Abutilon INDICUM

Abutilon INDICUM - Indian abutilon, Indian mallow, Atibala, Country mallow, Parlor maple, Flowering maple, Sida.

'Golden Line of Ayurveda'.

Abutilon is a genus of evergreen annual and perennial herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, and sometimes small trees in the family Malvaceae. The genus comprises more than 100 species (some sources indicate more than 400 species). Species of this genus grow in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, sometimes extending into temperate regions. Abutilon leaves are large (up to 10 cm / 4 in long), 3-5-lobed, with graceful serrations, resembling maple leaves in shape. They are profusely branching evergreen shrubs that bloom with solitary or clustered bell-shaped flowers.

There are garden forms and cultivars with white-variegated leaves and bright white, red, and yellow flowers decorated with numerous stamens. In cultivation, only a few species are encountered. Ornamental cultivars and hybrids have been derived from them. Hybrid forms are distinguished by a longer flowering period, as well as diverse coloration and shapes of flowers and leaves.

Indian mallow is a shrub or subshrub reaching 1.5 m (5 ft) in height. The flowers are bright yellow or orange-yellow, resembling bells or lanterns, and the fruits are rounded, turning brown after drying. The leaves resemble miniature maple leaves in shape.

It grows in India and Southeast Asia, as well as in Africa and the Americas. In Sri Lanka and India, it occurs everywhere and spreads like a weed. It is pollinated by birds. It is also grown as an ornamental plant for interior decor thanks to its unpretentiousness, attractive appearance, and rapid growth.

The seeds are scarified beforehand (without breaching the outer layer, germination will be minimal); for this, the outer coat is carefully filed or scratched with a hard tool without damaging the seed. Then the seed material is soaked for 24 hours in warm water with the addition of stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon).

After 24 hours, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth to await pip, or sown immediately into a mixture of light nutrient soil, sand, and a small amount of perlite, pressing lightly to a depth of no more than 5 mm (0.2 in), covered with a thin layer of sand, moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at a temperature of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. It is essential to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the crops.

Seeds germinate in the second or third week. With the appearance of the first true leaf, seedlings are repotted into larger containers, where they will spend about 3 months, completely filling the entire substrate with roots. With proper care, the plant will turn into a small shrub during this time and begin to flower after repotting.

Abutilon seeds have high viability only when planting and care techniques are followed, and plants obtained from seed sowing adapt more easily to the surrounding environment.

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It is a fairly unpretentious plant, and growing it is not difficult even for beginners in indoor floriculture. It feels best in a bright or slightly shaded location. It tolerates direct sunlight for a few hours a day. However, drafts have a negative effect on it. In summer, the plant can be taken outdoors, but it should be placed so that it is protected from wind and rain. A sharp change in light, rain, and wind can lead to leaf and flower drop. In winter, when light is insufficient, using fluorescent lamps is desirable. In summer, the optimal temperature is within 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). In the winter period, the air temperature is lowered to 12-15 °C (54-59 °F). With a sharper drop in temperature, the plant may shed its leaves.

From early spring until autumn, watering is generous, and the plant is sprayed. In winter, watering is reduced while ensuring that the soil does not dry out, and the plant is sprayed as needed. From spring to autumn, mineral and organic fertilizers are applied every two weeks. Repotting is carried out in spring, but not during flowering - young plants annually, mature ones every 2-3 years, into a substrate with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH around 6) consisting of equal parts turf, leaf mold, and humus soil with the addition of sand. The new pot should not be much roomier than the previous one, since profuse flowering in abutilon occurs when the entire root ball is completely bound by roots.

It grows very rapidly and under favorable conditions produces substantial growth during the spring-summer season. To ensure that the plant has a fuller crown, it is pruned to half the shoot height in late winter and early spring. During the growing season, it is necessary to carry out thinning pruning to remove weak and crowding shoots. Timely tying to a support is also required.