Philodendron White Knight Care Guide

The Philodendron White Knight is one of the rare Philodendron plants that has become popular in the last year. It is part of the beloved Triple Crown that many Philodendron collectors strive to get. Known for its beautiful white variegation and unique looking stems and petioles that have an almost burgundy look to them they are a beautiful plant to add to any houseplant collection. If you are thinking about getting one or have added one to your collection then this care guide can show you all that you need on how to take care of a Philodendron White Knight plant.

Origins

There is not too much information on where the Philodendron White Knight originated from. Although there are many sites saying it comes from South America, they don’t specify the location.

The White Knight is a hybrid, and it came out around the same time as the Philodendron White Princess and White Wizard Philodendron. It could be assumed that the White Knight was a mutation from the same Philodendron erubescens that the other two cultivars came from or it is a mutation of one of the other two. But we don’t really know as there is just no official documentation.

Philodendron White Princess vs White Knight: What is the Difference?

Finding new cultivars of Philodendrons through mutations is done often nowadays to keep people interested in the tropical plant market. Sometimes these are documented through patents or studies and sometimes they fall through the cracks for documentation and just end up on the market.

Philodendron White Knight Scientific Name: Philodendron erubescens ‘White Knight’

Philodendron White Knight Care Guide

Quick Overview of How to Care for a White Knight Philodendron

  1. Bright indirect light, keep out of direct sun.
  2. Water once the two top inches of soil is dry.
  3. Temperatures: 65°F – 85°F
  4. Humidity should be kept above 60%.
  5. Fertilize in the spring and summer months.
  6. Use a soil mixture of potting soil, bark, and perlite or vermiculite.
  7. Always use a pot that allows for drainage.
  8. Toxic to pets.

Philodendron White Knight Light Requirements

The Philodendron White Knight does best in bright indirect light. Avoid allowing your plant to be in a place where it would be in direct sun. Due to the white variegation on this plant, the leaves can easily get sunburnt if in direct sun.

If you need to add to the light that your plant gets, LED grow lights are a great option to increase the amount of light you have your plant in.

Watering

Water your White Knight once the top few inches of soil have dried out. Do not allow it to totally dry out as these are a tropical plant and they do like moisture.

Overwatering can easily lead to root rot so try to pay attention to the moisture levels in the soil before you water your plant.

Temperature

Keep temperatures between 65°F and 85°F and try to avoid fluctuations.

Like the White Princess, the White Knight can also be sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Philodendron White Knight Humidity

These plants love humidity, keep the humidity above 60%.

If you have times when humidity is lower it is a good idea to get a humidifier to use near your plant to keep the humidity elevated.

Soil

The Philodendron White Knight should have a mix of potting soil, bark, and perlite or vermiculite. You want a mix that doesn’t retain as much water as a traditional soil mix but also doesn’t drain as fast as a succulent mix.

A good ratio would be 2 parts potting soil, 2 parts bark, and 1 part perlite or vermiculite.

Pots

You want a pot that allows for good drainage. Do not use a pot that does not have any drainage holes as that will easily lead to root rot with a White Wizard.

Avoid using terracotta pots with these plants, as the soil will dry out too fast and too much with this type of pot.

Fertilizer

The best fertilizer for a White Knight Philodendron is a slow release fertilizer. This will allow for a small amount of nutrients to be released over time for your plant.

Another option that works well is an organic liquid fertilizer. Using this will require fertilizing more often, usually about once a month through the spring and summer months.

Philodendron White Knight Propagation

You can propagate a Philodendron White Knight by taking a cutting from the top of the plant. Once you have your cutting you can put it in water or in damp sphagnum moss to get it to root. Once your cutting has roots you can either put it in leca to continue to develop more roots or put it in a mix of potting mix and sphagnum moss until it has a solid root base to be transferred to a normal potting mix for a White Knight.

Philodendron White Knight Toxicity and Pets

Like all other Philodendron plants, the White Kight is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Where to Find a Philodendron White Knight For Sale

The majority of the time you will have to look to online sellers for a Philodendron White Knight since this is a rare houseplant. If you live in a bigger city then you might have a better chance of some local plant shops having these plants.

Etsy is usually the most popular place to find a Philodendron White Knight for sale online. Facebook Marketplace is also another option.

Philodendron White Knight Price

Currently Philodendron White Knights for sale online range from $75 to over $200 depending on the seller. Make sure if you buy online to read reviews of the sellers as unfortunately there are scammers out there when it comes to rare plants.

Common Problems

Dust On Leaves

Due to the amount of variegation that the White Knight has, keeping the leaves clean and dust free is important so the plant can have enough photosynthesis to provide itself with the food it needs to grow and survive. When you water your plant take a damp cloth or paper towel and wipe down the leaves to prevent dust build-up.

Reversion

Sometimes owners of Philodendron White Knights will start to see their plant reverting, or losing variegation in new growth. This most commonly is due to not getting enough light. You can move your plant to a brighter location or add an LED grow light to help it get the amount of light that it needs to start producing variegation again.

Other Philodendron Care Guides:

References:
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