Abutilon: home care: species, replanting and propagation

The stunningly beautiful abutilon, a member of the mallow family, grows in China, India, Oceania, Australia, and North Africa. Florists are drawn to its variety of forms and its long, colorful blooms, beginning in spring and continuing into late fall.

Around 10 varieties of this plant are grown at home and are completely unpretentious in care, so even inexperienced gardeners can become the owner of a Chinese lantern.

Types of Abutilon

Hybrid and ornamental varieties of the plant, represented by compact bushes, trees or herbaceous plants, are suitable for indoor growing.

The leaf blades are large (up to 10 cm), serrated, flexible, and delicate, reminiscent of maple green. They have an emerald, uneven, or spotted color.

The inflorescences are arranged on long stalks. The buds are shaped like bells. Depending on the cultivar, they can be scarlet, straw, lemon, carrot, snow-white, or a flamingo hue with numerous stamens.

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The most popular types of indoor maple (photo below) are:

1. Abutilon JulietIt grows 50 cm in 12 months and is easy to grow. Its vibrant flowers reach 6 cm in diameter. Growing from seed produces buds of the most unexpected and vibrant colors.
2. Abutilon BellaIt is a compact, branched bush (up to 40 cm in height). Bright, bell-shaped flowers reach 7 cm in diameter. It does not require regular pruning or pinching and blooms year-round.
3. Abutilon vitifoliaThe shrub grows up to 2.4 m, with softly pubescent shoots and deeply serrated, velvety leaves up to 15 cm long. The buds are on elongated stalks, gathered in clusters of 3-4. The corolla varies in shape from broadly bell-shaped to almost round. The flowers are a mixture of azure and lavender, sometimes with deeper veins. Blooming begins in late spring.
4. Abutilon megapotaminumThe crimson-scarlet base of its wedge-shaped petals earned it the nickname "Chinese lantern." It is often grown as a trailing plant, requiring staking to a freestanding support. The oblong leaves, serrated along the perimeter, are rich green or emerald. The inflorescences are solitary, with petals tinged with lemon, orange, or purple. Provided the proper microclimate and proper care are followed, it blooms year-round.
5. Abutilon OrganzaAn evergreen subshrub growing up to 60 cm. In a mature plant, the central shoot becomes woody, while the lateral branches remain flexible, thin, and pliable. The leaves reach 10 cm and are a rich green hue with light, clearly defined veins. The flowers are slightly drooping, up to 7 cm in diameter. They can be golden, pink, orange, or pure white in varying intensities.
6. Abutilon Hybrid– a large group of cultivars, including shrubs and subshrubs up to 1.5 m tall. The leaves, shaped like a heart or a chicken egg, are covered with stiff hairs on both sides. The bell-shaped flowers are borne singly or in pairs. The color palette ranges from snow-white to deep burgundy.

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Caring for Abutilon at Home

Indian mallow is an easy-to-grow plant and doesn't require any special care. Simply learn its preferences and follow these basic care guidelines:

1. The optimal location is near windows facing east, west, southeast, or southwest. The plant prefers bright but diffused light. If placed on a south-facing window, additional shade during midday is required. This is especially true for varieties with variegated or light-colored leaves. Direct UV rays reduce the appearance of the pattern and increase the risk of sunburn. Placement on north-facing windowsills requires additional artificial lighting. This can also ensure continuous flowering.
2. In summer, air temperatures should be between 20°C and 26°C, and in winter, between 12°C and 15°C. When temperatures drop to 5°C and 10°C, the Chinese lantern plant will begin to shed its leaves. Increasing temperatures to 30°C halts bud formation and causes existing inflorescences to drop.
3. During hot weather and in winter, when heating is on, abutilon requires ample watering. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely. Moisten the soil when the top layer of the substrate has dried out. Insufficient watering causes wilting, loss of buds, and root system death. If overwintering in a cool place, watering should be done less frequently to prevent root rot.
4. The plant doesn't have any special humidity requirements, but occasional misting is not prohibited. This can be done in the summer, during periods of extreme heat, or in winter when the indoor air is too dry.
5. To form a lush, uniform crown and stimulate abundant flowering, Indian mallow requires regular pruning. This should be done in the first ten days of March, before active growth begins. Shoots are shortened by 1/3 to 2/3 of their length. Young bushes require pinching. After this, the plant should be moved to a warmer location, kept thoroughly moist, and the soil enriched with nutrients.
6. Due to its rapid growth rate, abutilon requires fertilization. From early spring to late fall, alternate mineral and organic fertilizers are applied every two weeks. After pruning, when intensive green growth begins, fertilizers with a high nitrogen concentration are recommended. During budding, it's best to focus on fertilizers rich in potassium and phosphorus. In winter, Chinese lanterns require fertilization only if flowering continues.

A universal soil mix, available at specialty stores, is suitable for indoor maples. Alternatively, you can make your own:

• leaf soil;
• turf;
• peat;
• sand;
• humus.

All components are taken in equal quantities.

In addition, abutilon feels great in a mixture of turf soil, coniferous or leaf humus, sand, coconut substrate (proportion 2:2:0.5:1).

Transplantation and propagation

Young Chinese lanterns grow very quickly and therefore require annual repotting. For mature indoor maples, this procedure is performed every 2-3 years:

1. Scald a new pot with boiling water, 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. A pot that's too large will delay flowering, which won't occur until the root system has filled all the available space.
2. Heat the soil mixture and the material used as a drainage layer in the oven.
3. Line the bottom of the pot (about 2 cm deep) with expanded clay, pebbles, or broken brick. You can also layer sphagnum moss on top to improve moisture exchange. Add a small amount of soil.
4. Carefully remove the plant from the old pot, freeing the roots as much as possible from the depleted soil. If this is difficult, it's best to leave the root system alone, as this can damage it.
5. Place the abutilon in a new container, spread out the roots, and add the prepared substrate.
6. Water generously.

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Growing abutilon from seed at home is quite simple. Just look at the photo and follow the step-by-step instructions. First, pollinate the plant with a soft brush. After a while, a capsule containing hard seeds will appear. Before planting, let them sit in a dark place for a month. Germination remains viable for up to two years.

Then, the preparatory stages follow:

1. For sowing, use a mixture used for growing garden seedlings, with added sand and perlite, the usual abutilon substrate, or another loose, neutral-pH soil. Before use, rinse the soil with boiling water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect. Some gardeners report excellent results sowing in peat-humus tablets.
2. Select medium-sized, dark seeds and sand the hard shells or scratch them with a needle. Wrap them in a cloth and soak it in warm water or a solution containing a growth stimulant. Leave for 12 hours.

After this, you can start sowing:

1. Fill a shallow container with moist substrate.
2. Place seeds on the surface (1-2 cm apart).
3. Sprinkle with soil to a depth of 5-6 mm.
4. Cover the container with cling film or glass to create greenhouse conditions.
5. Maintain temperature between 23°C and 28°C.
6. Open the homemade greenhouse daily for ventilation.
7. The first shoots will appear in 5-15 days. After this, the cover should be removed.
8. Move the container to a well-lit place.
9. Water as the soil dries out.
10. After 2-3 leaves appear (about a month), transplant into separate pots, no more than 5-6 cm in diameter. A drainage layer at the bottom of the pot is required.
11. After 4-5 months, young plants need to be transferred to containers with a diameter of 10 cm.

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For growing hybrids, propagation by cuttings is more suitable. This method preserves all the plant's varietal characteristics:

1. Cut off the top of a young shoot 10-12 cm long.
2. Leave 3-4 internodes, tear off the remaining leaves along with the buds.
3. Place the cutting in a jar of water or a solution that affects the growth rate.
4. Cover with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.
5. Once roots 3-7 cm long appear, plant them in a pot no more than 7 cm in diameter. Be sure to line the bottom with a drainage layer.

Diseases and pests of domestic maple

Abutilon is considered a hardy plant. However, certain care errors can cause various problems:

1. Lack of floweringPossible reasons: insufficient light, large pot size.
2. Dropping budsProvoking factors: lack of moisture and nutrients in the soil, drafts.
3. Yellowing and falling leavesThe problem lies in root damage. For some varieties, this is simply a sign of the onset of dormancy.
4. Twisting the platesReason: direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, high room temperature and low humidity.
5. Yellowing of lower leavesProvoking factor: lack of light, mineral and organic substances in the substrate.
6. Lightening the platesIt occurs due to a lack of fresh air, insufficient watering, and a lack of microelements in the soil.
7. RustIt develops as a result of a fungal infection. Damaged parts of the plant are removed, and the shrub is treated with fungicides.

In addition, abutilon can be attacked by the following pests:

1. Scale insectsBrown plaques and sticky fluid appear on the leaf surface. The lower leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the young ones dry out. Shoots become distorted, growth slows, and flowering ceases.
2. ThripsA characteristic sign is the presence of whitish spots on the inner surface of the foliage and a silvery sheen. Yellow and discolored spots, stripes, and streaks are visible on the leaves. Gradually, these merge, and the affected tissue dies. Flowers lose their decorative appeal and fall off.
3. Spider miteThe presence of the parasite is indicated by small light spots and fine threads entwining the plant. If damage is severe, the leaves turn white.
4. AphidThe tips of the shoots become deformed, the leaves curl and turn yellow, and shiny spots appear. The buds fail to develop or produce deformed flowers.
5. MealybugThe affected plant develops lumps resembling cotton wool or fluff. The bush stunts, shoots become deformed, and leaves and buds fall off.

Pests are controlled with insecticides. Complete eradication may require several treatments spaced evenly.

Abutilon is an incredibly easy-to-care-for and unique plant that should be in the collection of any self-respecting florist. Simply follow simple care instructions, and this Indian mallow will delight you with its incredibly beautiful blooms, practically year-round.