Description
Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’ plant
The Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’ gets its name from its uniquely hued leaves, which change color over time. They have light-green foliage with the new leaves opening up in bright orange color. Its foliage tends to get more coarse with age and its leaves more prominently ribbed. The stiff, dark red leaf stems hold the large leaves upright. New leaves unfurl a vivid orange and change to pale green when mature.
Growing Requirements for Philodendron Plants
Most Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’ are native to the jungles of tropical America, and as such, prefer the medium light intensity they would have on the jungle floor. They will tolerate low light, but if there is too little light, the new leaves will develop smaller, and farther apart on the stem.
On the other hand, direct sunlight will burn the foliage, and stunt the growth of the plant. Keep the soil evenly moist, but allow it to dry out between waterings. Keep Philodendrons slightly drier during the winter months, when the growth slows.
Overwatering will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Underwatering will cause the leaves to turn brown and fall off.
Feed your Philodendron in the spring and again in mid-summer with a liquid house plant fertilizer. The ideal growing temperature is between 75 and 85 degrees F. during the day and in the 60’s at night. Philodendron Plants will survive for a short time in temperatures as low as 36 degrees F. Wash the leaves regularly to prevent the pores from becoming plugged with dust.
Philodendrons will tolerate the level of humidity found in most homes, but high humidity promotes lush growth and shiny foliage. So it is a good idea to mist the plant regularly.
Repotting Philodendron Plants
Philodendrons thrive when their roots experience a slight degree of crowding, although excessive confinement should be avoided. You should not plant them in a pot that is too large. When the roots start to form a tight ball, you should repot the plant into a planter that is 2-3 inches larger. You should conduct the repotting process during late winter or spring, before the plant initiates active new growth. It’s crucial to ensure proper drainage, so if the pot lacks drainage holes, make sure to fill the bottom with clean stones or broken crockery.
Use a good commercial potting soil or a mixture consisting of equal parts of loam, sand, and peat moss, with some chopped charcoal, gravel, broken crocks, or brick added. Newly potted plants need to be carefully watered during the first month or so, to be certain that the roots don’t dry out completely. Never allow the soil to become saturated or soggy. It’s especially helpful to mist the leaves of newly planted Philodendrons two or three times a day.
It is also a good idea to add a moss stake or other type of pole to the planter at the time of repotting if this is a climbing or vining type of Philodendron. As the plant grows, it will need some sort of support. The are several types of plant poles available at garden centers. Some types of Philodendrons produce aerial roots which will cling to whatever support they find.
These roots should never be cut off completely, but they can be trimmed back if they become too long, or begin to die back. It is far better to attach these roots to the support pole, or lead them back to the pot where they can grow into the soil.
