Philodendron 'Birkin' Pink Bikini
Pink Bikini Birkin
UK price
£5 to £25
Estimate
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- -
- On record
- 0
Cutting/cormNone
7cmNone
12cmNone
MatureNone
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
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About Philodendron 'Birkin' Pink Bikini
Sold under the trade name 'Pink Bikini' by UK retailers, this break is currently only confirmed through retail listings rather than eBay sold comps; asking prices scale steeply with plant size, from small 6cm-pot cuttings to mature 17cm-pot specimens priced several times higher. Philodendron 'Birkin' Pink Bikini shares the same underlying form and growth habit as Philodendron 'Birkin' (broadly ovate-cordate leaves on upright self-heading rosette growth), with fine pink pinstripes replacing the usual white, alongside the same chimeric instability that can occasionally throw an all-pink or reverted all-green leaf.
Native range
Pink colour-break cultivar of Philodendron 'Birkin', itself a variegated sport mutation of Philodendron 'Congo Rojo'.
Classification
- Genus
- Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Variegated
- Growth habit
- Upright self-heading rosette
- Form of
- Philodendron 'Birkin'
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Broadly ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base.-cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches.
- Leaf length
- 15-25 cm
- Leaf width
- 10-18 cm
- Petiole colour
- Green
- Venation
- PinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein., understated
- Texture
- Glossy, leathery
- Variegation
- ChimericVariegation caused by a cell mutation. Often produces high contrast but can be unstable and revert to all-green. (unstableVariegation that is prone to disappearing (reverting to solid green) if lighting conditions are poor or if not pruned.) fine pink pinstripes running parallel along the leaf blade, density increasing with leaf maturity; occasional all-pink or reverted all-green leaves are normal
- Growth habit
- Upright self-heading rosette
Recent UK sales
No UK eBay sales recorded for this plant yet.
For sale in the UK
Before you buy
- Inspect the newest leaves for the signature parallel white pinstripes to ensure the plant has not fully reverted to its solid green form.
- Check the short, thick stem for signs of rot, ensuring it feels firm and shows no brown or mushy tissue near the soil line.
- Look for a compact, upright rosette habit; elongated internodes indicate the plant has been grown in insufficient light.
- Examine the undersides of the leathery leaves and along the petioles for common pests such as spider mites or thrips.
Philodendron 'Birkin' Pink Bikini care
- Substrate
- A standard aroid mix of potting compost, coarse perlite and orchid bark provides the necessary drainage for this self-heading Philodendron. Avoid dense, peat-heavy mixes that retain too much moisture around the roots.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly when the top two inches of the substrate have dried out. Ensure excess water drains freely, as prolonged wet feet will quickly lead to root rot.
- Humidity
- Moderate humidity between 50–65% is sufficient for healthy growth. Average room conditions are generally acceptable, though placing the plant away from active heat sources prevents the leaf edges from crisping.
- Feeding
- Feed with a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength once a month during the active growing season. Reduce or pause feeding over winter when the plant's growth naturally slows down.
- Repotting
- Repot every 1–2 years when the roots begin circling the bottom of the container. Size up the pot by only a few centimetres to prevent the excess compost from holding too much water.
Common problems
Root rot
Cause: Potting mix that remains excessively wet due to poor drainage or overly frequent watering.
Fix: Remove the plant from its pot, trim away any dark or mushy roots, and repot into a fresh, well-aerated substrate.
Loss of white pinstripe variegation
Cause: Insufficient light exposure causing the plant to produce greener leaves to maximise photosynthesis.
Fix: Relocate the plant to a spot with bright, indirect light to encourage denser white patterning on subsequent leaves.
Thrips or spider mite damage
Cause: Warm, dry indoor environments that facilitate pest reproduction on the broad leaves.
Fix: Wipe the foliage regularly and treat any visible insects with an insecticidal soap or systemic pesticide.
Gear for this plant
- Coir Moss Pole, 120cm (4-Pack)Coco coir totem for climbing aroids to root into as they grow upward.
- Natural Rooting Powder, 3 x 75gRooting hormone powder for stem and leaf cuttings.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital Hygrometer & ThermometerLCD humidity and temperature gauge for checking a grow spot against a plant's target range.
How to propagate Philodendron 'Birkin' Pink Bikini
- Methods
- Top cutting, Basal offset. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 4–6 months
- True from cuttings
- No. Variegation or cultivar traits may not carry through, so choose cuttings with care.
- Notes
- Propagating self-heading varieties requires taking a top cutting with at least one node, which can be challenging due to the tightly clustered internodes. Mature plants may also occasionally produce basal offsets that can be separated once they develop their own root systems. Variegation in the resulting plants is not entirely guaranteed due to the unstable chimeric nature of the mutation.