Philodendron Prince of Orange Care Guide: 29 Tips And Tricks

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Philodendron Prince of Orange is a tropical and easy-to-care-for plant that can liven up any indoor garden.

In this article, we’ll go over Philodendron Tricolor care in greater detail so you may confidently raise this rare plant.

If you’re looking to buy a Philodendron Prince of Orange, we’ve got several affordable options too.

What Is Philodendron Prince of Orange?

The Philodendron Prince of Orange, also called Philodendron Tricolor and Orange Prince, is a tropical plant grown indoors. It’s easily recognizable for its large, uniquely hued leaves that change color over time, specifically its many shades of salmon. New growth on this plant begins as a bright yellow color at the center of the plant that changes to more of a copper – then dark green – shade with time.

Philodendrons are perennials that thrive under bright indirect light and grow well in any low-light room as a houseplant.

This Philodendron plant is more than just a houseplant, and it can be grown outside in certain climates. To effectively plant Philodendron Prince of Orange outside, You should plant it between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9-11. 

We recommend this plant for tropical landscaping projects!

Origin And Family

The Philodendron Tricolor is a member of the Araceae family and part of the Philodendron genus. A hybrid based on Souther American varieties, Philodendron Prince of Orange has been a trendy indoor plant that thrives inside when given enough bright indirect sun and water.

Usually considered very affordable to buy, this Philodendron hybrid  offers excellent value and style for the plant lover in your house. It rarely yields insignificant, small white flowers in spring when grown indoors.

Prince Of Orange Philodendron For Sale

There are many ways to get Philodendron  Prince of Orange plants. A good nursery likely has this plant, but we’ve mostly been purchasing on Etsy lately – it’s a great place to get some unique options.

In terms of pricing, Philodendron Prince of Orange’s costs from $10 for cuttings to $50 for larger or more mature plants.

If you’re purchasing this plant online, you may consider requesting a heat pack with the order, specifically if you’re buying this plant during the colder months. This will help protect the plant from significant stress during the travel.

Philodendron Prince of Orange Plant Size

As a houseplant, the Philodendron Prince of Orange reaches between 24-36 inches in height when mature. Because of its height and size, it looks good in any low-light room, away from direct sun rays.

Philodendron Prince of Orange Care Needs

Orange Princes are indirect-light-loving plants that need relatively moist soil throughout the year. You can water your plant when the top 1-2 inches of the soil are dry during the summertime, and likely a little less during the winter.

Indoors, you should be watering every two to three days, assuming you have proper drainage holes and airy soil.

Check out some more specifics below.

Care Difficulty

The Philodendron Prince of Orange is easy-to-care-for. The amount of light and water criteria are the most important considerations for this beauty.

Growth Rate

Philodendron species grow pretty quickly, including the Orange Prince. Again, a mature Philodendron Prince of Orange plant measures 24-36 inches in height and 36 inches in width. The warm months of spring mark the start of their growing season.

Potting

A medium container is fine for this tropical plant. Most potting materials, including plastic, terracotta, or clay, will work perfectly. 

While you don’t have to have a pot with a drainage hole, we highly recommend one. This plant wants quite a bit of water, but it can still be prone to root rot. Having drainage holes can help mitigate this dangerous disease. 

When Should I Repot My Prince Of Orange

As your Philodendron Prince of Orange grows, consider upgrading from your current pot to a new pot about every one to two years, as the Orange Prince grows quickly with proper growing conditions.

When repotting, swap out the soil to give your Philodendron plants fresh nutrients in their new home. Remember, new soil is one of the main ways your houseplants feed.

Soil

An organic orbasic commercial mix are both good options for the Philodendron Tricolor plant. If you’re planning to make your own aroid potting mix, consider making it airy – so anything with peat moss, sphagnum moss, peat-perlite, and vermiculite would be a good starting place. 

That said, any old commercial mix high in organic matter will usually work fine too.

Here are some good Philodendron mixes we recommend:

pH

This Philodendron wants a slightly acidic to neutral pH, somewhere between 5.0 and 7.0. Most organic soil options are near this already, so it shouldn’t be a huge concern – unless you’re using garden soil.

Water

It would be best to aim for a relatively moist potting mix when watering Philodendron Tricolor. You can test this by inserting your finger into the soil. It’s time to water your Philodendron when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Depending on your home’s temperature and humidity, this usually translates to once a week. That said, I usually use self-watering pots for my Philodendrons, and they like those very well.

Too much water paired with poor drainage is one of the most common causes of indoor plant death. When in doubt, it’s usually preferable to under-water than over-water Philodendron Tricolor. Underwatering can lead to stunted growth, but it’s usually something you can fix with time and patience.

Another consideration is that they don’t enjoy cold water. Use tepid water that’s been sitting out for at least 24 hours.

Light – Bright Indirect Sunlight

Philodendron Prince of Orange prefers indirect sunlight – similar to how it would experience light on the forest floors of South American rainforests. Inside it thrives under LED or fluorescent light, making it the perfect houseplant.It can also live fairly well in low light conditions, so it’s a regular houseplant favorite found in an office.

Plan to keep the Philodendron Prince of Orange plants in indirect light for at least eight hours a day. It shouldn’t be exposed to the sun’s rays for more than 3-5 hours a day. . Too much time in direct light will leave its leaves scorched. But if there’s not enough light you may have stunted growth. That said, it usually does pretty well in lower light levels.

Drooping and yellow leaves can be a sign of low fertility, but they can also mean you’re giving the plant too much light.

I personally think it’s a good idea to start most Philodendrons to the side of a grow light – not directly under, but close enough that it’s receiving significant rays.

My newest baby. 🍊🪴🍂
I hope my Philodendron- Prince of Orange brightens up your timeline. pic.twitter.com/kW4cdkKquo

— 🪴Umi. (@moonprismmochi) June 15, 2021

Fertilizing Your Philodendron

During the spring, which is the plant’s growing season, you should fertilize your Orange Prince once a month using basic water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. Some growers use an organic houseplant fertilizer for this plant, but I prefer a water-soluble commercial option.

You only need to fertilize every six to eight weeks in the winter months, when the plant has gone dormant.

How To Propagate Philodendron Prince of Orange

It is possible to propagate a Philodendron Tricolor with The proper methods include stem cuttings in soil and water – as well as the air layering technique. 

That said, I highly recommend you just propagate a stem cutting in soil, as it’s easy to do and has a high success rate.

Only propagate on warm days of the growing season. Take your cutting from the mother plant, and make sure that it is just below the leaf nodes.

Put the cutting in a small pot that is filled with an air potting material – vermiculite, peat moss, etc. The nodes should be about 2-3 inches in the soil.

Give the cutting a full watering and place in a humid area with bright light. Roots start developing in a few weeks.

Humidity Needs

Philodendron Prince of Orange or Orange Prince is a tropical perennial that prefers average humidity– for best results, we recommend staying above 50% or higher humidity.

If you’re concerned about low humidity or if you see brown edges on your plants, consider getting a cool-mist room humidifier or placing your plant in space naturally higher in humidity (like a bathroom or kitchen).

Temperature

Generally, slightly cool to warm temperatures are best for your Philodendron Tricolor plant, and it can thrive in a temperature range of 65–78 degrees Fahrenheit. You could likely go a little colder than this – but an ideal temperature for this plant is warm.

The more significant consideration for this beautiful plant is consistency. Sudden temperature fluctuations can seriously damage the Philodendron Prince of Orange. Keep them away from hot or cold drafts, window vents, and openings that allow chilly air.

Small White Flowers

The Philodendron is prized for its foliage – not its flowers. But you may see tiny white blooms in spring. This is more common when Prince of Orange is used in outdoor landscaping, but it can show up in indoor plants with significant indirect light.

Toxic

Unfortunately, the Prince of Orange contains calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic to both pets (including cats and dogs) and humans. 

If consumed, you can expect the following symptoms: swelling of the lips and tongue and stomach irritation with possible vomiting. It can also cause skin irritation, so it is highly recommended to use gloves when handling parts of the plant. In most cases, eating small amounts of the plant is not significant. 

But if a pet consumes large quantities of this Philodendron, you should call your vet for further instructions.

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems

The Prince of Orange Philodendron is a plant resistant to several bugs, issues, and diseases. In the sections below, I’m laying out some of the common problems for the Philodendron Tricolor, as well as some tips and tricks for treating them.

Root Rot

Root rot is a prevalent cause of death for Philodendron Tricolor, which is mainly caused from too much watering, a lack of drainage holes, or poorly-draining soil. 

The best way to beat root rot is not to let it happen in the first place. Check our soil, potting, and water recommendations above to make sure you’re on the right track. 

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are annoying and pretty gross. Not only that, their larvae can attack your Philodendron Prince of Orange’s roots, causing wilting and poor growth.

Bottom watering or using a self-watering planter is a great way to decrease the number of gnats in your home.

Spider Mites

Unfortunately, spider mites are widespread, and Philodendron Tricolor is particularly vulnerable. Spider mite damage appears on the Philodendron’s leaves as tiny brown or yellow patches. You might also see webbing.

Start by spraying down your Philodendron Prince of Orange under the sink. You don’t need a lot of pressure to dislodge some spider mites. From there, mix neem oil with water and spray the plant twice a week until the problem is gone. 

Ladybugs can aid in reducing spider mite populations if you desire a more organic option. In addition, there’s an option known as the “spider mite destroyer,” which I don’t know a lot about – but the name speaks for itself!

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common fungus that can cause fine white patches on the diseased leaves of this lovely houseplant. The plant gets increasingly vulnerable and destroyed as the fungus spreads.

Powdery mildew prefers warmer, dryer conditions, although it thrives in damp environments. Even though your Prince Of Orange isn’t particularly sensitive to powdery mildew, it can still be a problem if you mist too much or use a humidifier too often.

Prevention is, once again, your best bet. Good air circulation, such as that provided by a fan or an air purifier, can help keep this fungus at bay.

Scale Insects

Scale insects might look like small lumps or bumps on the branches of the Philodendron Prince of Orange rather than as insects. Once attached to a plant, the small bugs, which come in green, gray, brown, and black colors, usually stay put. They suck the sap from the plant, causing wilting and stunted growth.

On mild infestations, mixing four cups of water with a teaspoon of neem oil (or similar insecticidal soap) can do the trick. Put that in a water bottle and spray the plants. You can also do this preemptively if your plants have a tendency to get scale.

If that’s not working, try an insecticidal spray specifically for Scale.

YALL DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW HAPPY I AM THAT I GOT MY PRINCE OF ORANGE PHILODENDRON IN THE MAIL TODAY OMFGGGG

HES GORGEOUS. pic.twitter.com/PswgeSex7E

— ERIKΛ du jour (@botanista___) December 14, 2018

Mealybugs

Mealybugs may infest your Philodendron Prince of Orange. Mealybugs are usually identified by white fluff on the plant stems. 

When you see this, you need to act quickly before they spread. Rub a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the Philodendron Tricolor’s oval bright coppery-orange color leaves and stem to remove all the visible bugs.

Spray a mixture of rubbing alcohol (one cup), a fragrance free dish soap (one teaspoon), and water on the leaves and stem twice a week until the problem is gone. You can also use neem oil mixed with water.

Brown Leaf Tips

If your Philodendron Tricolor’s leaf tips turn brown, it could either be an indication of not enough humidity or too much sunlight. Change one thing at a time so you’re not adding too many variables. You want to figure out what makes your plant tick!

Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves could be a sign of too much or not enough water. Start by working on the Mealybugs are known to affect the Philodendron Prince of Orange, which can cause this. Droopy leaves can also be caused by overwatering and fertilization issues.

Yellow Leaves

While older leaves on Philodendron Prince of Orange house plants are already yellow, there’s a clear difference between that and the sickly color of yellowing leaves. These yellow leaves are pretty ugly, and they can be a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough sunlight – or that it’s getting too much or too little water. For this specific plant, it’s usually a sign of too much water.

I typically recommend that you remove yellow leaves with a pair of sharp and sterile shears.

Similar Plants

Love Philodendron Tricolor? Here are some other philodendron varieties you should try:

Philodendron Gloriosum -The Philodendron Gloriosum is one of the most stunning houseplants. It is a member of the Araceae family of tropical plants known as aroids. These green growers are distinguished by dark green, huge blossoming leaves, and partially enclosed cylindrical core stems.

Philodendron Birkin – The Birkin is notable for its glossy oval leaves and creamy-white variegation. On its broad-shaped leaves, each leaf has somewhat different markings. These white pinstripe stripes occur only once the indoor plant has matured so that you won’t see them on young leaves. It also has a lime-green stem that contrasts wonderfully with the hue of the foliage.

Here are some of our favorite philodendron varieties you can grow indoors!

Is Philodendron Prince Of Orange Rare?

In recent years, a Philodendron Prince of Orange has become much more commonlplace. That said, it’s a relatively rare Philodendron variety, much more so than a common Philo Birkin, for instance. It’s also very flasy and affordable.

Philodendron McColley’s Finale Vs. Prince Of Orange

A semi-common question is about the differences between Prince of Orange and McColley’s Finale. Philodendron Mccolley’s Finale’s – also called Philodendron Cherry Red – has red and broad new leaves, but Philodendron Prince Of Orange’s leaves are orange and elongated. The Cherry Red has a more spread-out growth behavior, and Prince Of Orange has a more rigid growth pattern.

That said, Mccolley’s wife – Cora McColley – is often credited for creating the Prince of Orange variety. So there are multiple connections to the two plants.

Conclusion

The Philodendron Prince of Orange is the perfect option for plant lovers – with its large leaves that shift color over time.

The good news is that it’s an easy-care plant, requiring only indirect light, average humidity, moderately moist soil, and mild temperatures.

If you’re looking for a new addition to your collection or are just starting as an indoor gardener, use these tips to start growing this Philodendron today! 

Let's grow together!