House maple or abutilon: features of cultivation and propagation
House maple is suitable for growing in any region where there is sun and fertile soil. It does not require complex care, and even an amateur can cope with reproduction.
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Description of the plant
Scientifically, home or indoor maple is also called abutilon. This plant is popular for home cultivation; flower growers value it for its long flowering and high decorative value.
Under natural conditions, abutilone grows in subtropical and tropical zones. The plant came to us from Brazil; it is also widespread in India and Africa. It is difficult to list all the variety of types of domestic maple; there are both shrubby forms and trees.
Botanists managed to deduce and hybrid varieties, whose leaves are variegated in color. The flowers of the domestic maple are double or smooth, with pubescence at the bottom. The color of the petals can be very diverse: purple, violet, red, pink, orange, cream and white. The most commonly grown plants are Amazonian or hybrid abitulon.
The plant received the name “maple” because of the peculiar shape of the leaves; the leaf blade is pointed, its edges are carved, and are similar to maple. The plant does not require special care, the tree grows quickly and is not prone to parasites.
The leaves of the domestic maple can grow from 10 to 20 cm, and the shoots are brown-purple.Abutilon flowers are bell-shaped, their length is from 4 to 8 cm, the flowering period begins in May and ends in October, each bud blooms for a short time, but the flowers continuously renew each other.
When grown indoors, the maple tree can grow up to 2 meters. When grown in the garden, abutilon will please the eye for only one season; if you provide reliable shelter for the winter or move it indoors, the lifespan will be extended to 5 years. It may take longer to grow, but will become less colorful.
For growing indoor maple in the house, suitable places are bright enough, but not exposed to open sunlight.
Variety of types of abutilone:
- hybrid
- striped
- Darwin
- Bella
- megapotamian
Caring for your home maple
Care for the plant Simply, it is important to follow a few rules and abutilon will thank you for this with active growth and lush flowering. Basic moments:
- choosing a variety suitable for a given region
- choosing the right location
- preparation of breathable loose soil
- choosing the right pot size
- prevention of chlorosis
- timely watering
- pruning
- feeding
Outdoors, the plant needs to be covered or moved indoors before the onset of cold weather. Since the plant came to us from the tropics, it loves elevated temperatures. If in the growing region the temperature does not drop to 10-12 degrees in winter, then no measures can be taken.
It is important to provide your home maple with plenty of light. Abutilone reacts negatively to drafts and winds, so it is grown on the site near walls or fences.In an apartment, you can take it out onto the balcony, but do not place it under open windows. In winter, the pot with the plant is placed on the windowsill.
It is necessary to water with soft water at room temperature, abundant watering is provided, the plant is sprayed in the summer. In winter, watering is limited to moderate, spraying is carried out only if the air in the room is dry.
In summer, the plant needs fertilizer, which is applied every 10 days. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are used, alternating them. As winter approaches, the period between fertilizing increases, for example, in the fall they begin to fertilize once a month.
To plant abutilon, you need to choose the right soil mixture. For self-preparation, the following ratio is used: 3 parts clay-turf soil, 2 parts humus soil and 1 part deciduous soil. If possible, add some sand.
Every year indoor maple needs to be replanted into a larger pot as the root system develops quickly. When growing domestic maple, some problems may arise. If the leaves begin to fall in winter, subject to proper storage during the cold season, then perhaps the air humidity is too low, and this may also indicate that the maple does not have enough watering.
If the plant does not bloom, then you may need to choose a smaller pot. Flowering occurs only when the roots envelop the entire area of the pot.
Reproduction and possible pests
If a house maple gets sick, it is most often due to spider mites, aphids or scale insects. The fight against them is carried out in the same way as on other plants.The affected leaves are removed, the plant is treated with a special solution, and the conditions of maintenance are changed. If the plant is exposed to open sun, the leaves, especially young ones, may get burned. It can be in the sun for no more than 4 hours. During flowering, it is also not recommended to move the plant to another place; it may react poorly.
To reproduce abutilone you need to wait until July, deadline for reproduction - September. You can use the cutting or seed method. Cuttings of young shoots are placed in the ground and covered with glass or polyethylene; there should be no access to oxygen. When the roots appear, the plant is transplanted into a separate pot, the shoots are regularly pruned so that they are more branched and a crown is formed.
Every year the soil is replaced with fresh soil and pruning is done in the spring.
To propagate domestic maple seeds, they are sown at the very beginning of spring in boxes or other containers in nutrient soil, and the seeds are covered with sand on top. The surface is covered with glass, the container is transferred to a well-lit place. For the seeds to germinate, the room temperature must be at least 20 degrees Celsius. After 3 weeks you will be able to see the first shoots.
The seed method makes it possible to obtain a unique variety from professional botanists. The main requirement for seeds: their freshness and completeness. Only green-leaved species of abutilon are propagated by seeds. If you sow a plant in winter-spring, then in the summer you will be able to observe flowering.
A vaccination is also done; a beginner will not be able to do this, although you can try. With the help of grafting, you can get traits of several varieties on one tree at once.
For grafting, young abutilons of several varieties are taken, a cut is made at the height of the main one, and other cuttings are combined under the bark. This place is secured with fum tape or cling film. The vaccine is covered with a bag for a while.
Growing home maple is very simple. Bright flowers will delight the owners and guests of the house for a long period.
Interesting video about home maple:
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