Philodendron White Knight or Philodendron erubescens “White Knight” is a member of the the araceae family, and there are around 621 accepted species of Philodendron within it. It is a cultivar of a species native to Puerto Rico.
Philodendron erubescens “White Knight” is referred to as the Philodendron White Knight due to the white markings on the leaves.
There are around 3,750 species of the araceae family.
Philodendron White Knight at a glance.
𪴠Appearance of Philodendron White Knight
This Philodendron has dark green, round leaves, with vibrant white patches. The stems are a dark purple.
This is a vining plant and will grow upwards should you provide it with a pole.
âď¸ Light Needs
Philodendron White Knight thrives in medium-bright, indirect light. I keep this plant closer to a south-west facing window.
The brighter the light your plant receives, the faster your philodendron will grow. However, they prefer to see indirect sunlight for most of the day
đĄď¸ What Temperature and Humidity do Philodendron White Knight Like?
This Philodendron prefers a temperature between 18-24 degrees celsius.
They also prefer higher humidity, but will be fine in average household humidity levels (40-60%). I use the Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier (LV600HH) to ensure the humidity levels in my apartment stays between 40% and 60%.
Since I live in Canada, the winters can be very dry, and the humidity in my apartment can drop below 30% humidity, so its helpful to set the humidity at about 45% or 50%.
đą How Does the Philodendron White Knight Grow?
On average, this philodendron can grow up to 9 feet in maturity.
New foliage grows out of the petiole, and with the help of a pole, grows upwards.
đ¸ Does the Philodendron White Knight Bloom?
This Philodendron can bloom, but this is rare.
âď¸ Propagation
The easiest way to start a new Philodendron White Knight is by stem cuttings.
- Cuttings: Choose a leaf from a healthy adult plant. Make sure the cutting has at least one node (ideally 3 to 4 nodes) or this method wonât work. After you have your cutting, you can either water propagate or soil propagate.
- Water propagation: Take the cutting and place it in water. If the water starts to get murky, you will want to change out the water and put the plant back in. Otherwise it will potentially rot the stem and the plant wonât root. I like water propagation because I can see when the roots start to form in a clear glass container. When the roots are stable enough, I then plant it in soil.
- Soil propagation: With soil propagation, you can take a cutting and put it directly in soil. You wonât be able to see if the plant is rooting in the soil, but if the plant eventually dies, you know it didnât root successfully. With soil propagation, you also donât have to worry about potential transplant shock when planting this from water to soil.
- Division: Sometimes multiple plants will be potted together. In this situations, you can remove the entire plant from the pot, gently separate the plants, and plant the individual plants into new pots. Make sure you water the newly divided plants and place them in a bright location with indirect light.
Patience is key with propagation. Give your Philodendron cutting time to settle into its environment. Once you see new growth, you know your plant is well established.
đ§ Water Needs
The Philodendron White Knight likes to be watered when mostly dry (likely every two weeks).
To determine if your plant needs water, you can stick your finger in the soil (1 to 2 inches) and if it is dry, its ready for water! If you donât want to get your hands dirty, you can try a moisture meter.
I typically bottom water my Philodendron through the drainage hole of the pot on a tray. Itâs the easiest way to know if your plant is thirsty or not. Overwatering can lead to fungus gnats, root rot, or the death of your plant.
You can top water, but itâs best to do so in a pot with drainage until water is flowing out of the hole. If your pot doesnât have drainage, you might accidentally overwater and kill your plant.
However, you should top water from time to time to make sure any built up minerals can wash through the soil of your Philodendron. The water should drip out of the bottom of your drainage hole.
𪳠Pests & Problems đ
Philodendron White Knight can face the following pests and problems.
𪳠Pests
Mealy Bugs
These look like little white cotton balls on your Philodendron. You can remove these with your fingers if you catch them early enough, but I would use a cotton swab with a drop of Isopropyl alcohol and try to scrape them off the stem.
Scale
Scale are small, brownish, round or oval insects that attach themselves to the leaves or stems of the Philodendron White Knight. They are hard to notice as they appear like a growth or bump on the plant. Scale can cause yellowing, wilting, and weakened growth. Removing scale from any plant is tedious. You can remove scale by manually removing them with a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol, using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Aphids
Aphids are small, insects that cluster under leaves and stems of your Philodendron. This pest can appear white, brown, black, gray, light green or yellow. If you see distortion, wilting or yellowing leaves, this can be a sign of aphids. You should be able to spray them off with a strong stream of water or using insecticidal soap.
Spider Mites
If spider mites have taken to your Philodendron White Knight, spray them with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water (or you can buy an insecticidal soap). I repeat this about once or twice a week (depending on the severity of infestation) for about a month. Itâs also good to do this preventatively once a month or so. You will know you have spider mites if you see webbing and leaf damage. Learn how to eradicate Spider Mites.
Thrips
These are little, dark bugs that look like dirt. They suck the life out of the leaves, and lay eggs within the tissue of the leaf. As they age, they can grow wings and infect other plants. Spray the Philodendron with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water (or you can buy an insecticidal soap). I repeat this every few days to try and get both the pest and the eggs. Sometimes I just chop the affected leaf since they are hard to eradicate. Complete guide on how to get rid of thrips.
Fungus Gnats
Spray the Philodendron with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water. I also let the soil dry out and add dryer sheets on top of the soil so the gnats canât sense the moisture on the soil.
đ Other Common Problems
- Drooping Leaves: Your Philodendron White Knight is likely thirsty. Just give it a little water and it should be as good as new. If you have given it water and it doesn’t bounce back within a day, it may have other issues.
- Yellowing Leaves: If you have a new leaf coming in, your Philodendron is likely fine. Plants pull energy from older leaves to support new growth. But it can also indicate over- or under- watering or lighting issues.
- Overwatering: Root rot happens from overwatering your Philodendron with insufficient drainage. You can improve the drainage of your plant by ensuring your plant is potted in a planter with a drainage hole and using a well draining soil (something with a decent amount of perlite). You can also end up with fungus gnats or fungal disease from overwatering.
- Underwatering: Even though plants prefer to be underwatered over overwatered, you still have to remember to water your Philodendron White Knight on a consistent schedule. Signs of underwatering can include leaves becoming shrivelled, discoloured or dry.
- Brown, Crispy Leaves or Leaf Drop: This is usually caused by low humidity or underwatering. It’s best to use a humidifier to avoid low humidity issues.
â˘ď¸ Toxicity
Philodendron White Knight is moderately toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
Philodendron White Knight Quick Care Guide
| Scientific Name | Philodendron erubescens “White Knight” |
| Nickname | Philodendron White Knight |
| Origins | Cultivar |
| Light | Medium-Bright, Indirect light |
| Temperature | 18-24 degrees celsius (preferred) |
| Humidity | Average humidity (40-60%) |
| Height | Up to 9 feet |
| Blooms | Yes, but rarely |
| Propagate | Stem cuttings, division |
| Water Frequency | When mostly dry (likely every two weeks) |
| Pests | Mealy Bugs, Aphids, Scale, Spider Mites, Thrips, Fungus Gnats |
| Common Problems | Overwatering (root rot), underwatering, yellowing leaves, drooping leaves, crispy leaves |
| Toxicity | Moderate (not safe when ingested) |
References
Below is a list of external sources I consulted while writing this post. This post is a mixture of my own experiences, and the external sources listed below:
Jomo Studio – Philodendron White Knight & Philodendron Differences
Plant Me Green – Philodendron White Knight
Summerland Gardens – Philodendron White Knight
Greg.App – Philodendron White Knight Temperature, Propagation, Bugs, and Problems
