The Philodendrons Birkin is a stylish exotic designer plant that requires little maintenance . It has thick, glossy leaves with interesting variegation. The upright bushy growth habit of the birkin sets it apart from other philodendrons.

The Birkin is a tropical plant whose natural habitat is the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. It is now a popular houseplant with over 100 cultivars available.

This bushy compact plant has a history of use as an ornamental plant in tropical environments since 1828 when it first arrived from South America to Europe.

But it’s recently become more popular as a houseplant, if still somewhat difficult to source. Like most philodendrons, with only a little attention, this beautiful plant will add a lovely bit of fresh, green life to your home.

Easy care, tolerant, and slow growing birkin is a good choice for beginner plant owners. Let it grow on a shelf or tabletop when small. Eventually you can move it to the floor and enjoy it as a small indoor bush.

Read our list of top plants for beginner plant parents and find more plants like this one that filter the air of toxic chemicals in your home.

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What is Special About a Philodendron Birkin?

The Birkin is a special and unique plant. This beauty provides a wonderful focal point in your home. It is a very interesting, easy care house plant. Birkins are great houseplants because they tolerate low light conditions and thrive indoors. In addition, they are easy to grow and propagate from cuttings.

The Birkin plant is special since it is a spontaneous mutation and cannot be produced by seed. Rather, the chimeric mutation responsible for the pinstripe variegation in the birkin must be cultivated by tissue propagation. This keeps the plant less available since mass production is difficult.
Birkin philodendron grows as a bush rather than a climbing vine which is unusual in the Philodendrons.
This Philodendron Birkin is great at filtering the air in your home. Read our list of air filtering plants in this post. The birkin removes VOC gases from the room you place them in. And they take in carbon monoxcide and give back oxygen to the room as they respire.
The birkin is easy to get along with in your home. It is not fussy or sensitive. The birkin will even tolerate some neglect.

You won’t find many plants like the birkin.

Plants and people go together. Live greenery is therapeutic for humans and Improves our Home Environment.

Is the Philodendron Birkin Rare?

The Philodedron Birkin is a newer tropical plant variety. And difficult to mass produce.

Even though it is a trendy plant and well sought after, the Philodendron Birkin is still considered rare. However, It is becoming more available in plant shops.

the intricate leaves and unusual leaf colors keep this plant interesting and worth looking around for.

If you cannot find a White Wave Birkin or other Birkin cultivars you want in your local plant shops, we recommend you order a Birkin from a reputable Etsy shop. Etsy shops with a good seller rating are quite reliable small retailers.

Purchase the Philodendron Birkin from Etsy

Can The Philodendron Birkin Revert?

Philodendron birkin can revert to green leaves or show different looks in the variegated leaves, even occasionally the original red ‘congo rojo’ type leaves.

This happens because the chimeric mutation responsible for the color variegation in the Birkin Philodendron is a spontaneous color mutation. This type of mutation is most often stable, so the variegation is likely to grow true.

However that is not always the case. New leaves can grow in as completely green leaves. These most likely will change into pinstripe variegated leaves as they mature. But not always. Alternately, new leaves can be white, or even pink and then gain more chlorophyll as the leaves age.

What Kind Of Light Does A Philodendron Birkin Need?

The Philodendron Birkin variegation is light sensitive. for the best color set the birkin in bright indirect lighting.

The Birkin will fit in anywhere you have a spot with medium or bright indirect light. The Birkin can tolerate low light but the plant will not give you the brightest variegations.

A Philodendron birkin must have adequate light to show it’s brightest colorations. The variegations will fade and disappear in very low light since the plant must produce more chlorophyll to feed itself in low light.

Lighting also affects birkin growth. This plant is a slow grower in moderate light. If you set it in a lower light area the growth will slow down to almost nothing.

Fortunately, the white wave grows well under both artificial lights and natural light. Supplement natural light as necessary to keep the birkin under strong indirect lighting for 12 hours a day. This will keep the leaf coloration at its best through even the shortest, darkest winter months.

philodendron birkin-close up — bright indirect light gives Birkin the best color variegation

Philodendron Birkin Watering:

The native rainforest environment under the tree canopy where this plant grows is surprisingly dry. The soil is intermittently saturated by drops of water falling from the tree canopy above the birkin. Birkins receive plenty of moisture from air humidity.

Water the birkin philodendron when the soil is dry down to the root zone, about two inches into the soil. You don’t want a completely dry soil but a light moisture level is all the roots can tolerate. Aroids like the birkin need a light friable soil so the roots can move and access oxygen.

OverWatering will kill birkins. Too much extra moisture will smother the roots. Do not water your birkin when the soil is already wet through. Constant overwatering will cause your Birkin to get root rot, fungus gnats, moldy soil and viruses.

Best Method to water philodendron birkin: Allow the soil to almost dry out then give it a good soaking. Allow the soil to almost dry out. Then water it again. Check the soil weekly to see if it needs watering.

The watering schedule will change through the seasons as humidity and temperatures in the home move up and down.

The Birkins watering needs are affected by several factors. Is it growing fast or slow? If you are giving your birkin lots of bright indirect light, good soil, a good sized pot to fits the roots and regular fertilizing, expect it to need more water to support the plant growth.

During dormancy in winter, Birkin will slow down it’s growth and need less water to maintain itself. If you see yellow leaves you are most likely overwatering your birkin.

Excess water will injure the roots and cause the plant to quit feeding some of the leaves. So those leaves, usually on the bottom of the plant will yellow and die.

Philodendron Birkin Needs Humidity:

The birkin enjoys a humid environment with air humidity levels of 40% or more. Like most plants living under canopy of trees in a tropical rainforest environment, this philodendron absorbs plenty of moisture through the leaves.

When the birkin philodendron sits in low humidity it will get dry leaf tips.. The dry leaf tips will turn brown. If you see brown leaf tips, increase air humidity to the plant.

Most homes and humans are comfortable at 40% humidity and that is a good low point for the birkin. However, some climates are naturally very dry. Also, in cooler winter months heating systems blow dry warm air that dries out the home environment.

If your indoor climate is dry under 40% humidity you will need to improve your homes humidity levels to avoid dry leaf tips that turn to brown leaf tips.

When the birkin philodendron leaves dry out, the dry leaf tips turn brown. If you see brown tips on the leaves your air moisture is too dry.

How Big Does The Philodendron Birkin Get?

The Philodendron birkin grows as an upright bush to about three feet tall as a mature plant. The Birkin is not a climbing vine like other philodendrons and requires no stake or pruning.

The birkin makes a nice table top plant as a youth. It matures into a beautiful accent plant for the floor or short plant stand.

Can You Propagate A Philodendron Birkin?

You can propagate a Birkin in three ways. Stem cuttings, root division and air layering.

The birkins are not propagated by seed since the mutation responsible for the variegation in this plant can only be reproduced with tissue propagation.

Root division is the simplest way to propagate a Birkin without a node. When the plant is ready for repotting carefully unpot the plant. Gently pull apart the plant roots where new philodendron birkin pups grow alongside the mother plant. When you see the plant unpotted, the division points are fairly easy to see. Plant the two parts in separate pots and you have propagated your birkin.

Can you propagate philodendron birkin from a leaf? Stem cuttings are easy to make from a leaf and leaf node. This can be done anytime without repotting. In our printable care guide we list the steps for the stem cutting method.

In the Video below, Kayti discusses the care and stem cutting propagation of the Birkin.

Air layering is also possible with the birkin, but not often done. Stem cuttings and division are much quicker and simpler to do.

Is Philodendron Birkin Poisonous?

The Birkin, like All philodendrons are toxic to dogs, cats and humans and should be kept away from pets and children. Philodendrons contain toxic calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves which is a digestive and skin irritant.

Mouth and throat irritation, rashes and digestive upset are the usual symptoms of poisoning with the birkin.

Symptoms of poisoning are not normally fatal. This is considered a mild to moderate toxin. However, if you see signs of poisoning call the vet or your doctor immediately..

How do you Care For a Philodendron Birkin?

Here’s our quick care guide:

Familiar Names	Philodendron Birkin, birkin, White Wave, birkin philodendron
Scientific Name	Philodendron Birkin
Plant Family	Araceae
Care Difficulty	Easy
Temperature	65 to 85 degrees F.
Watering	Water throughly when plant soil is dry down halfway. Allow soil to dry to the root zone before watering again.
Soil	Aroids like the Birkin require a light soil mix. We use 2 parts soil mix to one part perlite and one part orchid bark.
Lighting	Philodendron Birkin requires moderate to bright light to ensure proper variegation and color distinctions.
Pests:	Spider mites, mealy bugs and all the other common pests can attack birkin. Learn how to identify, prevent and treat the & common plant pests here.
Growth	The Birkin grows slowly to 3 feet in a bush form. This Philodendron is not a climbing vine.

Here is a more detailed printable care guide for the Birkin.

Yield: Printable Care Guide