Professional care tips for
Abutilon – Flowering Maple

+++ Care tips for plants in pots or containers on the balcony and terrace, in the winter garden or in the garden +++ Detailed care descriptions from FLORA TOSKANA  +++ 

Location in summer: Flowering Maples are best positioned in a semi-shady place, because their high water requirements can be more easily met there than in full sun. Although full sun does enhance flowering, there should be no excessive heat, especially in the root area, as it reduces root activity. As a result, the shoots and leaves are insufficiently supplied with water from the roots, although the soil is moist, and deficiency symptoms occur (flowering stops, leaves turn yellow).

Location in winter:Bright at 15° C (+/- 5° C). Depending on the light and heat supply, only part of the foliage is lost. But even losing all their leaves is not a problem, because new foliage growth starts from April/May. Short-term minimum temperature 0° C.

Care in summer: Always keep the soil moist. Short-term wetness is tolerated, repeated dryness causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and flowers to stop flowering (see also "location in summer"). The high requirement of nutrients is covered weekly with a liquid fertilizer for flowering potted plants or with a six-month long-term fertilizer in March, and a second feed in summer.

Care in winter: Maintain even soil moisture, but reduce the amount and frequency according to the foliage loss. Note: Wet roots tolerate less cold than slightly moist roots. Make sure the plants have 'warm feet' and do not overwinter them on cold stone floors, but place them slightly elevated from the ground. Do not fertilize from October/November.

Pruning: To keep the crowns bushy, consistent pruning is necessary. Most producers treat Flowering Maples with compressing agents that slow their growth and keep them unnaturally compact (as a matter of principle, we do not use these agents in our nursery). As soon as these agents wear off, Flowering Maples form longer and longer shoots, as is their nature. To maintain compact crowns, light pruning is advised every 4 to 6 weeks. In February/March, shortly before new shoots appear, it is possible to make more radical crown corrections.

Substrate: Flowering Maples in pots need potting up every year to allow more space for their roots. Each year in March they need a pot one size larger than the old one. Use high-quality soil for potted plants, which remains structurally stable, i.e. loose and airy, by coarse particles (such as lavagrus, expanded clay) instead of slumping like peat or pure humus as microorganisms decompose it.

Health: If overwintered too warm, scale insects may appear. In spring and summer, pay attention to aphids that settle on the young leaves and flower buds. Plants stressed by site or care errors may attract whiteflies. Flowering Maples usually are free of spider mites.

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