Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' (Philodendron 'Prince of Orange')— schedule & NPK

Also called Prince of Orange Philodendron, Orange Prince Philodendron, Philodendron Prince of Orange.

More about philodendron 'prince of orange'

About Philodendron 'Prince of Orange'

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' · also called Prince of Orange Philodendron, Orange Prince Philodendron · houseplant

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is a self-heading hybrid aroid prized for new leaves that emerge bright orange and age through copper to green. Give it bright indirect light, water when the top inch dries, and warmth above 13C. It is toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates), so keep it out of reach.

Growth habit: Self-heading (non-vining) habit with a short central stem; leaves stack closely in an upright rosette rather than trailing, so it needs no moss pole or support. New leaves unfurl bright orange and age through copper-bronze and salmon to deep green.

Watch for — Scorched or bleached leaves: Direct, harsh sunlight burns the foliage and bleaches colour. Filter the light or move the plant back from hot windows.

What fertiliser philodendron 'prince of orange' actually wants — and why

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is a hungry evergreen fruiter with specific needs — a dedicated citrus feed, switched between summer and winter formulas, keeps it cropping and green.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for philodendron 'prince of orange': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed philodendron 'prince of orange', and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For philodendron 'prince of orange':

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser roughly every four weeks during the spring-to-autumn growing season, diluted to label strength. Reduce to about every eight weeks (or stop) in winter when growth slows. In practice: a summer citrus feed regularly (often roughly fortnightly) from spring to autumn, switching to a winter citrus feed at a reduced rate over the colder months — citrus feed year-round, unlike most container plants.

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when philodendron 'prince of orange' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for philodendron 'prince of orange'

Follow the citrus-feed label rate for philodendron 'prince of orange' and use the correct seasonal formula. The trace-element content matters as much as the NPK — substituting a general feed is the usual cause of yellowing.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water philodendron 'prince of orange' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the philodendron 'prince of orange' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding philodendron 'prince of orange'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for philodendron 'prince of orange':

Salt crust on the soil and scorched, browning leaf tips.
Excess soft leafy growth with poor fruit set from too much nitrogen.
Leaf drop shortly after an over-strong feed.

Signs you are under-feeding philodendron 'prince of orange'

Yellowing leaves — overall pale, or yellow between green veins (magnesium/iron).
Poor flowering and fruit set, small or dropping fruit.
Weak new growth and a generally tired tree.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full philodendron 'prince of orange' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Potted philodendron 'prince of orange' accumulates salts and benefits from a thorough plain-water flush every couple of months until it drains freely, plus an annual repot or top-dressing of fresh citrus compost.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for philodendron 'prince of orange'

Organic options

Well-rotted manure or compost mulch plus seaweed and an Epsom-salts (magnesium) drench supports philodendron 'prince of orange' naturally. UK: organic citrus feed or seaweed + Epsom salts; US: Espoma Citrus-tone or Dr. Earth Citrus.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A proprietary summer and winter citrus feed — UK: Westland or Vitax Citrus (summer/winter); US: Miracle-Gro or Espoma Citrus. Using the right seasonal formula is the key to keeping philodendron 'prince of orange' green and cropping.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising philodendron 'prince of orange' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does philodendron 'prince of orange' need?

A specialist citrus fertiliser, which carries the higher nitrogen plus the magnesium, iron and trace elements citrus need — generic feeds quickly leave it yellow and chlorotic. Many ranges have a summer (higher-N) and a winter (lower-N) formula. Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is a hungry evergreen fruiter with specific needs — a dedicated citrus feed, switched between summer and winter formulas, keeps it cropping and green.

How often should I feed philodendron 'prince of orange'?

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser roughly every four weeks during the spring-to-autumn growing season, diluted to label strength. Reduce to about every eight weeks (or stop) in winter when growth slows. Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser roughly every four weeks during the spring-to-autumn growing season, diluted to label strength. Reduce to about every eight weeks (or stop) in winter when growth slows. In practice: a summer citrus feed regularly (often roughly fortnightly) from spring to autumn, switching to a winter citrus feed at a reduced rate over the colder months — citrus feed year-round, unlike most container plants.

What strength of feed for philodendron 'prince of orange'?

What does over-feeding philodendron 'prince of orange' look like?

Salt crust on the soil and scorched, browning leaf tips. Excess soft leafy growth with poor fruit set from too much nitrogen. Leaf drop shortly after an over-strong feed. Feeding philodendron 'prince of orange' an ordinary plant food instead of a citrus-specific one is the defining mistake — it lacks the magnesium and iron citrus demand, and the leaves yellow between the veins no matter how often you feed.

Should I flush the soil of philodendron 'prince of orange'?