Mallow ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant mallow correctly

Since the non-hardy mallow planted in the bed only exudes its tropical charm for one season, hobby gardeners mostly favor the tub culture. How to plant the velvet poplar correctly:

Lay a drainage over the water drain with pottery shards or pebbles
Spread an air and water-permeable fleece over it to protect it from clogging
Pour in a first layer of potted plant soil so that you can make a hollow in it with your fist
Pot the young plant, place it in the center of the hollow and fill the cavities with substrate

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Hibernate Mallow properly
Keep the mallow in shape by cutting back

Do not set the plant any deeper than before and press the soil down with a pricking stick or spoon so that no air pockets form. A watering edge of 2-3 cm ensures that no water spills over later. After you have watered the mallow, it stays in the partially shaded location for the first 1-2 weeks to recover from the stress.

Care tips

The care program for a beautiful mallow comes with these few points:

Water the tropical subshrub evenly with soft rainwater
Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days from March to September
Clean up withered and faded things promptly
Cut back by a third or half in early spring
Water less and do not fertilize

If the velvet poplar lingered outdoors during the summer, it moved to winter quarters when the temperature fell. It should be light and cool there, at an ideal 12-15 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, the flower festival continues on the sunny windowsill at 18 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Which location is suitable?

The Mallow feels right at home in a light to shady location. As long as it does not come under the influence of blazing midday sun, and is protected from strong winds and pounding rain, nothing stands in the way of the long-lasting blooming spectacle. The Brazilian beauty only lingers on the summer balcony as long as the mercury column is above 12-15 degrees Celsius.

What soil does the plant need?

When choosing the substrate, use high-quality potted plant soil. This consists of a carefully balanced composition that remains structurally stable and has excellent water storage capacity. If you like to mix yourself, add 3 parts lava granulate (€ 13.76 at Amazon *) and 1 part quartz sand to 5 parts of compost soil. (14.90 € at Amazon *) Aim for a pH value between 6.0 and 6.8.

When is the flowering time?

The wonderful Mallow delights us as a houseplant with a long-lasting flowering time from April to November. The flowering period on the balcony and terrace extends from June to October. So that you do not lose your strength prematurely during this show of strength, you should consistently clean out withered flowers. In this way, the velvet poplar does not invest its energy in the growth of seed heads, but busily produces further flowers.

Cut the mallow correctly

If you cut out withered flowers and yellowed leaves in a timely manner, the mallow will retain its lush appearance. So that the tropical subshrub does not fall into a bulky habit, shorten all shoots by a third or half at the end of the winter rest. The velvet poplar can also be cut into old wood. In the first two years, we recommend peeling the plant several times a year. This measure encourages lush branching and attracts even more flowers.

Water mallow

In terms of water supply, the beautiful mallow requires Konstanz. Keep the root ball slightly moist without causing waterlogging or drought stress. The tropical flower beauty reacts indignantly to both extremes by shedding flowers and leaves. Therefore, keep an eye on the trivet to pour out excess water after 10 minutes at the latest.

Fertilize mallow properly

The question of the correct nutrient supply is quickly clarified for Mallow. Pamper the floral beauty every 14 days from March to September with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants. No fertilizer is used between October and February, as the subshrub is dormant at this time.

Overwinter

The mallow is not hardy. In order for the exotic subshrub to thrive for several years, this wintering is important:

Allow in autumn when temperatures drop below 12-15 degrees Celsius
The winter quarters are bright and cool, with temperatures not below 10 degrees and above 16 degrees Celsius
Reduced watering and do not fertilize

If you want to continue enjoying the beauty of the flowers, place the pot on the bright, warm window sill at 18 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Propagate Mallow

In order to grow more beautiful mallows, propagation by means of cuttings is ideal. In early summer, cut off semi-lignified head shoots with a length of 8 to 12 cm. A cutting is defoliated in the lower half so that it does not rot later. Fill small pots with a mix of peat and sand so that two thirds of the cuttings can be used. After the substrate has been moistened, put a transparent hood over each potty. In the partially shaded, warm window seat, kept constantly moist, the rooting progresses rapidly.

How do I transplant properly?

Once a mallow has completely rooted the pot, repot the plant in March. In the new bucket, spread some potsherds over the water drain as drainage and fill in a layer of the fresh substrate. Now pot the velvet poplar to shake off the old earth. On this occasion, dead roots are cut out and strands that are too long are shortened a little. Place the freshly potted indoor maple in a partially shaded place for 2 to 3 weeks to regenerate.

Is mallow poisonous?

Sensitive hobby gardeners react to direct contact with skin irritations, since the Mallow is classified as slightly poisonous. Since there is currently no concrete knowledge regarding toxicity, we recommend cultivating the exotic plant out of the reach of children and pets. In addition, gloves prevent damage to health through skin contact.

Nice varieties

Victorian Lady: The only double-flowered variety with ruffled petals in pale pink over extra large leaves
Souvenir de Bonn: Fantastically beautiful with nodding, orange-colored bell blossoms and creamy yellow-edged leaves
Kentish Bell: The yellow flowers adorn a dark heart; thanks to the hanging shoots, the ideal variety for the hanging basket
Thompsonii: The green-yellow variegated foliage underlines the bright orange flowers
Blackberry: A rarity among the beautiful mallows thanks to the large bell blossoms in dark purple