Planting, growing and caring for Chinese lantern

Presentation of the abutilon

What light and exposure are ideal for the abutilon?

Abutilon is a very flowering plant which appreciates being installed in a sunny location, but without being under the burning sun. This means that if you live in a region with a very hot climate in summer, it is better to anticipate the heat of the summer sun and install it in partial shade.

What is the ideal temperature for abutilon?

Abutilon is a plant moderately hardy which cannot be cultivated in open ground in all regions of France. Indeed, depending on the species, it can only withstand temperatures of -5 to -10°C.

In addition to fearing frost, it is also sensitive to cold drafts. For all these reasons, it is preferable to grow it in a container or pot in regions where winters are not always mild. This will allow you to shelter it from the arrival of the bad season.

Watering the abutilon

Pot cultivation

In summer, you must make sure to water it every day. In spring and autumn, it will be possible to space out waterings, but paying attention to never let the root ball dry out completely. In winter, space out the watering even further so that you only water it once every 10 days or even every 15 days.

Cultivation in open ground

During the summer, carry out copious and regular watering so that the ground always stays cool, but not soggy. During other seasons, no watering is necessary, ambient humidity will do what is necessary. Once well established, the abutilon can withstand brief episodes of drought.

Ideal atmospheric humidity

This plant needs a happy medium, because it is sensitive to excess humidity, but also to prolonged drought. If it is grown in soil that is not sufficiently drained, for example, you may notice the appearance of powdery mildew, which is manifested by the deposit of a white felt on the leaves.

What types of soil and fertilizer for your abutilon?

Earth

Quite accommodating, it is a plant that thrives in all types of soil as long as the soil is fresh and draining.

Fertilizer

Whether in the ground or in a container, adding fertilizer will allow you to benefit from faster growth.

• In the open ground: abutilon needs the soil to be regularly enriched. To do this, add fertilizer every month when the plant flowers. You can then opt for a liquid fertilizer added to the watering water. In autumn, scrape the earth around your plant, then place well-decomposed compost. In winter, it will be necessary to stop the contributions.
• Pot : during the growth period of your plant, add fertilizer for flowering plants every 15 days.

Planting and repotting abutilon

Planting

In the open ground: choose a location that is both sunny and sheltered, then proceed as follows:

• Dig a hole 3 to 5 times the size of the root ball.
• While you prepare the hole, let the plant soak in water to moisten the root ball.
• Install a layer of gravel at the bottom of the hole to promote drainage.
• Place the plant in the hole, taking care not to bury the crown, that is to say the base of the plant.
• Fill the hole with soil mixed with ripe compost and sand.
• Finally, pack carefully and water.

Pot : After choosing a pot that is large enough and has a hole in the bottom, proceed as follows:

• Place a layer of drainage, such as clay balls, in the bottom of the pot.
• Before putting the plant in the pot, place a first layer of substrate over the drainage bed. The substrate can be a mixture composed of half soil from your garden, and equal parts potting soil and compost for the remaining half.
• Install the plant and finish filling the pot with this same substrate.

Repotting

If you grow your abutilon in a pot, plan to repot it each year in spring in a larger pot and in a new fertile substrate.

How to propagate abutilon?

Abutilon is a plant that lends itself easily to cuttings.

To do this, two techniques are possible:

1. You can simply take young stems and put them in a glass of water until roots appear. Then simply put these cuttings in a pot, then, possibly, in the ground when the young plant has had time to harden off.
2. You can also take a stem which has 5 buds, then press the equivalent of 3 buds into a mixture of sand and potting soil. You must then ensure that the substrate is kept moist until roots have formed. To encourage and accelerate rooting, you can opt for smothered cultivation by covering the pot with a cover or putting it in a mini-greenhouse. All you then have to do is transplant your cuttings.

How to prune abutilon?

Annual pruning is necessary in spring before the start of flowering. It will allow you to maintain a compact shape and encourage the start of new shoots. To do this :

• Remove dead branches and those that are tangled, so as to ventilate the center of the plant.
• Cut the remaining stems by a third.

If frost has damaged your plant, do not hesitate to carry out severe pruning. This will help him get back on track.

Cleaning the plant

Simply remove the faded flowers as you go and pinch off the young shoots to help with branching. For climbing plants, secure the branches to a support as they grow.

Abutilon species and varieties: there are many species

The Abutilon genus includes around 150 herbaceous species, both climbing and shrubby, but also numerous hybrids. We can cite, among others:

• abutilon striatum;
• abutilon megapotamicum;
• abutilon indicum;
• abutilon vitifolium;
• etc.

The 6 points to remember about abutilon

• Abutilon is a very aesthetic plant because of its generous flowering in the form of Chinese lanterns.
• Easy to maintainit requires little care.
• This plant is not very hardyso you must ensure that you protect it if necessary.
• This plant is greedywhich involves providing it with enough nutrients for its proper development.
• The abutilon needs to be installed in the sun to grow quickly.
• It likes fresh, drained soil.