Philodendron White Knight Care

How to care for the lovely philodendron white knight

It’s time for a philodendron white knight care guide! White knight has lovely deep red stems that look a lot like pink princess philodendron stems. The leaves, however, are a deep green with bright white variegation. Not ivory, not cream. Bright white.

While it has traditionally been a rare plant, it has become much more common over the last several years now that it is being mass produced. This has also brought the cost down, making it a much more accessible plant for hobbyists.

Light

Bright indirect light is best—by a sunny window is perfect. Light is super important for maintaining variegation. That’s because the white areas on the leaves have less chlorophyll, which is what the plant uses to convert light into growth.

If the window gets too much sun in the afternoon, you may want to move it a bit farther away from the sun. That’s because the plant can scorch or burn with too much direct light. Particularly the white areas on the plant. However, I rarely have problems with scorching indoors.

Variegated plants can generally do well in medium light levels, but their beautiful variegated patterns may suffer and either dull a bit or completely revert.

If you choose to move your philodendron outdoors for the spring and summer, a shady spot is great. Under a covered patio or canopy of a dense tree works just fine. Some direct morning sunlight is probably fine outdoors since that light is weaker.

Soil

Any high-quality soil labeled “indoor” or “houseplant” will work great. I generally like to add a handful or two of shredded coco coir to these mixes for philodendrons, too. Take a look at what mixture the plant comes in for a hint at what it might like living in for the long haul, too.

Water

Checking your soil’s moisture is the best way to know if your plant needs more water. Water your philodendron white knight when the top few inches of soil dries out.

If you underwater your plant, the leaves will droop, and you might see the bottom leaves begin to yellow and wilt off. (I have experienced this with my silver sword philodendron). If you overwater your plant, it will likely lead to root rot. This occurs when the soil is wet for too long, which suffocates the roots.

A light, well-draining soil and letting the top few inches of soil dry out before watering again prevents this and encourages oxygen flow to the roots. For philodendrons like this one, I typically water once a week in the spring and summer and once every 10-14 days when the temperature drops in the fall and winter.

Temperature

The philodendron white knight enjoys a variety of normal household temperatures levels. It is happiest in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit. And this is not a cold or frost hardy plant. If your location gets down into the 40s or lower (Fahrenheit) and you have the plant outdoors, it needs to come inside.

Humidity

While the white knight does fine in average household humidity, it will do best in the higher end of normal. For example, 50% humidity. That’s what my house is normally in the summer since it’s soo humid where I live.

However, in the fall, winter, and early spring, the humidity levels drop down. Adding a humidifier might be a good option. Air that is too dry can lead to pests like spider mites indoors, which I’ve dealt with on my Philodendron birkin before. 

Growth

Philodendron white knight is a relatively slow grower. A lot of variegated plants are—remember, the white areas might be pretty, but they generate no energy for the plant to help it grow.

You can help your white knight grow as best as possible by giving it optimal care conditions and adding a pole for it to climb. If you use something like a moss pole, the plant will reward you with larger leaves, too.

I would not recommend repotting your plant until the roots begin growing out of your plant pot’s holes. Or when the roots are circling the inside of the pot so much that you can pull the entire plant, root ball, and soil out of the pot at the same time without making a mess. 

Propagation

I recommend propagating a philodendron white knight cutting in sphagnum moss and perlite. To get started, make sure you take a cutting of your philodendron with a few leaves and 1-2 nodes.

Dampen some sphagnum moss and mix with perlite. Add to a cup or a clear plastic propagation box. Add the cutting and make sure to keep it humid (either with a box and lid or a plastic baggie).

Make sure the moss doesn’t dry out completely. It should remain damp, but not wet. Keep the plant warm as well. Monitor root growth, and once the roots are a few inches long, you can transition the cutting to soil. 

After transitioning the cutting to soil, keep it moist for a few weeks while the roots adjust. Then back off the watering and treat the plant as normal.

Toxicity

Philodendron white knight is considered toxic, much like other philodendrons. This plant can lead to gastrointestinal issues if ingested by humans or pets. It is not meant for consumption. Keep it away from nibblers.

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