The beautiful mallow, also known as the indoor maple, is native to Brazil. It is not hardy, but on the contrary needs a lot of warmth so that it thrives and produces many flowers. If it is grown in a bucket, it has to move to winter quarters when the temperatures outside drop too much.
Is the beautiful mallow hardy?
The beautiful mallow, also known as the indoor maple, is not hardy and requires high temperatures (at least 18°C) to thrive. In autumn it should be slowly prepared for its winter quarters by gradually reducing the temperature.
Mallows are not hardy
Beautiful mallows are not only not hardy, they only thrive at relatively high temperatures. These should not fall below 18 degrees Celsius during the growth and flowering phase.
If you care for the mallows on the terrace or in a sheltered place in the garden, you always have to keep an eye on the temperatures.
Slowly prepare for winter quarters
- Water less
- Stop fertilizing
- Cool for hours
- Check for pests
As summer comes to an end, it is time to prepare the mallow for overwintering.
Now fertilize less and less until the plant no longer receives any fertilizer. You can also reduce watering to such an extent that the root ball is only moderately moist.
Avoid strong temperature fluctuations
The beautiful mallow doesn't like it when the ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly. Before autumn, you should first put the pot in a cooler place for hours and then days.
This also applies if you take the plant out of its winter quarters from January onwards. Here, too, the beautiful mallow should be gradually accustomed to the new environment and the changed temperatures.
Cut back before moving indoors
Since space is usually limited in winter quarters, you can cut the mallow more heavily beforehand. You can reduce it to half. The plant sprouts again in spring.
Check the leaves, especially the undersides, for pests before collecting them. If the mallow is kept drier during overwintering, spider mites, aphids and other pests will proliferate.
It is better to cut off infected shoots generously so that they are not dragged into the house in the first place.
Tip
Beautiful mallows are quite sensitive when it comes to location. They like it warm and sunny, but cannot tolerate drafts or cold or heavy rain. If they are cared for outside in summer, they should be kept under cover if possible.
