Philodendron Prince of Orange or Philodendron erubescens ‘Prince of Orange’ is a member of the araceae family. There are around 621 accepted species of Philodendron.
Philodendron Prince of Orange is a hybrid cultivar of the Philodendron domesticum, Philodendron erubescens, Philodendron wendlandii, and Philodendron imbe Philodendrons.
This Philodendron is referred to as the Philodendron Prince of Orange due to its orange leaves, and it has actually been patented.
Philodendron Prince of Orange at a glance.
🪴 Appearance of Philodendron Prince of Orange
The Philodendron Prince of Orange is a beautiful, multicoloured plant. The Petiole is a vibrant pinkish colour.
The new leaves grow in bright orange, and transition to green overtime. Between the orange and green period, the leaves look like more of a yellow-green.
This plant can be a variety of colours at once time.
☀️ Lighting Requirements
Philodendron Prince of Orange thrives in indirect, medium-low light. They have been cultivated to thrive in lower light.
🌡️ What Temperature and Humidity do Philodendron Like?🌫️
Philodendron Prince of Orange prefers a temperature between 15-26 degrees celsius (60-80 degrees Fahrenheit).
They do well in average household humidity levels (40-60%). I use the Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier (LV600HH) to set my humidity levels.
I use my humidifier to ensure the humidity levels in my apartment stays between 40% and 60%. Since I live in Canada and the winters can be very dry, and the humidity can drop below 30% humidity, so its helpful to set the humidity at about 45% or 50% in this season to keep all of my plants thriving.
🌱 How Does the Philodendron Prince of Orange Grow?
On average, this Philodendron can grow up to 35″ tall.
New foliage grows similar to other Philodendrons in the way the leaf appears, but it grows up straight vs. in a vining format.
New foliage is bright orange, and darkens over time to a green colour.
🌸 Does the Philodendron Prince of Orange Bloom?
The Philodendron Prince of Orange can bloom, but rarely.
✂️ How to Propagate Philodendron Prince of Orange?
The Philodendron Prince of Orange can be propagated by crown offshoots.
The mother plant will grow babies out of the crown of the plant. Make sure the offshoots are at least 2 to 3 inches tall before separating them from the mother plant. Gently remove them from the parent plant by separating them at the base.
Pot the offshoots into well-draining soil. Water the soil lightly and place in a bright location with indirect light. Eventually, roots will form and you will have a stable plant!
Patience is key with propagation. Give your new plant time to settle into its environment. Once you see new growth, you know your plant is well established.
💧 Watering Needs
This Philodendron likes to watered when half 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 don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can try a moisture meter.
I typically bottom water this plant through the drainage hole of the pot on a tray. It’s 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 it’s best to do so in a pot with drainage until water is flowing out of the hole. If your pot doesn’t have drainage, you might accidentally drown your plant or make some fungus gnats very happy.
You should top water from time to time to make sure any built up minerals can wash through the plant. The water should drip out of the bottom of your drainage hole.
🪳 Pests & Problems 😔
Philodendron Prince of Orange can face the following pests and problems.
🪳 Pests
- Mealy Bugs: These look like little white cotton balls on the 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.
- Spider Mites: If spider mites have taken to your Philodendron, 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. It’s 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. I sprayed my Philodendron with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water. 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 can’t sense the moisture on the soil.
😔 Other Common Problems
- Drooping Leaves: Your plant is likely thirsty. Just give it a little water and it should be as good as new.
- 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. If the leaves are coppery-yellow, this is a normal lifecycle of its foliage and not a cause for concern.
- 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 on a consistent schedule. Signs of underwatering an include leaves becoming shrivelled, discoloured or dry.
- Brown Leaf Tips or Curling Leaves: This is caused by low humidity. It’s best to use a humidifier to avoid this issue.
☢️ Toxicity?
This Philodendron is moderately toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
Philodendron Prince of Orange Quick Care Guide
| Scientific Name | Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’ |
| Nickname | Philodendron Prince of Orange |
| Origins | Cultivar |
| Light | Indirect, medium-low light |
| Temperature | 15-26 degrees celsius (preferred) |
| Humidity | Average humidity (40-60%) |
| Height | Up to 35″ |
| Blooms | Yes, but rarely |
| Propagate | Offshoots |
| Water Frequency | When mostly dry (usually every two weeks) |
| Pests | Mealy Bugs, Spider Mites, Thrips, Fungus Gnats |
| Common Problems | Overwatering (root rot), underwatering, yellowing leaves, browning tips |
| 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 Prince of Orange
The Spruce – Philodendron Prince of Orange
Google Patents – Philodendron Prince of Orange
