Princess Philodendron is a popular and pretty indoor plant that’s easy to look after. The plant needs a medium amount of water, bright indirect light, and a warm and humid environment to thrive. It’s important to keep the plant out of direct sunlight and not to overwater it, as both can hurt the plant.
By reading Famiplants‘ blog post on this plant, you can learn how to properly look after your White Princess Philodendron and avoid common issues like leaves turning yellow and bugs.
