If you spend a lot of time online is likely to have encountered the cult pink Princess Philodendron. The plants have gained a cult popularity online due to their beautiful foliage appropriately dubbed millennial pink’. The variety is unique to other houseplant. The pops of pink green and grey make them a huge hit with people who love houseplants.
If you‘ve looked for one in the neighborhood nursery, then you could have seen two things. The first is that they’re extremely difficult to locate. They are also insanely pricey.
There are numerous reasons for these plants to cost from as little as $100 for a single cutting up to close to $2,000 for a mature plant. While this isn’t in the range of most people who garden, who are willing to spend the money. Let‘s review of the reasons why they are so costly.
More Information About Pink Princess Philodendrons
The Pink princess Philodendrons is the result of the cross-breeding process that has resulted in the creation of varieties of Philodendron species, such as Philodendron the tatei as well as Philodendron wendlandii. This cultivar belongs to the Philodendron erubescens species of thespecies closely related to a variety of well-known houseplants.
All Philodendrons belong to the Arum family, which is Araceae. This group is distinguished by their attractive flowers, also known as a spadix. They’re usually enclosed by an altered leaf. Although your Pink Princess may not flower however, you can observe this connection in other plants such as Anthuriums as well as the Peace Lilies.
This plant is the most sought-after annual plant according to people who love houseplants all over the world. They are admired because of their amazing variety with a splash of green, pink and grey that have not been matched in the world of houseplants.
They are so well-known that some growers have attempted to modify closely related species to create the pink color, making imitation plants that are sold for the same price. But these changes don’t last for long. The plant returns to its natural green hue within a couple of months after returning.
Where did they come from?
Pink Princess Philodendrons is result of a spontaneous mutation within the Genus. How and when the mutation took place is not confirmed, however houseplant experts have come up with some theories.
Researchers believe that this plant came from the US from a plant grower in Florida. A handful of Philodendron cultivars crossed Philodendron Erubescens to create hundreds of hybrids. The most famous of them was known as the Pink Princess.
After being sold to retail stores in Florida The plant was propagated by cuttings in order to preserve the striking variegation pattern. It then was introduced to the US as well as social media and across the globe.
Why Do The Pink Princess Philodendrons So Expensive?
In the case of any item that’s considered to be as a “collector” object, rarity usually tops the list of factors which drive up prices. This popular plant is no exception. Gardeners are always looking for ways to make themselves apart and this plant another option to make your garden apart from other. Let‘s go at what drives the cost of these sought-after plants.
Rarity
The history behind this plant is a key reason why they’re expensive and are a the rarity.
To avoid the mutations that result from variegation, it is necessary to reproduce by cuttings or a tissue culture. This can be a long-lasting procedure especially when the cuttings are all from a single plant recently discovered.
Growers can only grow only a certain amount of these plants during a particular year, based on the many they need to begin with and the amount they are able to remove from initial plants without damaging the growth. They are also snapped by collectors quickly and frequently are sold out.
When you combine these elements It’s easy to comprehend the reason why there aren’t many of these plants available. Also, the rarer the plant is, the higher the price it is sold for which can result in exorbitant costs.
Popularity
Pink Princess Philodendrons has become a media phenomenon. They are adored from collectors, as well as uncommon plant lovers all over the world. Because there are very few house plants with pink variegation became an instant popular trend.
However, it is true that this popularity can also increase the cost of it. Like any commodity the more people keen on it, higher producers can charge.
This is also a factor with the rarity of the plant, since we all know that there are numerous household plants that are popular and don’t have high cost. However, as a lot of people are interested in these plants and they‘re often sold out the growers and sellers know that they are able to sell for nearly any amount and buyers will be quick to purchase them.
It is the reason prices are expected to ultimately drop. Since these plant species are becoming widely used and more people have the ability to propagate them, they will lose their cult appeal and result in a decrease in the cost.
In the next few months, Pink Princesses will likely become less expensive and more widespread to be being replaced by the next major plant in the house that year.
Probability Propagate
As previously mentioned it is possible for this plant to be reproduced through cuttings or by tissue culture. Cuttings can take a long time to develop into plants big enough to be sold and tissue culture is quite expensive.
Whichever method is used growing companies require funds and the time required to replicate the plants. These results in more expensive costas growers seek to recoup the capital they have invested in their investment. They do have to earn a profit at the end the day, otherwise they wouldn’t be in business.
The money that is invested in propagation eventually goes in vain because of the plant‘s variegation. If you propagate plants that have variegated, There is no assurance it will yield plants with the same degree of variegation.
Color is the main thing buyers are looking for when buying the plants. Therefore, growers are able to only offer Pink Princesses with high enough levels of variety. A number of plants involved in the propagation process are, therefore, sent to waste, according to the sense of. They aren’t able to get the same amount as a high-quality, highly diverse plant.
The greater the number of losses in an entire lot, the higher the cost will be. There are methods for limiting losses due to variegation, like starting with a varied parent plant, however it’s mostly the result of luck and is outside the control of the propagator.
It is difficult to care for
Variegation levels can also affect the level of care required. Although they’re not the most easy to take care of as compared to some more demanding houseplants, there are certain requirements that must be fulfilled to keep the levels of variegation. This is necessary to ensure that the plant looks its best prior to selling.
Maintaining this beautiful appearance also requires a lot of resources that add costs for growing the plant. Growers must keep a watch on the levels of light as well as humidity and moisture levels. This ensures that the leaves are not affected by the sun‘s rays or that damage is not done on the leaf.
Take note of the amount of care you give to the care of a single plant. And then, multiply it by thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Since Pink Princess remains in the care of a cultivator for a period of time before they’re attractive enough to market so it’s not surprising that they will charge more to cover this extra effort.
Caretaking For This Expensive Plant
All of these factors can contribute to the price of these factors all contribute to the cost of a Pink Princess Philodendron. In the event that you succeed in finding one, it’s painful to lose out on the cash when your plant starts to struggle.
Proper care is essential in maintaining variegation as well as appearance. It is therefore essential to follow these guidelines to give exactly what plants require to flourish.
The Final Words
When you consider the process that goes to reproduce the plants and the amount of attention they receive and how they are sought-after, it’s clear the reason they‘re so costly. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth it for those who want to make your indoor garden space distinct from other spaces. For the majority of plant collectors and those who appreciate rare houseplants, These beauties are worthy of the price.
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