The majority of mallow species are considered extremely undemanding and easy to care for. Nevertheless, mallows need a bit of care. But which procedures are important?
How do you care for mallows properly?
The care of mallow includes regular watering with tap water, if necessary fertilizing with compost, manure or nettle broth, propagation by cuttings or sowing, overwintering depending on the species and regular removal of withered flowers.
How, how often and with what should mallows be watered?
Mallows can be safely watered with tap water because they like lime. Watering should be moderate and regular. The best time of day is evening. In summer it is advisable to water every day on hot days and in full sun if there is no rain. It is poured directly onto the root area.
Do mallows need to be fertilized?
If they were planted outdoors in nutrient-rich soil, not necessarily. However, regular fertilizer application can result in more lush flowering. For example, the following are suitable for fertilizing:
- Compost
- stable manure
- Stinging nettle broth
Potted plants that are on the balcony, for example, should be supplied with a complete fertilizer once or twice a month. If you want to eat the mallows or their leaves and flowers, use an organic fertilizer such as guano (€13.00 on Amazon).
How to propagate mallows?
Some mallow species such as musk mallow can easily be propagated using cuttings in summer. Others are easier to reproduce by sowing. Mallows are dark germinators and germinate after 2 to 3 weeks.
Is wintering recommended?
Depending on the species, overwintering is recommended. Mallows such as cup mallow, wild mallow and Mauritanian mallow can be re-sown every year without any problems or great effort. For other mallows that grow larger, such as bush mallow, it is worth covering them with a layer of leaves or fleece over the winter.
What diseases affect mallows?
Mallows are often attacked by so-called mallow rust, a fungal disease. The cause is an environment that is too humid. Mallow rust is noticeable as brown to orange spots and blisters on the stems, leaves and fruits.
Is a cut necessary?
It is sufficient to cut off the withered flowers regularly throughout the summer. As a result, new flowers continue to form until autumn. If you want to overwinter your mallow, you should cut it back to the ground in autumn.
Tip
If several plants are affected by mallow rust, the fungal pathogen can be combated with a tincture of field horsetail.
