Abutilon room. The most important information about abutilone room

Abutilon may not be one of the most popular ornamental plants, but more and more people are starting to notice the beauty of this little shrub. Undoubtedly, the hybrid cable car will decorate not only the apartment, but also the terrace and garden. Its decorative appearance is due to the large, bright flowers as well as the leaves.

Abutilon hybrid (Abutilon x hybridum) belongs to the Malvaceae family. Its natural habitats are found in the forests of South America (Brazil).

The genus Abutilon includes more than 100 species of very diverse plants (shrubs, semi-shrubs, herbaceous plants), which reach a height of several meters. When growing at home, we mainly encounter hybrid forms of abutilon hybrid (Abutilon x hybridum) and abutilon megapotamus(Abutilon megapotamicum) - with drooping shoots. In our climate, they are grown as houseplants.

Structure

Indoor maple is characterized by an elevated structure, green shoots, sometimes stiff at the base. The bush is fast growing. In their natural habitat, shrubs can reach 3 m in height, home-grown samples, depending on the variety, can reach a little more than a meter in height, and, as a rule, lower. Very decorative leaves, shaped like maple leaves. Depending on the variety, the number of shares varies - from three to seven. Color from bright green to motley with white or yellow spots. Numerous bell-shaped flowers appear in spring and bloom until late autumn. Flowers planted on long petioles, depending on the variety, delight - red, orange, white, pink, yellow flowers. The diameter of the flower can reach 8 cm. The seeds are dark and reniform.

With proper pruning, abutilon can be formed into a small tree.

Varieties

On sale you can buy a very diverse variety, so it is worth looking around and choosing the most suitable variety.

Popular Bella series includes colorful forms with large flowers, the diameter of which reaches 7 cm.

• "Red" with burgundy flowers,
• "Deep Coral" with coral flowers,
• "Apricot Shades" with apricot flowers,
• 'Salomon Shades' with salmon colored flowers.

It is worth noting that these are dwarf forms, about 45 cm high.

The yellow color will delight the varieties: Canary Bird, Golden Fleece, and spotted leaves Cannington Carol, Cannington Sally. 'Ashford Red' blooms red. A particularly beautiful variety is "Savitzii" with decorative white-framed leaves.

Popular at the moment abutilon hybrid Juliet mix of colors, a mixture of varieties of different colors and Bellevue variety- a mixture of colors, a shrub 90 cm high, blooms summer-autumn. Maple green leaves. The flowers are large, different colors.

Varieties with variegated leaves are the result of infection of abutilon with viruses. The presence of the virus in the cells does not significantly affect the growth of the plant, it can slightly slow down the growth. Indoor maple with spotted leaves looks original.

Requirements

Abutilon hybrid, grown at home, should be placed in a bright room (south window), this guarantees lush flowering. Since abutilon can be grown on a balcony and terrace, it is worth using this option, especially since the plant likes fresh air during its lush growth. In the fresh air, it is better to provide a secluded place, sheltered from the scorching sun. Abutilon also grows in partial shade, however, in such a place, it will not pamper us with too lush flowering.

The room temperature during the growth period is 16-22 °C, in winter it is definitely lower than 10-15 °C.

The soil is fertile, humic, permeable and rich in nutrients. You can use a universal substrate for potted flowers.

Care

Abutilon care includes watering, fertilizing, transplanting, tweezing and overwintering.

Watering is a very important home care procedure for abutilon, especially during the growth period and when grown in a sunny place. The plant in such conditions needs a lot of moisture. The frequency of watering depends on many factors, but it may be necessary to water the plant daily, when grown outdoors, during dry periods, even twice a day. When grown indoors, abutilon should be provided with good drainage because it does not like water. During winter, the soil should not be constantly wet, on the contrary, between the first and second watering, the soil should dry out slightly.

During the growing season, abutilon is fertilized every 7-14 days with a multi-component liquid fertilizer in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Do not fertilize in winter.

The leaves are cleaned by washing off the dust with warm, soft water, being careful not to spray the flowers.

It should be remembered about tweezing for a beautiful plant shape. During the season, this procedure is carried out several times.

Abutilon is transplanted in early spring. If necessary, lightly trim the roots. When transplanting, you need to remember about drainage!

Wintering

Abutilon hibernates in a bright room, at a temperature of 10-15 ° C. Watering is limited and fertilizer application is stopped.

reproduction

Abutilon hybrid is propagated through shoots and apical cuttings. Basically, seedlings can be obtained during the entire growing season, but it is best to do this in the spring when transplanting and pruning abutilon. The length of the cuttings is 6-10 cm. The seedlings will take root in a few weeks, providing moisture (cover with a film) and a warm substrate, which is a mixture of peat and sand. Rooted cuttings are placed in a bright place at a temperature of 20 ° C.

Abutilon is also propagated in a generative way from seeds. Sowing them in February and May. Acquired seeds germinate fairly quickly (2-3 weeks), it is better to stratify collected seeds with your own hands.

The most common growing problems

When growing hybrids, one should be careful with numerous pests, which, with mistakes in home care, often attack weakened plants, especially at low humidity. These include:

• whiteflies;
• spider mites;
• scale insects;
• mealybugs.

As mentioned earlier, abutilon hybrid loves moisture, but not a wet substrate. When the substrate is too wet, the leaves fall off. The problem very often occurs in winter, when watering must be limited.

Yellowing and dropping of leaves is a reaction to a significant change in temperature, for example, after moving a plant from a terrace into a house.

In addition, regular watering is required because drought will cause the leaves and flowers to curl and fall.

In a sunny place, with a lack of humidity, plants wither. At noon, it is worth shading the plant and providing it with a sufficient level of humidity.

When growing hybrid varieties, a bright place is very important, which contributes to lush flowering. In a dark place, the number of flowers is much less. In a too shaded place, the shoots become elongated, the leaves are lighter.

More light leaves will be a symptom of a lack of fertilizer. Lack of fertilizer leads to lack of flowering.

Abutilon ornamental shrub is very popular among gardeners because of the abundant, bright, almost year-round flowering, as well as fast growth and unpretentious disposition. Abutilone has many other names. Due to the similarity of the shape of the leaves, resembling maple leaves, the plant is called indoor maple; due to the lowered bright flowers, reminiscent of the street lanterns of the Celestial Empire, they are called Chinese lanterns. Since the shoots of the plant are used to make coarse vegetable fiber for the manufacture of burlap, ropes, ropes and wickerwork, it is often called a rope. But the name Indian mallow most accurately determines the nature of the plant, due to the close relationship of abutilon with mallow and hibiscus, belonging to the same family.

Indoor maple has many varieties of forms, varieties, hybrids, but the most popular among them is the Bella abutilon hybrid, whose miniature size and large flowers can easily fit into any interior, decorate the garden, and serve as an excellent backdrop for flower beds. In most countries, the rope tree is grown as an agricultural crop, but about 10 species are cultivated as ornamentals.

The genus Abutilon has more than 200 species and belongs to the Malvaceae family, it is an evergreen annual or perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs, semi-shrubs, miniature trees. Under natural conditions, it is found in China, India, the Hawaiian Islands, in the tropics and subtropics of Australia, Africa and South America.

The genus Abutilon has more than 200 species and belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is an evergreen annual or perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs, semi-shrubs, miniature trees. Under natural conditions, it is found in China, India, the Hawaiian Islands, in the tropics and subtropics of Australia, Africa and South America.

The flowering period is quite long, so if you provide home maple with sufficient lighting, flowering can continue from mid-spring to late autumn. Single or group flowers, double or smooth, with pronounced veins on the petals, are located in the axils of the leaves. The duration of flowering in a single bud is short, but due to the fact that the flowers constantly replace each other, the flowering of the plant lasts a very long time. Abutilon grows from 4 to 8 cm in length, has a wide range of color shades - white, pink, purple, violet, various tones of red and yellow. The shape of the buds of decorative species is striking in its diversity - bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, wide-open bell-shaped, flat-round.

Leaves 10 - 20 cm long, solid green, or green with white patches, arranged alternately on long cuttings. The shape of the leaf plate of decorative species can be with graceful corrugated edges, three or five lobed, elongated oval, ovoid. Due to the wide leaves, the plant actively evaporates moisture, which in turn allows you to increase the humidity in dry rooms.

The stems are branching, flexible, purplish-brown, bristly, at home they stretch 1.5-3 m in height. A heat-loving plant, for wintering it needs to provide good shelter or even transfer it to a warm room. Perennial species with good care can live up to 5 years. In the conditions of the middle lane, in most cases, the cable car is grown in closed winter gardens, greenhouses, and portable containers.

Abutilon has a sign, according to which, wherever the shrub is, it creates a positive, light atmosphere of calm around itself, dispels negative, heavy thoughts, and cheers up. Where the cable car is, only warm and positive energy.

Types of abutilone

Thanks to the success of breeding, various hybrid varieties of abutilone have been obtained. Their main advantage is in a compact form and longer bright flowering compared to wild-growing species. For this reason, many flower growers and landscape designers prefer modern decorative hybrid varieties among varieties of abutilon. Indoor abutilon does not stretch, like a greenhouse, up to two meters, but looks like a miniature bush. Given the lush flowering and variegated greenery, it will perfectly fit into any interior, will be an adornment of the summer and winter gardens.

bella hybrid

Abutilon Bella

One of the most popular varieties among gardeners is Bella compact abutilon. Miniature bush up to 30 - 40 cm in height, with large bright buds up to 5 cm in diameter. The goblet flower has a wider petal opening than other types. The petals themselves are smooth, velvety or glossy. The flower colors of hybrid abutilons are white, as well as various shades of pink, red, cream, orange and yellow.

Abutilon Bella reproduces only by seed. For the formation of the fruit, pollination by pollen of the same species is necessary.

Savitsky

Abutilon Savitsky

Very elegant, spectacular, low and wide miniature bush up to 15 - 30 cm in height. Five-lobed leaves up to 5 cm in length, gently green in color, with characteristic green spots and patches, are located on long cuttings. Abutilon Savitsky blooms with small, up to 4 cm in diameter, yellow bell-shaped flowers, and flowering is very weak, rare and scarce. The life of one bud is no more than three days. Flowers sprout from leaf axils singly.

It is not demanding for care, however, in good light it is able to actively grow, while in low light it loses its appearance - the stems are stretched, the branches become thinner, weaken. Calmly tolerates direct sunlight, can germinate both in separate containers and in open ground.

Terry

Abutilon terry Victorian Lady

An ornamental bush is distinguished by a straight branching stem. The leaves are green, elongated heart-shaped with an uneven edge. The buds are large, terry, voluminous, up to 7 cm in diameter. Abutilon terry has a rich pink color, shaped like a hibiscus flower. The hybrid terry variety is one of the most luxurious and showy rope varieties.

Bellevue

abutilon Bellevue mix

The name is translated from French as "beautiful view". The rules of care are the same as for other types of abutilon. During the summer period it is able to stretch up to two meters. A very bushy, luxuriantly flowering plant.

Flowers are drooping, hanging, cup-shaped, bell-shaped, yellow, pink, red or orange, up to 5 cm in diameter.

It develops poorly indoors due to lack of space and lighting. More suitable for decorating balconies, verandas, gazebos, greenhouses. In the conditions of the garden, it is able to grow luxuriantly, while maintaining fairly low temperatures, it continues to bloom at + 5 ° C.

Abutilon Bellevue is pruned in spring and summer. Due to its rapid growth in the first years of life, the rope plant needs to be repotted frequently into larger pots.

Theophrastus

Abutilon Theophrastus

It can often be found on crops of cereals and other agricultural crops. It is a weed plant. Annual plant with a tall, up to two meters, straight, branching, slightly fleecy stem, with green, alternate, long petiolate, ovate leaves, up to 15 cm long. Flowering period July - October. The flowers are pale yellow, five-petalled, regular shape.

Another name for Chinese jute. In folk medicine, it has become widespread, has antiseptic, laxative, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and other properties, and is used to treat a wide range of diseases. Propagated only by seeds.

Juliet

A hybrid species of abutilon, up to 1.5 m tall, is an ornamental evergreen shrub that, with good care, can bloom year-round. The flowers are bright, up to 6 cm in diameter. Due to its unpretentious disposition, Abutilon Juliet is great for growing at home, it grows well even in limited light. Within six months after sowing the seeds, the rope plant will bloom the first flowers.

Chitendeni

Tall, strongly branching plant reaches up to 3 m in height. The homeland of the species is considered to be Latin America. The leaves are rounded, heart-shaped, with a small fleecy coating on the back of the leaf. The flowers are wide open, up to 5 - 7 cm in diameter, rounded, bright, yellow-orange in color, with a characteristic dark core and dark burgundy mesh pattern.

"Organza"

Strongly branching plant. The stem is straight, grows up to 40 - 60 cm, the leaves are wide green, flowers of white, golden, pink and red flowers grow from their axils on long peduncles. Abutilon organza is similar in appearance and characteristics to the Juliet variety.

Bella

Abutilon Isabella

Decorative compact indoor maple. Due to its low growth (up to 40 cm) it fits perfectly into any interior. Green foliage harmonizes well with fairly large bell-shaped flowers of bright pink, yellow or white.

Hybrid varieties Bella and Isabella are very similar in appearance, but the latter has brighter and larger flowers. Simple care allows you to achieve year-round flowering Abutilon Isabella.

Megapotamian

Abutilon Megapotamsky

Abutilon perennial indoor maple is ideal for both indoor cultivation and garden decoration. Upright branched stem up to 1 - 2.5 m in length. The leaves are green, ovate or three-lobed, up to 5-8 cm long, with characteristic spots and interspersed with lighter colors.

Abutilon megapotamsky blooms with bright red flowers with yellow spots at the ends of the petals, long stamens of red-violet color. Hanging buds, on long peduncles, spherical, up to 1 - 3 cm in diameter, because of this shape of flowers, abutilon is called a Chinese lantern. Leaves up to 8 cm long, heart-shaped, with uneven carved edges. Flowering from May to October. Quite a hardy plant.

Sello

Abutilon Sello

A perennial unpretentious ornamental plant stretches up to 2.5 meters, it is often called "grandmother's" abutilon. Abundant flowering from April to November. The flowers are large, bell-shaped, orange, with a characteristic reticulate pattern or dark red veins. With good care, flowering can be year-round. The leaves are green, wide, five-lobed, with a slightly fleecy coating.

Abutilon Sello prefers diffused light. Under the direct rays of the sun, the leaves can get burned, after which they will wither and fall off. Moist, but not wet, soil will ensure good growth and development for the ropeworm. With the growth of the root system, striped abutilon is transplanted into another pot, 25 cm wider than the previous one.

Spotted

Abutilon Spotted

A flowering decorative species, reaching a height of 50 to 150 cm. The shape of the leaf plate is heart-shaped, green in color, with distinct pronounced patches and stripes, without any pubescence. The bell-shaped buds are orange in color, have pronounced convex veins or a mesh pattern, and the convex pattern is observed only in plants grown vegetatively, in particular by cuttings. The rules of care are the same as for all types and varieties of abutilon.

On the basis of the spotted species, an ornamental variety "Thomson" was obtained, which is distinguished by double flowers and leaves of various spotted colors.

vine-leaved

Abutilon grapevine

Tall shrub up to 1.5 m in height, with an upright branched, sprawling stem. The leaves are green, three-lobed, up to 15 cm long, with a weak fleecy coating.

Abutilon vine - densely flowering species. Starting from mid-spring, singly or in groups of 3-4 on long peduncles, blue, lavender, pale lilac flowers with a thin dark mesh pattern bloom. The saturation of the color of the buds and the density of flowering depends on the quantity and quality of the complex fertilizer.

The shape of the flower is broadly bell-shaped or round. In a winter garden or greenhouse, it can bloom all year round.

Darwin

Abutilon Darwin

Homeland of growth - the tropical forests of Brazil. Many hybrid varieties have been obtained on the basis of wild-growing shrubs. In culture it grows up to 1 m, the leaves are on long petioles, pubescent, up to 10 - 15 cm in length.

Flowering period May - September, singly or in groups, flowers grow from the axils of the leaves. Pink-orange buds with distinct dark red veins.

Hybrid

Abutilon hybrid

Another name is variegated. Derived from several natural species, it includes quite a lot of different varieties, including varieties of unknown origin.

Abutilon hybrid reaches one and a half meters in height, the stem is straight, branched, with a brown tint.

Leaves are green, spotted, ovate or three-lobed, may also be heart-shaped or resemble a maple leaf with a raised edge.

The buds are broadly lobed, bell-shaped, up to 6 cm in diameter. They germinate singly or in pairs from leaf axils. Depending on the variety, red, yellow, burgundy and scarlet shades of petals are found.

Home Care

Decorative indoor maple does not require special growing skills; even a novice grower can handle simple home care rules. Observing all the requirements for the cultivation of the rope tree, flowering can be observed already 3-4 months after seed germination.

Watering

The cable car belongs to moisture-loving plants; during the flowering period, it requires frequent and plentiful watering. The regularity of watering in the cold season depends on wintering conditions: if the room is warm and the temperature does not fall below +15 ° C, the watering conditions do not change, if the temperature is cooler, then watering is halved. In case of violation of the care of indoor maple, its excessive watering or overdrying of the soil, the bush sheds its leaves.

Air humidity

When growing a houseplant, it does not hurt to periodically spray the leaves with warm water. Although the shrub is not too demanding on air humidity, however, from a too dry and warm indoor climate, it loses its decorative effect: the leaves begin to fade, dry out and curl. This mainly happens in winter, when the ropeway is located in close proximity to the central heating batteries.

The soil

Loose, fertile, well-drained soil is required for good growth and development. Use a combination of leafy, humus, soddy soil and sand. Ready-made soil is sold in specialized stores; palm substrate is perfect for abutilon.

Lighting

Abutilon at home is able to bloom profusely only with sufficiently long and good lighting, and the amount of light should be the same throughout the entire growing period. In low light, the rope stretches out and blooms extremely poorly. It is advisable to get rid of abutilon from direct sunlight, diffused light, partial shade is better.

Indoors, southern windows are the best place in the autumn-winter period. In summer, the plant must be taken out into the open air: in the garden under the shade of trees, on a veranda or balcony.

pruning

If no measures are taken to form the crown, the plant is able to stretch up to 2 m in height. To obtain a compact, neat bush, cut the stems in half in spring and autumn. To form a more branched bush, pinch the upper parts of young shoots. If you want to form a compact tree of a certain height, leave one stem, cut off the branches.

Temperature regime

The cable car is a heat-loving plant, therefore, in summer, the air temperature should be + 22 ... + 25 ° С, in winter + 12 ... + 15 ° С. With a decrease in the optimum temperature and the presence of drafts, the plant begins to lose leaves.

top dressing

Throughout the flowering period, 1 - 2 times a month, special top dressing for flowering plants is introduced into the soil. If during the winter period the kannik continues to bloom, then the frequency of top dressing does not change.

Diseases and pests

If the growing conditions are violated, the ropeworm begins to hurt, and is also attacked by pests, such as aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, and red spider mites.

Due to the lack of lighting, abutilon leaves turn yellow and lose their color, becoming pale, while the stem stretches and thins. The solution to the problem will be to move the pot with the plant to a more lit place. Strongly elongated shoots are cut or pinched.

In the case when the leaves of abutilon turn yellow and curl, and the tips of the shoots dry out, it is necessary to remove the plant away from direct sunlight, increase the humidity of the air and the frequency of spraying the plant with water.

If the leaves have lost their elasticity and wilted, check the soil. Most likely, it is dry in the flower pot and the plant lacks moisture. To restore the container with the cable rope is immersed in water for 20-30 minutes. In the future, soil moisture should be monitored.

Abutilon pests can affect all plants or some of its parts.

The whitefly infects the lower part of the leaf, which feeds it with juice. The leaves turn yellow and fall off. The pest is able to infect the entire plant in a short time. Due to their rapid reproduction, whiteflies can be difficult to control. It is necessary to reduce soil moisture and fertilize in a timely manner. Every two or three days, the rope is sprayed with permethrin-containing preparations. In case of severe infection, Actellik or Decis is used to control insects.

When the scutellum is damaged, the leaves become stained, turn yellow and fall off. The pest secretes a sticky liquid, covering the leaves and stems of the plant. Sucking the juice from the leaves, the scale insect leads to the death of the entire plant. Helps in the fight soap solution. If most of the plants are affected, insecticide treatment helps, but it is preferable to prune the affected parts of the plant.

Why abutilon does not bloom

After the emergence of young sprouts, the first flowering is observed after 3-5 months. However, for some reason this may not happen. To the question why abutilon does not bloom, there are many answers. The main reason is the lack of lighting. For the normal development of the plant requires bright sunlight for at least two hours a day.

In early spring, before flowering, the bush must be cut in half. This will provide abundant branching, which, in turn, will allow a large number of buds to form.

For flowering indoor maple during the spring-summer period, weekly top dressing with complex fertilizer for flowering plants is necessary.

One of the reasons why abutilon does not bloom is that the flower pot is too spacious. In a wide container, instead of growing and flowering, the plant spends energy filling the space with roots. Sometimes it is enough to transplant the plant into a tighter pot to provoke flowering.

Transplant and reproduction

In early spring, before flowering, plants are transplanted into larger flower pots. Young rope plants are transplanted every year, older plants once every 2-3 years.

A new pot is chosen 5-6 cm higher and wider than the previous one, with large drainage holes at the bottom of the container to drain excess liquid.

Before planting, the flower pot is doused with boiling water to eliminate possible harmful microbes. Drainage material is placed at the bottom, then a small layer of soil for abutilon, which can be purchased at special flower shops.

The plant is taken out of the old container, paying attention to the root system. If the earth ball is completely filled with roots, then a transplant is necessary, otherwise the transplant is transferred to autumn, after the flowering period.

An earthen ball with roots is inserted into a new pot on a layer of soil, covered on the sides and top with new earth, and the soil is moistened.

Planting and caring for indoor maple is a prerequisite for good growth and development.

Abutilon can be propagated in two ways: seed and vegetative. Seeds and cuttings propagate species with a monochromatic green leaf color. Varieties with spotted coloring of the leaf plate are propagated only by cuttings.

Abutilon seeds germinate for a long time, more than three weeks, after which they quickly grow.

Growing and propagating abutilon from seeds

At home, abutilon is grown from seeds without much difficulty. To begin with, the seeds are prepared - the largest ones are selected, without any defects, dipped in a bowl of water. Floated seeds are not suitable for sowing, they have very low germination.

In early spring, seeds are sown in prepared containers with sandy-peat soil to a shallow depth of about 5-8 mm, moisten the soil, cover the containers with a transparent lid or polyethylene to create the effect of a greenhouse. It is possible to grow abutilon from seeds subject to simple rules: maintaining the temperature within + 22 ... + 28C, having a well-lit place, periodically ventilating the greenhouse and spraying the soil if necessary.

After 20 - 35 days after planting the seeds of abutilon, the first shoots appear. As soon as 3-4 true leaves are formed, young shoots are transplanted into separate containers. Due to the rapid growth in the first year of life, the cord is transplanted 2-4 times. The rules for caring for young indoor maples are no different from caring for adult plants. After 3-4 months, you can see the first flowers of abutilon grown from seeds.

To preserve the unique color of hybrid varieties, you should not resort to the seed breeding method, since only the vegetative method can convey the varietal qualities of the mother plant.

Sprouting abutilone seeds on a paper pillow

A layer of paper napkins is placed in a dry container, on which prepared seeds are laid out, covered with a transparent lid, creating greenhouse conditions. At temperatures up to +25 C, constant spraying and ventilation, the roots will appear on the third day. Sprouted abutilon from seeds is carefully transferred into special peat tablets. Over the next two weeks, maintain greenhouse mode and constant lighting. As soon as the roots appear from the peat keg, the rope plant is transplanted into separate flower pots.

Propagation of abutilon by cuttings

The fastest way to get a new plant is to propagate abutilon by cuttings. Cuttings are obtained in the spring during the pruning of the bush. Only the upper branches, up to 15 cm in length, with 3-4 buds or leaves, are cut from an adult rope, the buds are cut. Subject to the rules, the first flowering can be observed after a few months. Cutting cuttings can be done in the fall. In this case, flowering will be next year.

When propagated by cuttings, only the upper parts of the bush are used for planting, since they have not yet become stiff. A cutting is inserted into separate tall cups with moist soil, pressed well and fixed with earth. For good rooting and root growth, greenhouse conditions are necessary, namely maintaining a temperature regime of about +25 C, constant lighting, air and soil humidity. Under all conditions, the roots grow back after 2 weeks, they are transplanted into small flower pots. As soon as the young plant gets stronger, it is transplanted into a large container. Care is the same as for an adult plant.

Abutilon (Abutilon) is a small tree or shrub, the leaves are shaped like maple leaves, hence the name "indoor maple". Characteristic features of abutilon: care and maintenance at home, names, descriptions of species and varieties, photos.

Wonderful and abundant flowering, fast growing, easy to grow from seed. In the photo, the plant Abutilon: it is unpretentious in its care, although some nuances in its cultivation should still be taken into account. This flower has some advantages, good for beginner flower growers.

How to start properly caring for abutilone, creating favorable conditions for it and in a few months the houseplant in a pot will bloom ...

Thanks to its spectacular appearance, it invariably attracts the attention of everyone who sees it for the first time.

The genus Abutilon (Abutilon Mill) is about 200 species of shrubs of the Malvaceae family (Malvaceae) ... Inhabitant of the tropics and subtropics of South America, Australia, China, India.

In indoor floriculture, types of abutilon are common: Selova, Amazonian, hybrid ... The most common abutilon is hybrid, uniting three groups: A. Darwin (A. darvinii), A. painted (A. pictum = A. striatum), A. megapotamsky (A. megapotamicum).

In the photo: hybrid abutilon is available and unpretentious in care ... (Abutilon x hybridus). Hybrids of all shades of orange, yellow, red, pink and plain white. Sometimes with contrasting dark or light veins.

Names: "giving shade", "rope", "indoor maple", "Indian mallow", "Chinese lanterns". The phrase “Indian mallow” most accurately determines the nature of the plant, due to the close relationship of abutilon with mallow and hibiscus.

Due to the lowered bright flowers, reminiscent of luminous lanterns, abutilon is called Chinese lanterns. The “rope man” was nicknamed because in India coarse fibrous fiber is used for the manufacture of wickerwork, burlap, ropes.

Abutilons begin to bloom at a young age, the flowers of which barely rise above the pot. Surprisingly, the flowering is constant. This is such a cute tree with lovely flowers - the maple plant combines ease of care, compactness and high decorativeness.

When choosing “your” maple flower, you have to take into account some, sometimes barely noticeable, features inherent only in a certain variety. Consider the most suitable types and varieties of abutilon for home maintenance.

• "Bella" is a recently bred variety, characterized by small growth up to 40 cm, the presence of voluminous beautiful bright flowers of pink or golden color, about 8 cm in diameter. It blooms throughout the year. It does not need pruning and pinching;
• "Juliet" is an unpretentious species of half a meter in height, the cultivation of which does not require abundant lighting and frequent watering. Six months after sowing seeds gives bright large flowers;
• "Sello" - a type of homemade maple - abutilon, the unofficial name is "grandmother's". Abutilon sellovianum. Tall, up to 2.5 m. Flowers are drooping bells, 5-7 cm in diameter, hanging from branches on long petioles. Bright orange, lilac or red with a fine mesh of contrasting maroon veins ... The variety can be variegated - with variegated leaves.
• "Bellevue" - a hybrid mixture, flowers of abutilon with coloring under all colors of the rainbow. It is a lush bush, dressed up with bells, up to two meters high with constant pruning. In the outdoor garden they appear in all their glory, growing in a couple of months. Abutilon Flowering Maple Bellvue - (English "beautiful view of flowering maple"). Bellevue (fr. Bellevue, Bellvue "beautiful view").
• "Bella mix" - a hybrid with large flowers (up to 8 cm in diameter) of delicate tones: yellow, apricot, pink;
• "Tiger Eye" is a beautiful large shrub with orange-hued flowers and red veins, resembling a lantern.

Abutilone care at home

Many flower growers love this type of plant with leaves like a maple called indoor abutilon ... This is a beautiful shrub that is used to decorate interiors. We offer you to get acquainted with the care, simple tips are given regarding the choice of a place, the organization of an irrigation system, the application of mineral fertilizers, pruning ...

Necessary conditions - heat, light, humidity level, fertile loose earth. For all its unpretentiousness, it is afraid of drafts. From a lack of light, the abutilon flower sheds buds and leaves. It grows relatively fast. It is well restored with the loss of decorativeness, while creating good care for abutilon. Flowering: April to November.

In the photo: abutilon "indoor maple" - flowers are large, bell-shaped with many colors ... Split multi-lobed leaves with denticles along the edges resemble maple leaves - site ...

Lighting: bright light or light partial shade. Accustom to the sun's rays gradually. In case of burns, white dry spots appear on the leaves. In winter, abutilons need additional lighting.

The temperature during the growing season is + 18-25 ºC, in winter - 12-15 ºC. A prolonged drop in temperature will lead to a halt in growth and flowering, and above +30 - to abscission of buds.

Watering from the beginning of March until autumn is plentiful, in winter the top layer of the substrate between waterings is allowed to dry to a quarter of the depth. In cool conditions, it should dry more thoroughly, without leading to a complete loss of moisture. Leaf turgor is quickly restored after watering. It is impossible to leave water in the pan for a long time, the excess should be drained after 15-30 minutes.

Humidity is high, regular spraying of leaves is required. If the air is too dry, it can be affected by spider mites.

Top dressing during the period of growth and flowering - once every two weeks with mineral or organic fertilizers. Over-fertilization can stop flowering, and excess nitrogen will cause oversized leaves to grow. In winter they do not feed.

The dormant period is not pronounced, but from November to March, all processes in development slow down.

Transplantation by careful transshipment: in the spring, before the start of active growth, young abutilon plants are transplanted annually, adults - once every 3 years.

Substrate: ready-made peat universal slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5).

Like most plants, indoor abutilon is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Cuttings guarantee the preservation of varietal characteristics. A grown flower from seeds is not always identical to the mother.

Pests: thrips, spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects, aphids and whiteflies.

Diseases: root rot, leaf fall and discolouration.

Insufficiently proper care and home plant abutilon loses its decorative effect in a couple of years. The same fate awaits him if you do not use pruning. To maintain the compactness of the crown, the shoots are cut and pinched in autumn or spring to half or a third of the original length.

With a cool winter content, pruning can be done in the fall, after flowering has ended. With a warm winter content, it is advisable to carry out early in the spring, removing all weak elongated shoots. Individual branches can be pruned at any time of the year.

In the care of abutilone, it is better to focus on the condition of the plant, the size of the pot, and the temperature of the content. A small amount of soil loses moisture faster than soil in a large pot.

An exceptionally decorative indoor abutilon flower called "maple" has won recognition among flower growers and has become one of the best decorations in the house - site ...

Growing from seeds, stages of development from the appearance of a sprout to the formation of leaves.

Among the many plants that can be grown in our country in the garden, abutilon deserves attention. This culture can also be used in indoor gardening. But you need to study it very carefully before you get to work.

Description

Abutilon is not just one type of plant, but a whole genus. It includes semi-shrubs, herbs, and full-fledged shrubs, it can be both perennials and annuals. Literally, "abutilon" is translated as "forming a shadow." There is another name for it - "indoor maple", which is given to it because of the characteristic type of foliage. Abutilon fibers are traditionally used in India to make ropes and sometimes sackcloth. Therefore, sometimes abutilon is also called a rope. The leaves of this plant are quite large (up to 0.1 m long), have 3, 4 or 5 lobes. Abutilon can form flowers:

• red;
• yellow;
• white.

Only a small part of the species of this genus has been introduced into cultivation. Based on them, a number of "pure" and hybrid varieties have been created. Hybrids are characterized by:

• a wide variety of colors;
• long flowering;
• variety of geometry of flowers, foliage.

In Russia, the cultivation of abutilone helps to green rooms and rather large premises. Due to the special selection of varieties, it is possible to ensure year-round flowering of the ensemble. Those who wish to obtain an atypical variety experiment with grafting variegated types onto specimens with ordinary leaves. The total number of species is quite large. Depending on the sources, either over 100 or even over 400 species are mentioned.

Under natural conditions, abutilon inhabits the tropics and subtropics. Some of the species have mastered even the temperate climate zone. In Russia and other countries of Eurasia, you can find Theophrastus' rope-worker. It is used quite widely to obtain fibers. But not all species in this genus are suitable for this use.

Species and varieties

The attention of many gardeners was deservedly attracted by a hybrid variety. "Juliet".

The attractiveness of this plant is associated with:

• rapid development;
• unpretentiousness;
• outward grace;
• no need for intense lighting;
• luxuriant bloom.

"Juliet" forms large flowers and can grow up to 1.5 m. For a year, shoots add an average of 0.5 m. The foliage of this variety can reach 0.15 m in length. Along the perimeter, it looks like carved and has a thick green color. No wonder it is "Juliet" more often than other varieties that I call "indoor maple".

If basic care requirements are met, then a hybrid grown from seed will begin to bloom at 4 or 5 months of age. When there is enough light, flowering will continue all year round. The flowers themselves look like a small bell and are oriented downwards. The wide part has a diameter of 0.05-0.06 m. A heterogeneous color is quite possible. And pink, and orange, and even bright yellow "Juliet" looks organic.

Even more interesting is the result of crossing two multi-colored shrubs with each other. Intense illumination is contraindicated for this variety. But if you provide a relatively simple care, even beginners can get a brilliant result. Connoisseurs advise selecting only those Juliet seeds that are covered with a dark shell. Before planting, it is better to soak them in warm water or even in a growth accelerator solution.

Abutilon "Bella"- Another attractive hybrid, characterized by relatively small growth. Strictly speaking, this is not a single plant, but a whole group. The advantage of dwarf culture is that it is very easy to grow at home.

Varietal selection "Bella":

• does not exceed 0.3 m;
• forms a strongly branching crown;
• blooms for a very long time;
• forms wheel-like flowers.

Abutilon of this series, which is important, is minimally demanding for care. Florists will only need to strictly comply with the simplest requirements. After planting, it will be necessary to wait 14-20 days for seedlings. Flowering usually occurs 6 months after sowing. Abutilons "Bella" cannot grow to more than 0.4 m.

Variety "Salmon Sade" can form a lush crown if systematically pinched. The flowers of "Salmon" are painted in a delicate peach tone. The petals are covered with dark veins. The "yellow" variety grows a little higher and also requires constant pinching. The flowers acquire a pronounced lemon color.

Variety "Pink" famous for its ability to independently form a bush. The flowers are painted in a delicate pink tone. Abutilon "Red" also bushes well and gives large flowers of a thick scarlet hue. 'Vanilla' forms a lush crown and produces masses of pale yellow flowers. There are other varieties in this group, each of which is remarkable in some way.

Megapotamian (aka Amazonian) abutilon differs from other plants of this genus in the atypical appearance of inflorescences. It also blooms profusely. A branchy spreading bush has a crown drooping from above. In the wild, it can grow up to 2.5 m. The lanceolate foliage is darker than abutilons usually have.

The length of slightly pubescent leaves does not exceed 0.08 m. But it is also important to know about the variegated megapotamian abutilon. Its sheets have a characteristic yellow speck. The result is a pattern like that of first-class marble. Single small inflorescences grow from elongated pedicels. When the flowers open, they look like bright red lanterns narrowed at the bottom. From the inside, wide, egg-yolk-like petals are visible. They are shaped like bells. In turn, a purple-lilac column emerges from the middle of the flower.

"Amazonian" abutilone is derived from plants found in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay. Therefore, it is very important for this culture to maintain a warm and humid atmosphere. In warm regions, the variety is very popular and allows you to achieve an impressive effect when gardening outdoors. You can use this plant in ampelous compositions. But in any case, you will have to constantly spray the leaves so that they do not dry out.

Some flower growers prefer to grow abutilon "Organza". This plant is ideally adapted for home cultivation. It produces bell-like flowers. They can be placed singly or in pairs. Normally, the flower is drooping, its diameter does not exceed 0.07 m.

Flowers "Organza" have a clearly visible core. Veins are clearly visible on wide petals. Inflorescences are:

• white;
• pink;
• golden;
• orange color.

An additional charm is that each of these colors can have a different degree of brightness. It is not difficult to pick up "Organza" with a very light and concentrated color. Like "Juliet", this hybrid is relatively short and can bloom for a long time. The combination of properties makes "Organza" in demand by Russian gardeners and flower growers.

The trunk of a plant can form one or more stems. Its height is a maximum of 0.6 m. As it grows older, the middle shoot becomes like a tree, but the branches on the sides remain flexible. The foliage differs from ordinary abutilons in that it is slightly rounded. The leaf is dark green, has rich veins. The wide variety of abutilons made breeders try to combine their traits in one plant. This is how the Bellevue blend was born. Varietal mix is ​​not in vain called "beautiful view." These are plants that form bells 0.05 m in diameter. At the same time, the main stem is compact, and the distance between the internodes is small.

Flower growers must be prepared that it will not work to predict the exact color of the Bellevue mixture. Different shades of reds, yellows and oranges can occur, but most often abutilon grows in one color. Since the petals of the mix are heavy, the inflorescences sometimes hang. The opening of the buds is completely impossible, and even when flowering, the shape of the bell remains unchanged. Abutilon of this group almost does not have to be pinched. Like other representatives of the genus, Bellevue is grown without any problems. You also need to take care of good lighting.

Abutilon "Darwin" has another name, which is less known - Charles' rope. This variety was introduced into culture very early. Based on it, many hybrids were created. Since 2012, this botanical plant has been considered a representative of the genus Callianthe. Plant "Darwin" forms perennial sprawling shrubs. Wild specimens are found only in Brazil. They can rise up to 3 m, but under cultural conditions they do not exceed 1 m. Short hairs develop on the stems. The pubescent foliage is connected to oblong petioles. Leaf blades are very dense, they have stiff hairs. Shoots from above look like three blades. From below, they are more like 5 or 7 blades. The flowers of "Darwin" are large, among them there are both single and grouped with 2 or 3 buds per inflorescence.

Sometimes 10 seeds are present in the fruit, but usually there are fewer. Flowering plant in pots from April to September. Like other abutilons, Darwin's rope is easy to care for. However, timely pruning is very important. Without it, you can not achieve a beautiful crown.

"Cold Heart" is an abutilon with a well-formed bush. The height can vary from 0.3 to 0.5 m. Flowering occurs moderately, but due to intense lighting, it can be strengthened and extended. The fading parts acquire a colder color, and in the middle part the flower is white or painted in a light pink tone. Dark buds in tone resemble overripe cherries. This domestic hybrid was bred quite recently (introduced into culture since 2013). The dark crimson petals look very attractive, as do the emerald five-lobed leaves. The leaf length ranges from 0.05 to 0.07 m.

As for the "Vine-leaved" plants, they are sprawling bushes up to 1.5 m in height. The stems stand straight and have a fairly pronounced edge. The foliage of the "Vine-leaved" abutilon can reach 0.15 m in length. It has a bright green color and is covered with soft villi. This variety blooms in May. Single buds have large blue or lavender corollas. Dark veins run along them, forming a kind of grid.

"The Little Prince" can hardly be called small in fact- in pots, it usually rises to 0.9 m. At the same time, some of the specimens can be compared in height with the "Vine-leaved" variety. Large foliage of bright green color has an almost round shape. Botanists attribute it to the five-lobed type. When the "Little Prince" forms bushes, they include a mass of strong and resilient shoots. From above, they droop, which allows you to form a spreading crown. Flowers, which have a length of up to 0.05 and a diameter of up to 0.07 m, also wilt. These golden, white or red bells are decorated with yellow stamens. Flowering lasts from mid-May until about October 15.

Spotted abutilon forms shrubs with short shoots. They may be soft or partially lignified. Heart-like leaves grow on long cuttings. Palmate-lobed foliage is not pubescent, has white spots of uneven color. Spotted abutilon blooms in August and September.

Landing

To successfully grow "Cold Heart" or any other variety (type) of abutilone, you must first choose it correctly. Be sure to take into account all the nuances of the conditions of detention. You can not buy planting material in unverified places. When indoor maple has just been brought from the store, it is put into the light for 2-3 days, and then transplanted into a flowerpot. The planting tank should be slightly larger than the shipping pot.

If sowing seeds was chosen, then the grown abutilons should be transplanted into pots one at a time or 3-4 pieces each. At the same time, the size of the pots and the purpose of cultivation are taken into account. Important: the rooted cuttings are treated in the same way. Seed-grown specimens can only be planted towards the end of spring. But those that have developed from cuttings are usually planted at the beginning.

Soil requirements are not too strict - the main thing is that it be fertile. Usually use turf and leaf soil, mixed in equal amounts. Instead of turf, coniferous land can also be taken. And some flower growers do it even easier: they take simple garden soil and add a little humus to it. Soil should be used only from proven sites, free from microscopic organisms or pests. Regardless of this, the soil must be sterilized. Always add to it:

• a small amount of coarse sand;
• coconut substrate;
• peat.

Care

Abutilon at home requires active watering when the heat comes. In the spring, radical pruning along the crown is mandatory. It is recommended to put the plant in light partial shade. But if necessary, "maple" will be able to hold out for several hours in the open sun. During the summer months, the culture is often kept outdoors. However, in this case, it is placed where strong winds do not blow and it does not rain. During the winter months, the ropeway will have to be illuminated. According to experienced flower growers, it is better to use fluorescent lamps.

Abutilon can develop at any humidity. However, in cold weather, if the batteries dry it out, twisting and even shedding of leaves can occur. It is easy to prevent this: either by moving to a more favorable place, or by daily spraying. Sometimes they put a wet cloth on the heating radiators. Some growers fill the tray with sphagnum, which is constantly moistened. Indoor maples in the summer months should be at temperatures up to 25 degrees. If it gets hotter, you will have to water the plant more actively.

In winter, abutilon should be kept at 12-15 degrees. Overheating of the air can cause foliage to drop. Irrigation should be plentiful from March to almost October. Overwatering, like overdrying, can cause leaves to fall off. For a more accurate dosage, water is poured not in one go, but in two - in the morning and in the evening. It is recommended to add a small amount of citric acid to the water. Abutilons value slightly acidic soil. In winter, watering should be extremely small. It is necessary to feed the plant from spring to October. At the same time, mineral and organic mixtures alternate.

Top dressing should be done on the leaves. Mineral fertilizers are used for it, which are dissolved to a low concentration. When abutilon is planted or transplanted, rotten compost can be put inside the pot. In this case, organic mixtures are applied after about 6 months. It is very convenient. It is recommended to focus on your own feelings when caring for abutilone. The optimal range of air humidity for this plant is the same as for humans. Therefore, there will be no errors. In winter, artificial insolation should bring daylight hours to at least 10 hours a day. During the summer months, it is advised not to keep the plant in the sun for more than 2 hours a day.

The ideal place for pots is the northeast or northwest. If it is necessary to keep the rope-worker in a room facing south only, it is moved away from the window. It is important to monitor the condition of the earth so that it does not dry out excessively. You can use for irrigation only water that has passed through the filter or settled for at least a day. Before flowering, complex fertilizers are used on average once every 8 days. As soon as the tying of buds begins, they use a special top dressing for flowering crops. The application mode does not change. In the summer, the intervals between top dressing are increased to 14 days. In November and February, fertilizers are applied monthly. Sometimes top dressing is completely suspended to allow the flower to relax.

Reproduction methods

Propagating and rooting abutilon is quite simple. To do this, use the vegetative method or seeds. The cuttings are cut from the top with a length of 0.1-0.15 m. The buds will have to be cut off. Basically, rooting is done in water. Occasionally, when propagated by cuttings, planting material is immediately planted in the soil. When preparing the soil, it is necessary to mix equal volumes of peat and sand. Additionally, activated charcoal is used. A portion of coal is pre-moistened. Some farmers add a growth stimulant to the water.

In order for the cuttings to be successful, a miniature greenhouse is built on top. As soon as the roots appear, you can transplant the plants into pots. A similar option is suitable for cultivation in the spring. The seed method is used mainly in winter. If you sow seeds in January, a flowering plant will be grown by summer. The problem with the seed method is that they take a long time to germinate. Even under the most favorable conditions, it will take at least 20 days. And sometimes you have to wait as long as three months. Soaking for several hours in warm water helps. There, the seeds are kept until they swell, and then they are sown on moist soil and sprinkled with earth.

Next, you need to water the plantings. Sometimes containers are covered with plastic wrap or glass. In this case, the plant needs to be ventilated. As soon as shoots appear, the shelter must be removed. The container is placed in a bright place and wait for the end of the shoots to exit.

As soon as a couple of true leaves come out - it's time to dive abutilon. Seating in pots is carried out when they reach a height of 0.05 m. It is not necessary to postpone this manipulation excessively. The roots develop very quickly and will be closely intertwined. Delay in transplanting may result in the roots needing to be torn. For preliminary germination of seeds, use cotton pads or napkins. They are laid out in a shallow container and covered with water. Discs and napkins should be completely saturated with water, but it should not stagnate at the bottom of the container. It is advised to germinate abutilon with the help of melted or settled warm water. It is necessary to keep the seeds laid out inside under a film or under a transparent lid.

The container should be at a temperature of approximately 25 degrees. Roots should appear in 4-8 days. In the case of planting seeds in peat discs, they should not be deeply buried. It is best if they are covered with only 0.002-0.003 m of soil. The substrate will allow acclimatizing planting material in a short time. Cuttings are preferable to the seed method, at least in that it is possible to preserve all the valuable qualities of the original plant. For beginner flower growers, it is quite valuable and time saving. Cuttings must be freed from the lower tier of foliage, from all buds and flowers. Root rot can be prevented by adding activated charcoal to the water. If not, you can put crushed charcoal.

The roots should reach a length of 0.03-0.07 m. Only after that, abutilon is transplanted to the final place of cultivation. Young specimens should be planted in pots with a diameter of 0.07 m (sometimes a little more). Below, a powerful drainage layer is certainly prepared. A little soil is poured over it, into which the seedling is carefully moved. Powdering with a wet substrate is done as carefully as possible. Otherwise, the fragile root system may be broken. Additional soil compaction is not performed. The end of the adaptation of the cutting is indicated by the release of young foliage. When the growing season is over, the rooted plant can already be used to obtain planting material.

Diseases and pests

The soft foliage of abutilons makes them a desirable target for spider mites and scale insects. If an infection occurs, you will have to use a solution of tobacco. Additionally, the leaves are washed with warm soapy foam. To wash it off, use warm water. Not bad helps and such an old remedy as an infusion of horse sorrel. The same infusion helps to prevent the attack of pests. Healthy abutilons are sprayed every 14 days. If there are a lot of insects or it is impossible to remove them by conventional means, branded insecticides are used.

Stretching stems indicate that they lack light. Folding foliage means that abutilon is blown by drafts or it is supercooled.

Leaf fall is provoked by a lack of water and nutrients. If the leaves are covered with a crispy brownish border, the soil is drying out. Edge curling is due to over-illumination. Paleness, on the other hand, is due to a lack of light. When the leaves turn yellow, this is due to dry air or extreme heat. Flower growers sometimes use shampoos for animals from spider mites. When the leaves are covered with a white coating on top (gradually turning brown), there is an infection with powdery mildew. If the infection intensifies, you can find a raid on:

• bud;
• stem;
• flowers.

In such cases, diseased leaves are removed. After that, the affected specimens of abutilon are pollinated with sulfur. Of the synthetic drugs, "Fundazol" and "Baycheton" are recommended.

Abutilon, plastered with white midges, is struck by the whitefly. You can get rid of aggressive pests with a stream of water, after which a suitable insecticide is used. After some time, the processing is checked again. Repeated sessions lead until they succeed. It is recommended to ventilate the rooms more often, lower the temperature in the room. The fight against aphids occurs in a similar way. First, the pests are washed off with water, and then the plant is treated with insecticides. When infected with a mealybug, alcohol is used. It must be applied with a cotton swab. When such treatment is performed, branded insecticides must be used. If most of the plant is affected, it will have to be destroyed.

Cyclamen mites congregate on the underside of the leaves, and their colonies resemble dust accumulations. But this "dust" destroys leaves and buds. Sick parts are destroyed. Abutilon itself is washed with insecticidal soap. If the infection is very strong, use Actellik. Sooty fungus infection can be avoided by controlling other pests. The plaque is removed manually, and then "Decis" or "Karbofos" is used.

To strengthen the immunity of abutilone, it is necessary to deal with a lack of magnesium. This trace element is critical for the plant. Its deficiency is manifested in the yellowing of the edges of the leaf plate. But still, the veins and the areas adjacent to them retain their green color. If magnesium is not enough further, the sheet is tucked down from the edges. It becomes convex, and the tissue dies. When there is not enough iron, the leaf turns yellow between the veins, and the veins themselves retain a green color. For treatment, it is necessary to use "Ferrovit" or the drug "Fe +".

A large, luxurious plant with bright, slightly bell-shaped flowers and large carved leaves - this abutilon, known, perhaps, to all lovers of indoor flora. Due to its spectacular appearance, abutilon invariably attracts the attention of everyone who sees it for the first time. And the shrub pleases its owners with almost year-round flowering.

It should be noted the fact that any grower, even a beginner, can handle the cultivation of this popular plant. Abutilon breeds easily and does not require special conditions.

In addition to the official, abutilon has many names associated with both its appearance and properties:

• Cable car. Some varieties are used industrially to make burlap, rope, and cordage. For these purposes, whole plantations of the plant are grown in China.
• Indoor or home maple. This name recalls the similarity of the shape of the leaves of abutilon with maple
• Chinese lantern. The flowers of certain varieties are similar to the red Chinese lanterns that adorn the streets of the Celestial Empire.

The scientific name of the plant is derived from two Latin words, translated as "giving shade." Indeed, in its natural environment, the rope tree reaches an impressive size, and under the canopy of its large leaves, you can hide from the heat.

According to the generally accepted botanical classification, abutilon (lat. Abutilon) is a genus of evergreen plants of the mallow family (lat. Malvaceae). The closest relatives of the ropeworm, belonging to the same family, are the well-known mallow, stockrose and. Among the representatives of the genus there are grasses, shrubs, shrubs and even small trees. In the wild, abutilon can be seen mainly in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate: Southeast Asia, South America, Australia, Africa. And only one type of cable-carrier - Theophrastus' cable-carrier, which has no decorative value, grows on the territory of Russia in natural conditions.

In general, all types of abutilon are large branching plants with differently colored leaves, having from 3 to 5 lobes, the maximum length of which is 10-15 cm. Bell-shaped, funnel-shaped or wheel-shaped flowers can be either single or collected in small inflorescences, and their color, depending on the variety, varies from light, cream, to deep purple.

In indoor floriculture, abutilon is most often grown as a flowering crop. Separate (variegated) varieties are used as decorative leafy plants. Due to its large size, the rope walker is not well suited for keeping in small rooms, but it fits perfectly into the interiors of large halls and living rooms. In addition, indoor maple is quite appropriate in office and public spaces. And in the warm season, the plant can be taken out into the open air, decorating loggias, balconies and verandas with it.

Species and varieties

In the natural environment, at least two hundred species of abutilon can be found, but only a small part of them is cultivated in indoor floriculture. This is basically:

Abutilon Darwin(lat. Abutilon darwinii). Tall sprawling appearance with large flowers and long shoots covered with hairs. The carved leaves also have a short edge and reach 20 cm in length. Pink flowers can be either single or collected in small inflorescences.

Abutilon Sello(Abutilon sellowianum) can often be found as a houseplant. This is a large (up to 2 m), low-branching plant with pubescent shoots and leaves. The flowers are orange with dark red veins.

Abutilon grapevine(lat. Abutilon vitifolium) one of the highest indoor representatives of the genus. Due to its large size (about 2.5 m) it is more suitable for greenhouses and winter gardens. Flowers are collected in inflorescences of 2-4 pieces, the petals have a delicate lilac shade.

A. Darwin, A. Sello, A. vine

Abutilon megapotamus or Amazonian (lat. Abutilon megapotamicum). It has an unusual shape of single flowers, similar to lanterns. The leaves are elongated, rich green in color, the shoots are drooping, slightly pubescent. One of the advantages of the species is almost year-round flowering.

Abutilon spotted, motley or striped (lat. Abutilon pictum) is distinguished by an unusual color of leaves and flowers: light strokes on the leaf plate and a bright mesh on the petals. Such patterns on the plant are the result of selection, therefore spotted abutilon does not reproduce by seeds.

Abutilon hybrid(lat. Abutilon hybridum). An artificially bred hybrid of several natural species. Depending on the variety, it can have a very different color of flowers and bright or dark green leaves, both maple-shaped and heart-shaped. Differs in fast growth, high survival rate, good bushiness. Perfectly suited for indoor growing.

A. megapotamsky, A. spotted, A. hybrid

Based on the abutilons described above, a huge number of varieties have been bred, different in size, structure, color of flowers and leaves. It is probably impossible to list them all, it is worth mentioning only the most popular:

Yellow and orange abutilones

• "Moonchimes" (Moonbell) is a medium-sized (up to 50 cm) plant with large yellow funnel-shaped flowers.
• "Apollo" (Apollo) - lemon-yellow inflorescences against a background of rich green foliage.
• "Golden Fleece" (Golden Fleece) - a large shrub, reaching 2 m in height, with rich yellow flowers. The shape of the petals is round, the sepals have a double color: purple-burgundy on the outside and yellow on the inside.

A. "Moonchimes", A. "Apollo", A. "Golden Fleece"

• "Orange Cascade" (Orange cascade) - a low representative of the genus with graceful bright orange flowers in the form of bells.
• "Orange Hot Lava" (Hot lava) - abutilon with original funnel-shaped flowers of an unusual color: bright orange petals with veins and maroon bracts.
• "Orange King" (Orange King) - a hybrid variety with large flowers of a bright orange hue, the petals of which are decorated with a grid of maroon veins.

A. "Orange Cascade", A. "Orange Hot Lava", A. "Orange King"

Red and pink abutilones

• "Nabob" (Nabob) - a spectacular tall (up to 2 m) variety from a hybrid indoor maple with dark red flowers. Petals are decorated with convex veins.
• "Ashford Red" (Ashford red) is a very tall shrub, the maximum size of which is 4-5 m, with large flowers of a rich red hue and large light green leaves.
• "Vesuvius Red" (Red Vesuvius) - is distinguished by an unusual shape of flowers, similar to an erupting volcano. The color of the petals is bright red with veins, the bracts are burgundy-brown.
• "Red Princess" (Red Princess) - large flowers of deep red-burgundy color, resembling mallow in shape.

A. "Nabob", A. "Ashford Red", A. "Vesuvius Red"

• 'Pink Parasol' (Pink Umbrella) is a low shrub with medium-sized lilac-pink flowers and dark green, velvety leaves.
• "Mobile Pink" (Changeable pink) - stands out for the unusual shape of wide-open flowers with a slightly wavy edge of the petals. The color of the buds is pale pink with a peach tint.
• "Victorian Lady" (Victorian lady) - luxurious rich pink double flowers visually resemble a rose. One of the most unusual and spectacular varieties of abutilon.

A. "Pink Parasol", A. "Mobile Pink", A. "Victorian Lady"

White and variegated abutilons

• "Silver Belle" (Silver Beauty) - a hybrid with arrow-shaped dark green leaves and snow-white flowers in yellow sepals.
• "White King" (White King) - beautiful drooping cream-colored flowers against a background of light green leaves.
• "Album" is a variety of grape-leaved abutilon, reaching an impressive size (up to 3 m) with large white flowers collected in lush inflorescences.

A. "Silver Belle", A. "White King", A. "Album"

• "Souvenir de Bonn" (Souvenir de Bonn) is an original variety, the main decoration of which is graceful carved leaves with a dark green center and a light edge.
• "Salmon Variegated" (Salmon variegated) - the leaf plate is decorated with randomly arranged light spots on a dark background. Flowers are bell-shaped, salmon-colored.
• "Savitzii" (Savitsky) - a low shrub with small leaves. The main area of ​​the leaf plate is colored creamy green, in the middle of the leaf there are large bright green spots.

A. "Souvenir de Bonn", A. "Salmon Variegated", A. "Savitzii"

Abutilone care at home

For all its unpretentiousness, abutilon, like the rest of the southern flora contained in our homes, needs good lighting, sufficient watering and warmth. However, there are nuances in caring for indoor maple that novice flower growers often miss. How to create optimal conditions for a luxurious green pet and make it bloom often?

Temperature and lighting

Abutilon, as a resident of the tropics, can grow and develop only in warmth, but too high temperatures, as well as too low, are harmful to him. Thus, the optimum temperature in summer is about 24°C. Indoor maple does not have a pronounced dormant period, however, in winter the air should be slightly cooler - 14-17 ° С.

If the plant is kept outdoors in warm weather, you must carefully monitor the weather. As soon as the thermometer drops to 12-15 ° C, abutilon should be brought into the room. And the maximum winter temperature that the cable car can withstand is about 10 ° C.

Both cold and heat can adversely affect the health of the plant: too low temperatures will provoke leaf fall and rot, and too high will lead to the loss of buds and the cessation of flowering.

Lighting is an important parameter for growing indoor maple: there must be enough sunlight. It is better to place abutilon on the southern, southwestern or southeastern window sills with good lighting. And you can shade the plant only on the hottest summer days. The grower must remember: the more light abutilon receives, the more magnificent it will bloom.

[!] The only exceptions are variegated (variegated) varieties of rope. In too bright sun, the pattern of the leaf plate burns out, so these varieties of indoor maple should be grown on eastern or western windows.

In autumn, winter and early spring, abutilons suffer from a lack of sun. To correct the situation, you can organize additional illumination of the plant with fluorescent lamps.

Watering and humidity

Abutilones are among those plants that do not accumulate moisture either in the roots or in the leaves. In their homeland, in the tropics, rains are quite frequent, and there is no need for water supplies. That is why at home watering indoor maple should be given special attention. It is necessary to water the cable car quite often and intensively, preventing the earthen coma from completely drying out.

You can determine the need for moisture by the surface of the substrate - if the topsoil is dry, you can water it. At the same time, in summer, on hot sunny days, you need to water more often, and less often in cold and cloudy weather.

At any time of the year, water for irrigation should be soft and warm. Tap water should be defended, filtered, and also diluted with boiling water up to 30 ° C.

[!] To acidify the soil, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the water for irrigation.

Indoor maple prefers high humidity. This can be achieved by spraying the leaves of the plant, as well as placing a rope next to containers filled with water or wet pebbles. Abutilon especially needs spraying on hot summer days, however, to reduce evaporation from the surface of the leaves, the procedure should be carried out in such conditions only early in the morning or late in the evening. Water for spraying, as well as for irrigation, should be separated and warm.

Soil and top dressing

To grow indoor maple, a loose (water and breathable) substrate with a slightly acidic reaction (pH - 5-5.7) is required. Of the purchased options, a universal nutrient soil or a special soil for abutilone is a good fit.

The soil mixture can be made independently by mixing:

• 2 pieces of leaf land
• 2 parts of sod land
• 0.5 parts of sand
• 0.5 parts perlite or vermiculite.

In addition, a little coco-soil and crushed coal can be added to the substrate.

Do not forget a sufficient (at least a quarter of the total volume of dishes) drainage layer, which may consist of expanded clay, broken bricks or clay shards.

Top dressing of abutilon depends on the time of year and the phase of plant development. So in the spring, during the growing season, fertilizers are needed (for decorative and deciduous), and during the period of laying buds and flowering - those in which (for flowering ones). In autumn and winter, it is not necessary to feed abutilons, at this time the plant is resting.

Pruning (formation) and flowering

The cable car belongs to the group of plants that develop rapidly even indoors, and the growth of individual species reaches 50 cm per year. Of course, this process must be controlled, achieving the desired shape and height of the shrub.

Pruning indoor maple should be carried out after the end of flowering in the fall or before the start of the growing season, in early spring, cutting off the shoots by about a third of their length. This will allow not only to regulate the size of the plant, but also to achieve more lush flowering - buds rarely appear on elongated old branches. Also, dry and broken branches and shoots that thicken the crown, that is, growing inwards, are subject to complete removal.

Young rope shoots begin to form when the sprout reaches a height of 20 cm. In order for the plant to take the form of a sprawling shrub in the future, pinch the top of the main shoot, thus achieving the development of side branches. In addition, fragile sprouts must be tied to a support.

Despite the fact that some varieties of abutilon are able to bloom year-round, the standard flowering time for indoor maple is from early May to late October. It happens that at home the rope does not bloom at all, in this case there is a high probability of errors in its content, the most common of which are:

• lack of lighting
• violation of the regime of watering and fertilizing
• ignoring crown pruning.

However, in the hands of an experienced and caring grower, indoor maple always blooms luxuriantly and very beautifully.

Transplant and reproduction

The need to transplant abutilon depends on the age of the shrub. Young, actively developing plants should be replanted every year, older ones - no more than once every 2-3 years. New dishes for planting indoor maple should be only a few centimeters larger than the previous one: too much free land will adversely affect flowering.

The standard time for transplanting abutilon is early spring, before the start of the growing season.

Under room conditions, abutilon is able to multiply in two ways:

• seeds,
• cuttings.

Reproduction by seeds

Before planting abutilon seeds covered with a hard shell, they must be processed: washed, soaked in a stimulant and scarified. For scarification, sandpaper with a medium grain is suitable, and the action itself must be performed very carefully, trying not to damage the embryo inside the seed. Treated factory seeds do not need to be scarified.

Seeds are planted in a small greenhouse, pre-filled with a wet peat-sand mixture to a depth of 2-3 mm, which is placed in a warm, well-lit place. In addition, special peat tablets can be used for planting. Further care consists in daily spraying of the substrate and airing the greenhouse.

After the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they can be picked and planted in separate containers.

[!] Hybrid, especially variegated, abutilons should not be propagated by seeds. With this method, varietal qualities are not transferred from the mother plant.

Reproduction by cuttings

Cuttings of abutilon are best done in the spring, during the growing season. The cuttings are cut from young shoots, their length is 10-15 cm. Extra leaves should be removed, leaving only 2-3 upper leaves, and the cut should be dipped in any root formation stimulator. Then the prepared cuttings, like the seeds, are planted in a greenhouse filled with a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions. About a month later, after the seedlings take root, they should be planted in separate pots.

Diseases, pests and growing problems

As mentioned above, abutilon is a very unpretentious home plant, rarely sick and not subject to insect attacks. However, from time to time some pests can attack indoor maple, especially aphids, spider mites and. In the fight against them, modern chemicals will help - insecticides, which should be used strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The main diseases of abutilon are associated, as a rule, with improper care of the plant. Inexperienced flower growers may face several problems:

Yellowing of indoor maple leaves. If the veins remain green, and the leaf plate between them has changed color, the reason is most likely. In this case, iron-containing preparations should be used, for example Ferrovit

Abutilon leaves turn yellow and then fall off. These are symptoms of a general mineral deficiency. The plant must be fed with complex fertilizer.

The edge of the leaf plate dries up or whole leaves, unopened buds fly around. Most likely, the matter is insufficient watering and excessively dry air. Attention should be paid to the irrigation regime and atmospheric humidification. Another reason for this phenomenon is the sharp temperature changes from cold to hot and vice versa.