Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess Marble'

The Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess Marble', commonly known as Pink Princess Marble Philodendron, is a climbing tropical plant from the Araceae family. 🌿 Native to the rainforests of Colombia, this philodendron has become famous for its striking variegation that combines deep green, pink, and creamy white patterns across its heart-shaped leaves. It's considered an intermediate-level plant, requiring some attention to lighting and humidity but rewarding growers with its unique colouration. Fun fact: the pink colouration comes from a lack of chlorophyll in certain leaf sections, making each leaf truly one-of-a-kind.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This plant has a climbing growth habit and will naturally reach for support if given a moss pole or trellis. The leaves are arrow-shaped to heart-shaped, typically measuring 15 to 20 centimetres in length when mature. Leaf colour is a stunning mix of dark green, bright pink, and creamy white marbling that varies from leaf to leaf. The texture is smooth with a slight gloss, and new growth often emerges with more intense pink tones that may shift as the leaf matures.
FLOWER DETAILS
When grown indoors, the Pink Princess Marble rarely flowers, but if it does, it produces a typical philodendron spadix and spathe structure. The spathe is pale green to white on the outside with a reddish-purple interior. Flowers have no noticeable fragrance and are not the main attraction of this plant. Flowering is infrequent in home environments, and most growers focus on foliage rather than blooms. To encourage any flowering, maintain consistent care with adequate light, warmth, and humidity, though it's not guaranteed indoors.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the pink areas. Too little light may cause the pink variegation to fade or revert to green.
💧 Water: Water when the top 3 to 5 centimetres of soil feel dry, usually once a week in summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom, then discard excess. Bottom watering works well to encourage even moisture.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 60 to 70 percent humidity. Will tolerate average home humidity around 40 to 50 percent but may develop crispy leaf edges. Use a humidifier or pebble tray if needed.
🪴 Soil: Use a well-draining, chunky mix with perlite, orchid bark, and peat or coco coir. Soil should stay lightly moist but never soggy.
🏺 Potting: Choose a pot with drainage holes, 15 to 20 centimetres in diameter for a young plant. Terracotta or plastic both work. Repot every 1 to 2 years in spring when roots fill the pot.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate growth, producing 2 to 4 new leaves every few months under ideal conditions. Can reach 60 to 90 centimetres in height indoors within a year. Maximum mature size indoors is around 1.2 to 1.5 metres with support.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly from spring through early fall with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce or stop feeding in winter when growth slows.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs due to calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing if ingested.
WHERE TO PUT IT
The Pink Princess Marble does well in living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices near east or west-facing windows with filtered light. It can be placed on a plant stand, shelf, or table where it has room to climb if provided with a support structure. Avoid placing it in dark corners, bathrooms with low light, or directly beside heating vents or air conditioners. Keep it away from cold drafts near exterior doors or windows during Canadian winters.