White knight philodendron is a pricey and rare philodendron plant. It is not easily available in local garden stores. I ordered my white knight from Amazon. I was lucky because it was the last piece on sale.
I paid $40 for this extraordinary philodendron plant including shipping.
Before buying this plant, you should learn about its care, propagation, and common problems. So that you can grow it healthy without facing growing problems.
In this article you’ll learn about philodendron white knight growing needs, repotting, propagation, common diseases and treatments, and also about pest attacks.
What is Philodendron White Knight and why it is costly?
White knight philodendrons have oval shaped dark green leaves with pure white variegation. Whereas young leaves are light green in color.
Do not confuse it with the Philodendron Pink Princess plant.
The white patches on dark green leaves give it a marble look. This extraordinary variegation and colors of its leaves make it a costly houseplant.
Secondly, it is famous all over the world and is mostly grown for international export.
The general size of this plant is 8 to 10 feet in perfect growing conditions.
At first, you can start it by growing as a tabletop plant. Once it grows large in size, move it on the floor and give it some support to climb.
Vertically growing white knights always grow large size leaves and trailing white knights.
Generally, variegated plants are slow growers due to the absence of green parts on their leaves. The green portion of leaves absorbs light energy and converts it into food.
But this is not the case with the philodendron white knight. If you place it in bright filtered light, it will grow fast and become a mature plant in less time.
How to Grow and Care for Philodendron White Knights?
Philodendron White Knight Light Needs
A white knight needs medium light to grow perfectly fine. The best place will be an east-facing window. The good news is you can also grow it with the help of a grow light.
It does not need direct sunlight for the entire day to grow. If there is no sunny window in your room do not worry. Just put it in a place where it can get 7 to 8 hours of indirect bright light.
Do not grow it in a dark place or your plant will not grow variegated leaves.
The leaves turn back into dark green color and your plant turns into an ordinary houseplant.
I have a sunny window in my office and my plant enjoys 2 hours of morning sunlight. Then indirect light after 10 am to 3.30 pm (we close at 4.30 pm).
If you like to use grow lights you should choose 75 watts to 150 watts of power. Full spectrum LED light is the best option.
LED grow lights are energy efficient, inexpensive, stylish, and do not produce heat and noise.
Potting Soil for White Knight
I never recommend home soil formulas for expensive and rare plants. Any wrong ingredient in the potting soil can kill your plant in just a few days.
If you are spending good money on buying a plant then why not buy ready-to-use soil? These soils are tested and trusted by millions of users.
I personally use Miracle-Gro indoor potting mix for my philodendron plants. I use the same soil for my office white knight philodendron and Philodendron Black Cardinal.
My plant is growing healthy and I never face any issues regarding the quality and draining power of Miracle-Gro potting mix.
Do not add anything to the indoor mix to uplift its nutritional values because you have to use fertilizers separately to keep your plants healthy and strong.
Watering White Knight Philodendrons
White knights need moist soil 365 days a year. It is only possible if you regularly water your plant.
But we all know overwatering can kill a houseplant. Also, it is hard to save overwatered philodendron plants.
Therefore, to keep things smooth you should learn the correct watering technique.
Before watering philodendron always check the condition of the soil. Poke your finger in the potting mix and if it has moisture in the top 2 inches no need to water it.
But if the top 2 inches of the potting mix are dry, give some water to your white knight philodendron.
Always use filtered water for plants that are growing in plant pots. It is easy for them to completely absorb filtered water as compared to tap water.
Moreover, tap water may contain chlorine and fluoride. These ingredients are not required to grow philodendrons.
These are harmful to the white knight roots and can destroy them.
Suitable Temperature
The recommended temperature range for this plant is 55 degrees F to 84 Degrees F. For the good health of your philodendron white knight, you must keep the temperature above 65 F.
Keep in mind, a white knight cannot tolerate cold temperatures for a long time. Below 60 F for a long time is damaging for its roots and leaves.
Temperature stress is the 3rd reason for indoor plant deaths.
To maintain the perfect temperature, first, install a temperature monitor in the grow room. By checking the reading, you can adjust the room temperature.
In the winter season move it from the large windows and from doorways.
Cover the pot with a cloth if there is a slight drop in the temperature (not more than 10 F). Otherwise, a heating mat is the only option if you cannot change the location of your plant due to light issues.
Ideal Humidity
Philodendrons are tropical plants and we all know tropical jungles are highly humid places.
This means your philodendron white knight needs high humidity to produce shining bright leaves. 70% humidity is recommended for white knight and Philodendron El Choco Red.
But the problem is, it is not possible to maintain it all the time.
Philodendrons are adaptable which means they can change their humidity needs. White knight philos can live in general home humidity.
No need to do anything if your home humidity is above 45%.
In low-humid homes, you can use a pebble tray to give comfort to your plant
Or
You can use a humidifier to increase the percentage of moisture in the indoor air.
Keep in mind that Leaf tips turning crispy brown indicate low humidity.
Fertilizing Philodendron White Knight
General-purpose houseplant fertilizer is good to use to boost its health. Fertilize it only in summer and spring.
Because the days are long and your plant has more time to absorb a good amount of light energy.
Sufficient amount of food and fertilizer boost results in fast-growing plants with large variegated leaves.
Remember that overuse of fertilizer can kill your plant. Therefore, follow the how to use instructions on the fertilizer bottle.
No particular brand is recommended just choose liquid fertilizer for houseplants.
For dilution of the nutrient solution always use filtered water.
Pruning
Climbing plants like philodendron white knight required frequent pruning. By cutting its parts you can keep it short in height.
Also, remove the dry and dead leaves of the plant. If you see an infected leaf, cut it right away to protect other healthy leaves.
Sterilize your tools with rubbing alcohol to disinfect them. I use a sharp knife to prune my plants because I had lost my shears.
Repotting Philodendron White Knight
Repotting depends upon the size of your plant roots. Lift your plant in order to make sure about its repotting requirement.
If the roots are growing out through the drainage hole or they are curling under the pot. This means the current pot is small for them and you need to shift your plant to a large-size pot.
The second way of identification, check the top surface of the soil. If the roots are coming out of the soil and you see them on the surface.
This also indicates suffocated roots growing in a compact place.
In both conditions repotting is a must to avoid growing problems.
- Water your plant to make the soil loose and take it out of its pot.
- Remove old soil from roots and cut the dry and damaged roots.
- Take a 2-inch wide and deep pot to plant your White philodendron in it.
- Fill it with soil to its half and place your plant in it.
- Fill the rest of the pot with soil and tap around the base of your plant.
- Add more soil if necessary and give nice water to add moisture to the potting mix.
- Discard the old soil, wash the old pot with a dishwashing pot and use it for growing other plants.
Toxicity
Philodendron white knight plants are toxic to humans and animals. They contain calcium oxalate in their sap.
This substance is toxic in nature.
Ingestion of its parts results in toxicity. Burning lips, stomach pain, excessive drooling, and vomiting are its common toxic effects.
Immediately call the doctor for help.
Philodendron White Knight Propagation
Stem cutting is the best method of philodendron white knight propagation. You can propagate it in water or by using soil.
Using water for propagation is easy and has more success rate.
The Propagation Process:
- Choose a healthy stem with not more than 3 nodes.
- Cut right below the leaf node with a sterilized sharp knife.
- Clean cut is the first step to success.
- Remove bottom leaves to increase the success rate.
- Take a glass of filtered water and dip your cutting in it.
- If you have rotting hormone then apply it at the cut before dipping it in a glass of water.
- Place the glass in a warm and humid place (not in the bathroom).
- Change the water of the glass when it gets unclear.
- Protect stem cutting from direct sunlight.
- Within a few days, stem cutting will grow new tiny roots.
- Once these roots grow 1 to 2 inches long, transfer the stem into the potting soil.
- Follow the regular care and grow another white knight philodendron.
Troubleshooting Problems
Pest Infestations
Sap-sucking Aphids and Mealybugs are the pests that love to eat white knight philodendrons. They are mostly found in unhygienic plants.
Warm weather and dirty growing conditions invite these insects.
They build their colonies under the leaves and near the leaf nodes.
Catch them early to save your plant from dying. Regular inspecting habits can help you to identify pest infestations at an early stage.
I always check my philodendron plants including philodendron Cream Splash while watering. It takes less than 2 minutes to check the undersides of leaves.
Tiny dark spots and holes in the leaves are the first indications of the presence of pests. Use rubbing alcohol to kill them in seconds.
Take a clean cloth pour some rubbing alcohol and wipe each leaf.
If this technique is time-consuming for you then use insecticidal soap and rinse your plant.
After the treatment, you must use neem oil spray for future protection from pests.
Less or No Variegation
In some cases, growers see their white knight philodendrons are not producing white variegation. There is one big reason that prevents variegation and that is low light.
This plant needs bright light to develop a white portion on its leaves.
The good news is your plant can heal itself and produce a good amount of variegation. Only when you increase the intensity of light.
Move it to the bright place and see your plant developing white variegation.
Decaying Roots
Decaying roots indicate overuse of water and the wrong type of soil. If you are using good-quality soil then check the plant pot.
It must have 2 or more drainage holes to drain extra water.
If the pot and soil are good then you should learn the watering technique to prevent overwatering your plants.
To save your plant from dying, immediately take it out of its pot and remove the soil from its roots. Cut the infected roots.
Wash the plant pot with warm water and dishwashing soap.
Use fresh soil and replant it in the same pot. Give some water to add moisture to the newly used potting soil.
To speed up the healing process, expose your plant to morning sunlight for a week.
Your plant will heal in 7 to 12 days.
Do not fertilize in the healing phase.
Brown Leaf Tips
This indicates loss of water and low air moisture. Philodendrons absorb moisture from the air. In the absence of adequate moisture, philodendron leaf tips start turning brown and crispy.
This is the indication by the plant that it needs moisture in the air. Turn ON the humidifier and your plant will heal in 7 to 10 days.
If you do not have a humidifier, you can use a pebble tray and spray some water on white marble philodendron leaves.
Conclusion
Bring a white knight philodendron home to make your home more beautiful. The marble look of its leaves is eye-catching and pleasing.
Follow the suggested care techniques to grow it without facing problems.
For more information on the white knight, you can send us an e-mail or leaves us a comment below.
