Abutilon
While Abutilon, aka “Flowering Maple” or “Chinese Lantern”, is often seen as a landscape plant in our area the genus has a prominent place in houseplant history, having been extremely popular during the Victorian era, and many cultivars are well suited for growing indoors. They’re in the hibiscus family and have attractive, bell-shaped flowers and lush foliage that will add a unique shape to your indoor greenspaces. Here’s a brief overview of how to grow Abutilons indoors:
1. Plant Selection:
Choose a suitable Abutilon variety for indoor cultivation. Ideally opt for a variety that stays small. This is by no means limiting as there are numerous cultivars with varying flower colors, leaf shapes, and even variegation among smaller varieties. Even with a smaller plant you may need to do some trimming a few times a year to keep your Abutilon nicely shaped.
2. Light Requirements:
Abutilon plants thrive in bright, indirect light. Keep them in a south or west-facing window. If natural light is insufficient you can supplement them with fluorescent or LED grow lights.
3. Temperature and Humidity:
Normal house temperatures are ideal for growing Abutilon and they can handle cooler temps than most houseplants, so if you have them in a window that gets particularly cool at night it should not be a concern. Abutilon prefers moderate humidity levels – low humidity can cause leaf drop and when coupled with low air flow it can attract white fly to this plant. If you summer your Abutilons outside be sure to keep an eye out for bugs when you bring them back in.
4. Soil and Potting:
Use a well-draining potting mix that is rich in organic matter. As with most of our plants we recommend keeping it in a plastic, draining nursery pot set inside a cache pot so that you can water it liberally at the sink and then place it back in the cache pot where humidity will remain available to the plant is it drains out excess water.
5. Watering:
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, much like you would do for a tropical hibiscus. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Typically this means watering once a week, though humidity conditions in your home may require more frequent watering. Abutilons may lose leaves if they become too dry but they rebound quickly when proper conditions are restored.
6. Fertilization:
Feed your Abutilon with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer) every 4-6 weeks. Reduce or suspend fertilization during the fall and winter when the plant is not actively growing. Alternately, you can avoid the hassle of regular fertilizing by using a time-release fertilizer granule. We carry 270 day Nutricote granules that you need apply only once a year at the start of the growing season. These dissolve over the growing period to keep your plant evenly fertilized without the extra effort of making up a fertilizer solution. Regardless of how you fertilize, be careful to apply the proper dosing for the plant size lest the fertilizer burn the plant leaves (if you see browning tips on your leaves this may be a sign of fertilizer burn).
7. Pruning: Prune your Abutilon regularly to maintain a compact and bushy shape. Pinch back the tips to encourage branching, and remove any dead or yellowing leaves. This will also help promote more prolific flowering. As we noted above, chose a variety that is appropriately sized for your space lest pruning become burdensome.
8. Enjoy: A happy Abutilon can be in bloom for many months on end.
Abutilon Souvenir du Bon, a variegated Abutilon
