The flowering season of this South African beauty is coming to an end in late autumn. At that point at the latest, her owner has to decide whether he wants to give her another year of life. Because the plant cannot survive the cold winter alone.
How can you overwinter the Cape mallow?
In order to overwinter the Cape mallow successfully, it should be protected from frost and kept at temperatures of 10 to 15 °C. It also requires a lot of light and a regular but economical water supply. If there is a lack of space, the plant can be pruned.
Winter is a foreign word for them
The Cape Mallow has not developed winter hardiness because it is not a necessity in its homeland at the southern tip of Africa. While it can grow outdoors all year round as a bush, in this country it is planted in a pot, where it stays a little smaller.
This type of cultivation allows easy switching between summer and winter locations. Because only with specifically organized overwintering can the plant remain perennial here and produce its beautiful flowers year after year.
Beginning and end of wintertime
The moving date for the Cape Mallow is not based on the calendar alone, but rather on the current prevailing weather. It is important to avoid frost, but also temperatures below 10 °C.
So that the late flowers also attract admiring glances, the move can be delayed as long as the weather permits. In spring, however, under favorable conditions you can venture out before mid-May.
Don't just pay attention to the temperature during the day. There is a risk of night frosts in autumn and spring. Checking the weather forecast every day can save the life of the Cape Mallow.
The ideal winter home
The Cape mallow needs a room in winter where it is completely safe from frost. This should ideally offer the following conditions:
- lots of light
- Temperatures from 10 to 15 °C
The Cape mallow is evergreen, but can lose some of its leaves in winter quarters if it is too dark. It will sprout again in the spring.
Cutting when space is limited
If space in the wintering quarters is limited, the plant that tolerates cutting can feel the scissors. The shoots can be shortened to 3-4 pairs of leaves, so that only about a third of the crown remains. In the spring, when the plant sprouts, it can be trimmed again if necessary.
Tip
The soil of the Cape mallow must never dry out completely, even during the winter rest period. Give the plant a little water as soon as the top layer of soil has dried. No further care is required.
