Philodendrons are fun and easy plants. They are extremely diverse looking, with some sporting different leaf shapes, sizes, and colors. The Prince of Orange Philodendron is a hybrid philodendron or self-heading, which basically just means that it’s not vining like other philodendrons. I grabbed a few hybrids (Prince of Orange, Birkin, and McColley’s Finale) two years ago when I saw them for a good price. Today I’ll tell you about Prince of Orange Philodendron light requirements.
Prince of Orange Philodendron Light Requirements
Most say that Philodendron hybrids like the Prince of Orange require bright indirect light. But what does that really mean? Bright light typically comes through a south or west-facing window of your home if you’re in the northern hemisphere. This is due to the earth’s tilt. So a western or southern-facing window may be a good pick for your Prince of Orange.
Keep in mind the common directions are for bright indirect light. Indirect basically means don’t keep it right next to the window. However, there are many ways light can be indirect. For example, if you have many trees or shrubs that are in front of your window or if you keep a sheer curtain over your window. In my own case, I keep all of my Philodendron Hybrids in a south-facing window. The window has a huge Crepe Myrtle in front of it though.
Philodendron Sunburn
If your Prince of Orange Philodendron gets too much light, it may become sunburnt. While that’s not ideal, it’s rarely something that will completely kill your plant. Sunburn will appear as scorched-looking spots on your leaves. It will most likely affect the topmost leaves rather than the lower ones. If you’re unsure about light levels and you accidentally put your Philodendron in light that is too bright, you may end up losing some leaves. Philodendrons are very resilient though, and yours will continue to grow even if it loses some leaves.
Philodendron Low Light
Some Philodendrons are marketed as low-light plants. It’s true that they can survive in pretty low-light environments. However, hybrids are known specifically for their colorful foliage. Their leaves typically start out as vibrant yellows, oranges, or reds and then slowly revert to green as they mature. To get the best colors your Prince of Orange Philodendron will require some optimal light. If your Prince of Orange isn’t putting out vibrant yellow/orange leaves, then it probably isn’t getting enough light.
Plant Light Meter
If you’re still hesitant to take any chances with your Philodendron Prince of Orange, then you can always get a light meter. My recommendation for hobby gardeners is this plant monitor that does light, moisture, and nutrient measurement. It’s superior to most in its price range because it lets you track the amount of light your spot is getting every hour so you can know exactly how much sun you get. Others in this price range only give you the light measurement when you physically read it. I have a very in-depth write-up on this plant monitor if you’re interested.
I'm a long time plant lover on the quest to happily coexist with as many plants as I can. Let's grow!