Is there a touch of pink there? Characterized by heart-shaped green leaves with hints of bubblegum rose, Philodendron erubescens it is truly unique in the plant world. Its variegation occurs due to natural processes.
Learn how to properly care for your pink philodendron it’s key to making sure it maintains a brilliant color. Fortunately, as with many seedlings of the genus, their care is quite simple. The species is perennial, with an adult size of 60 cm to 1.2 m in height and width.
care
Native to Colombia, the pink philodendron belongs to the Araceae family and is very easy to grow. That said, there are some important things to keep in mind to ensure you are maximizing variegation in the leaves.
Light
To supply enough lighting to your seedling is the most important factor influencing the amount of color you will get. Choose a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light.
When grown indoors, the species can also tolerate a few hours of direct light, which can help its development. If you don’t have a suitable place, it is recommended to buy a grow lamp. Otherwise, the leaves will quickly begin to turn green and lose their impressive shade.
Ground
As part of the Araceae family, the pink philodendron like airy, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. A mixture of one part standard substrate, perlite and orchid bark is ideal.
Water
Water well and allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. Make sure the seedling is never sitting in waterlogged substrate as they are susceptible to root rot. If you are not sure if you need water, be careful and wait another day.
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temperature and humidity
The species does best in warm, humid conditions – although typical home temperature and humidity levels are fine for these hardy plants. The ideal is to keep your branch in temperatures between 18 and 26ºC and avoid temperatures below 15ºC.
Fertilizer
During the growing season (spring and summer) he benefits from regular monthly feedings with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing in early fall when it enters the dormancy period.
Propagation
As with most philodendrons, this species can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. This will help you create a new plant, and make the existing one bushier and heavily variegated (especially if the leaves have started to reverse).
Here’s how you can make it through staking in just a few easy steps:
First, choose where you are going to cut the stem. Choose a cutting that has two to three leaves and the same amount of exposed nodes at the bottom of the cutting. Use sharp pruning shears and separate the opening you just made.
Remove the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only two or three leaves at the top. Set the piece aside for 12 to 24 hours – to allow the edge to set. Then place it in water and in a location that receives bright indirect light. Make sure the exposed nodes are underwater at all times.
Within 2 to 3 weeks, you should start to notice new roots sprouting from the seedling. Once they have grown to at least an inch in length, the piece can be transferred back into the soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and plenty of water.
Common pests and diseases
The pink philodendron is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases. Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, scale mealybugs and fungus gnats. Diseases include root rot, which is a result of overwatering, and rust spot, which arises from a fungal infection.
frequent problems
With proper care, they are relatively problem free – these usually arise from inadequate watering, moisture or light.
brown edges
The browned edges of the leaves are usually the result of a lack of moisture, which causes the leaves to start to dry out. Unfortunately, there’s no way to reverse the damage once it’s happened, but if you increase the humidity around the plant, it should prevent further browning.
brown parts
The last thing you want to see on your pretty pink variation is brown spots, but that can happen if you expose it to too bright a light.
The delicate splashes of color tend to burn out under adverse lighting conditions, creating large burn spots. Sometimes this can also appear because of a lack of moisture as mentioned above.
Why is my sapling losing its pink hue?
This is most likely due to poor lighting. Make sure the branch is receiving bright, indirect light and never position it in low-light conditions.
And why is it getting long?
Long-legged growth is an indication that your seedling isn’t getting enough light, causing the leaves to try to «catch up» to the brightness. Move your pot to a brighter location so these long new growths don’t break through.
*Via The Spruce