Lovers know Abutilon as a wonderful, long-flowering houseplant. It belongs to the Malvaceae family, the word itself Abutilon translated from Arabic means "mallow plant". It is also known under other names - cable car, indoor maple. Leaves of some species, indeed, resemble lobed maple leaves, but it is named a cable car because one of its most widespread (throughout Eurasia) species - Abutilone Theophrastus - is a technical textile plant. Its fibrous stems have long been used for yarn, rope weaving, burlap, and coarse fabric.
Abutilons, and there are 216 species of them, are evergreen subtropical and tropical perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs and even small trees. As ornamental plants, only a small part is grown, no more than 10 species (you can read about popular types on the page Abutilon).
However, the most widespread are hybrid abutilons with flowers sometimes more than 5 cm in diameter, and not only as indoor and greenhouse plants. Unpretentious, sun-loving (however, without strong overheating), they easily tolerate open air conditions, balconies, terraces or patios. The movement of large volumes of air only benefits them. Therefore, abutilones are wonderful, blooming until the very frost, container plants. And Abutilon megapotamskiy and its hybrids with hanging long shoots and flowers resembling Chinese lanterns are bright and unusual components of ampel compositions.
Indoor abutilons in the garden
It is possible to take out indoor abutilons to the garden only when the day and night temperatures are set at a level not lower than + 16 ° C. Do not expose to night frost under any circumstances. At this time, as a rule, flowering has already begun, and yesterday's inhabitants of the windowsills will immediately decorate the garden or balcony. By the way, since April, hybrid and megapotamian potted abutilons can be found on sale - it's time to get funny and not too common plants. After purchasing them, they should be acclimatized to the fresh air gradually, because they have just arrived from the greenhouses.
Abutilones are placed so that in the middle of the day the plants do not suffer from the scorching sun, but are slightly shaded. Water regularly, but not excessively, otherwise the root system becomes susceptible to gray rot. If there is no rain, the leaves are sprayed. The tops of the shoots are sometimes pinched to form a beautiful shape and book more flowers. The flowers of abutilones are located in the axils of the leaves, so pinching will not damage flowering, but quite the opposite.
In the fall, before the onset of frost, the plants are washed and, with all precautions, are brought back into the house, first in quarantine, in order to get rid of garden pests and diseases.
Indoor growing - in the article Abutilon: home care.
Abutilone in the open field
Not everyone knows, but abutilone grows well in the open field. It is handy for fun garden borders and compositions that bloom continuously all summer. The sweet nectar of the flowers will attract pollinating insects.
If you have indoor abutilons, seedlings grown from green cuttings are prepared for planting in advance. Cuttings are taken apical or stem, with 4-5 nodes. Rooting in a greenhouse lasts up to 20 days, and flowering occurs in 2-3 months. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out cuttings no later than the beginning of March, so that the seedlings are ready for planting in early June and soon bloom.
Abutilon hybrid from seeds... Recently, abutilone is sometimes grown as an annual from seeds, and in the fall it is simply removed from the flower garden. On sale you can find seeds called Abutilon hybrid Bella F1 (Bella F1)... The seed mixture includes white, red, purple, lemon yellow, salmon.
Seeds are sown from February to April in loose soil with perlite and germinated in a greenhouse at moderate humidity and temperatures of + 25 ... + 27 ° C. Before sowing, the seeds require scarification - they are mixed with a small amount of sand, placed in a woven bag and lightly rubbed. Then they are soaked in Epin, Zircon or other phytohormone to accelerate germination. Germination is extended in time and can last from 3 to 30 days. Plants bloom in 3 months.
Seedlings are kept at a temperature of about + 20 ... + 22 ° C, but not lower than + 16 ° C, because already at + 15оС the development stops.
Landing... They are planted in open ground with the end of frost. Before planting, the tops can be pinched for more tillering.
The soil is prepared nutritious, loose, drained, containing sand, slightly acidic. Lowlands are not suitable for planting. Water moderately and regularly. They are fed with a complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants in a half dose 2 times a month.
However, it should be said that growing abutilone in a container is still preferable - it is easier to protect plants from summer cold snaps and prolonged rains, which means from fungal diseases. Although in the open field, abutilon is less likely to suffer from pests and diseases.
Wintering... In autumn, the plants can not be destroyed, but taken into the house, provide wintering at + 12 ... + 16оС with additional lighting (with a lack of light, the lower leaves fall off), and in spring they can be used as mother plants for cuttings. If abutilon has enough light, it can bloom almost all year round!
