The right lighting is crucial to get a healthy and good-looking Philodendron birkin plant.
Philodendron birkin has gone from a rare designer plant to an increasingly popular houseplant.
If the signature large dark green leaves highlighted with white pinstripes have made you fall in love with Philodendron birkin, it may be hard to resist bringing one of these plants home and propagating more.
But if you want your Philodendron birkin to thrive, you must provide it with the right amount of sunlight.
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How Much Light Does a Philodendron birkin Need?
A Philodendron birkin needs twelve hours of bright indirect sunlight per day. Make sure it does not get more than 3-4 hours of bright direct sunlight in the morning. In general direct sunlight is too strong for Philodendron birkin. An eastern or western-facing window is ideal.
How to Provide Your Philodendron birkin with the Right Amount of Sunlight
Since Philodendron birkin is native to humid tropical climates, it’s easy to mistakenly believe that your plant needs to be placed outdoors in a location almost as hot as a Florida summer.
But this could cause your Philodendron birkin to wither away and die from sun scorching.
Although Philodendrons are tropical plants, the Birkin is a designer variety that developed due to a rare gene mutation and has continued to be propagated due to its beauty and popularity.
While Philodendron birkin does need to be exposed to humidity, it fares best in indirect sunlight. But not providing enough sunlight can be just as detrimental to your plant as overexposure.
Read about how to care for a Philodendron birkin.
Philodendron birkin must be placed in an area of your home or yard where it can receive twelve hours of bright indirect light daily and rest in the shade for the rest of the day.
Where to Place your Philodendron birkin for Optimal Sun Exposure
Interestingly, Philodendron birkin’s light requirements are one of the reasons that it’s excellent as a houseplant.
While it does need adequate sunlight for growth and variegation, it can handle low to medium light.
Eventually, your Philodendron birkin will grow to be between one to three feet in height and width, but your windowsill is the perfect location for your plant.
If you decide to place your Philodendron birkin on a windowsill or in front of a window, you should choose a window that faces east or west.
Alternatively, you can place your Philodendron birkin behind a light shade or use artificial lighting and a humidifier to create an optimal environment for your plant to thrive.
What Happens to a Philodendron birkin Receiving Too Much Sunlight
Occasionally, you may make an honest mistake and place your Philodendron birkin in an area where it receives too much or too little light.
Fortunately, you can usually resolve the issue by recognizing the signs of sun overexposure, moving your plant to another location, and providing water.
When Philodendron birkin is overexposed to sunlight, it will show signs of sun scorching.
Its growth rate will be slowed, and the leaves turn a pale yellow shade. Eventually, the leaves will develop crispy brown spots and fall off and die.
If you notice that your Philodendron birkin is showing signs of sun scorch, you should temporarily move it to a location without direct sunlight.
If the soil is dry, lightly water your plant to rehydrate it.
Now, Philodendron birkin leaves will also turn brown if the plant doesn’t receive adequate humidity.
So, you’ll also need to place a humidifier in the room with your plant or mist it regularly with a water bottle.
What Happens to a Philodendron Birken Not Receiving Enough Sunlight
Since Philodendron birkins as a chimeric mutation of the Rojo Congo Philodendron, they can revert back or evolve further.
If your Philodendron birkin isn’t receiving enough sunlight, it will lose its signature white pinstripes and essentially return to the solid green leaves of a Rojo Congo.
While the Rojo Congo Philodendron is also a beautiful plant, the white pinstripes make Philodendron birkin so special.
Partial sunlight is necessary for the continued variegation of your plant.
So, if your Philodendron birkin isn’t receiving enough sunlight, you’ll notice that your plant is starting to grow toward the nearest light source.
Since you’ll undoubtedly love the elegant white pinstripes and want to keep them, move your Philodendron birkin to an area of your home with partial sunlight.
And, if you’re that eager to encourage your Philodendron birkin to have more white variegation, read all about it in the article on this website.
Frequently Asked Questions about How Much Light a Philodendron birkin Needs
Does Philodendron birkin need sun?
While Philodendron birkin can’t withstand full direct sunlight, it does require a good amount of medium to low light. It’s the perfect plant to place near your window or in a sunny room of your house.
Can Philodendron birkin tolerate direct sunlight?
Overexposure to direct sunlight will burn the leaves of your Philodendron birkin, but it does need adequate sun exposure for growth and variegation.
How do I know if my Philodendron birkin is receiving too much sunlight?
If your Philodendron birkin has been overexposed to sunlight, you will notice the signs of sun scorch, including slowed growth, pale yellow leaves, and brown patches.
Conclusion About How Much Light Does a Philodendron Birkin Need
Determining exactly how much sunlight your Philodendron birkin needs can be challenging.
Despite its tropical origin, Philodendron birkin can’t seem to handle too much bright direct sunlight. And yet, your plant will have trouble growing once it doesn’t meet its sunlight requirements.
The solution may sound simple. How hard could it be to provide twelve hours of indirect sunlight daily?
The secret is to find the ideal place in your home or yard for your Philodendron birkin to thrive.
If you know the signs that your Philodendron birkin is receiving too much or too little sunlight, you can move your plant to another location when necessary.
While it may sound like Philodendron birkin is a very high-maintenance houseplant, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Philodendron birkins are easy to care for and would make a wonderful addition to your home or office — as long as enough sunlight is available.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.