How to Care for Philodendron Prince of Orange?
If green foliage philodendrons seem too plain for your taste, there’s a philodendron that will make you think otherwise, namely the Philodendron Prince of Orange.
This philo variety changes color over time, boasting a variety of orange hues. Leaves unfurl from the center of the plant and create a remarkable spectacle of color combining vibrant green, orange hues with pink-violet veins.
This isn’t a vining philodendron either, it has an upright growth pattern, making it an interesting table-top or floor plant.
Read my plant care tips below to find out how to take care of your multicolor philodendron Prince Orange.
Size & Growth
Depending on its environment, this philo variety can vary in size. Outdoors, in its natural habitat, it can reach a height of around 2 feet. Indoors, it stays smaller, around 24-36 inches tall.
It has a fast growth pattern and can double in size in a year. That said, it’s often kept as a table-top plant, although taller ones do make wonderful floor plants.
Light Requirements
When looking for the ideal position for your philo orange, check that the sun’s rays don’t directly blast the plant’s leaves, but the plant still gets plenty of indirect light. Filtered or dappled light is also good.
By all accounts, this isn’t a plant that needs lots of light. It will do fine even in low light conditions, but it will get damage if blasted directly by the rays of the sun.
Watering
Philodendron Prince enjoys constantly moist soil. The soil should be moist right beneath the surface. The top 1-2 inches of soil should be allowed to dry out before re-watering.
By following this watering tip, you can ensure that your philo is well-hydrated but without it sitting in soggy soil, that is, without it being overwatered.
These plants don’t fare well if excessively hydrated, so it’s best to keep an eye on your watering routine.
Depending on other environmental factors in your home (e.g. temperature, humidity or light), you may typically need to water this plant once or twice a week.
Soil Type
The typical soil requirements of philodendron plants apply for the philo prince as well. Loose, well-draining potting mix, rich in organic matter is what this plant needs.
You can either add perlite, peat or vermiculite to regular potting soil, or create a mix of peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite. Using only sphagnum peat moss will also work.
The idea is to plant this philo in soil that allows water to percolate and not stick around for too long. It’s also important for the roots to be aerated so as to prevent rotting at the root level.
Temperature & Humidity
As tropical plants, warmth and humidity are essential to the well-being of philodendron princes. Temperatures below 60 F will cause damage to the plant, but temperatures that are much above 80 F will also unfavorably influence the plant’s development.
It’s best to keep the plant at temperatures between 65 F- 78 F, that is, average room temperature.
Even if you’re keeping this plant indoors, you’re still going to need to be mindful about keeping this plant around sources of high or low temperatures such as heating vents, AC units, cold drafts, windows that don’t isolate well during winter, etc.
A philo prince kept outdoors during summer, needs to be taken inside when the weather is starting to turn cold.
Fertilizing
Philodendron Prince requires little fertilization, which means that using fertilizer too often or in high concentrations can cause brown leaf tips and curled margins.
Use a light, diluted fertilizer instead. Use the fertilizer monthly during spring through summer. It’s best to use a water-soluble, balanced liquid fertilizer. Reduce the frequency of fertilizing during fall and winter.
Using too much fertilizer or undiluted fertilizer also has the risk of causing mineral build-up in the soil. If you accidentally over fertilize your plant, there are two solutions — either transfer the plant to a pot with fresh soil or flush the soil under running water.
A plant that’s overwhelmed by fertilizing will have leaves turning yellow, browning leaf tips, or even curled leaf margins.
Potting & Repotting
Small Philodendron Prince plants will usually not require repotting sooner than 12 to 18 months. When repotting, choose a pot that’s around 2 inches larger than the previous.
Schedule repotting to spring or summer. This is when the plant grows most and it’s at its strongest.
Larger, floor philodendron prince plants will require repotting or a refreshing of their soil typically once every 12 to 18 months.
If you intend to allow your plant to keep growing, choose a pot that’s 4 inches larger at most. You can also replant your philo prince in the same pot but do make sure to trim the plant and some of its roots to keep it from growing too large.
How to Propagate Philodendron Prince Orange?
Philodendron Prince Orange can be easily propagated from stem cuttings. You can use stem cuttings that you may remove when pruning leggy stems or if you simply want to create a new philodendron prince orange plant.
Stem cuttings should have a few leaf nodes to ensure propagation success. You can place stem cuttings in water or moist soil. Change the water frequently or keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
In a little over a month, you will notice the cuttings producing roots. At this stage the plant is ready to be moved to its own pot.
Wrapping Up
If you’re interested in philodendron plants, this Prince Orange variety is something you should definitely consider getting for your home.
It doesn’t grow as tall as many other self-heading philodendrons do and has the advantage of being extremely appealing visually thanks to its green-orange colored leaves that create a beautiful and playful contrast.
Even though it has a different appearance compared to common philodendrons, its care requirements are very much similar to other philodendrons.
Warmth, humidity, fast-draining soil, and bright indirect light are the basic requirements of this plant that will appreciate and reward every bit of care that you will pass its way.
Hi, I'm Amy, a devoted horticulturist and the creator of PlantIndex.com, where I use my expertise to help beginners foster their green thumbs. My blog is a vibrant community where I unravel the complexities of gardening and share my profound love for nature. 
