Growing your own plants from cuttings is not only cheap and easy, but it is also great fun and can give you a real sense of pride. If you’ve been wondering how to grow Abutilon from cuttings, we’ve got you covered – from how to do it, to when and why. Read on!
What You'll Learn Today
How To Grow Abutilon From Cuttings?
You’ll be pleased to know that growing Abutilon from cuttings is a great way to get them to grow – in fact some species won’t actually grow from seed, so cuttings are the way forward.
- Take a 4-6 inch section from a non blooming stem, and strip off all the lower leaves so that you have a long-ish end to root.
- Dip the end in rooting powder – this step is not essential, but growers often find it helps the plant become established more quickly.
- Place this cutting into some well draining, moist compost and firm it in gently around the edges.
- Keep the pot in cool, bright conditions for a few weeks – unlike the mature plant, the cutting shouldn’t be placed in direct bright sunlight.
- Water the plant whenever the soils starts to feel dry below the surface – but take care not to overwater.
- Your cutting should have started to take root within 4-6 weeks – you can test this by gently tugging to see if it holds itself in the soil.
- As your plant matures, you will be able to place it in Abutilon’s preferred conditions, but take care to do this slowly, as they do not like sudden changes in temperature.
This is a good video, showing you how to root Abutilon from cuttings:
Does Abutilon Root In Water?
It may come as a surprise to you that you don’t actually need soil, when you first start to propagate your cuttings!
Many plants, Abutilon included, will actually form roots from cuttings when they are simply placed in water.
They will eventually need to be planted in soil, of course, but this method will also help grow roots – and there is the added bonus of being able to watch the whole process!
- Take a small section (between 4 and 6 inches) of stem from a section of your Abutilon that is not flowering.
- Strip off the lower leaves, as these may rot in the water.
- Place the stem into a glass or jar filled with fresh water – rainwater or spring water is best, but tap water will also work.
- Keep the cutting in a cool, shaded area for a few weeks, changing the water every couple of days or when it becomes murky.
- After around a month, you should start to see tiny little roots starting to form on the end of your cutting.
- Once the roots are established, carefully plant your cutting into some pre-moistened soil and keep it warm until it is growing well.
- These cuttings can be grown on as house plants, or you can decide to plant them out in the garden, provided you have a good full sun spot for it.
What Soil Is Best For Abutilon?
The most important thing to consider for this plant when working out what soil it likes is drainage. The soil must be well draining or your Abutilon will protest!
Not many plants like their roots sitting in water, and Abutilon is no exception. You can add coarse sand or gravel to your soil if you feel it is too heavy.
Loamy soil is the best bet for Abutilon, and they will thank you even more if it is on the neutral or slightly acidic spectrum.
These plants like a fertile soil, so if they are outdoors you could consider adding some compost or fertilizer.
Will Abutilon Grow In Shade?
These plants are great in that they are fast growing, relatively hardy, and will tolerate a number of different conditions.
One of the things they really won’t like, however, is to be grown in full shade. These plants come from warm climates, so they love the sun!
A full sun position is best for these beauties; in fact you may find that they don’t produce their gorgeous flowers without enough sunlight.
This being said, Abutilon will appreciate a bit of shade during the hottest parts of the day, just to give them a bit of a break.
If you have your Abutilon in a full sun position with no shade ever, you may even find that it starts to droop and lose its leaves.
Here is a good article about some different types of Abutilon, and how you should grow and care for them.
Is Abutilon Fast Growing?
These plants are incredibly vigorous and healthy, as long as they get the right growing conditions (plenty of sunlight, well draining soil, not too much water).
They are considered to be fast growing plants, as you will notice if you give it a particularly hard pruning!
You will notice it bouncing right back, even if you have chopped it right back – these plants actually benefit from a really good haircut now and then.
If you are growing your Abutilon outside you will notice it growing strong and healthy; if it is in your house then you may have to keep on top of it!
These plants will outgrow their pots more often than many other houseplants, so this is something to bear in mind if you have a small house.
You can, of course, keep your Abutilon in check with a strict pruning regime – but remember that you will have to do this at least once a year to keep on top of it!
These lovely plants can be a great addition to your house or garden – but buying them can be expensive! Why not just grow your own?
Once you’ve figured out the basics, it should be really easy for you to grow your very own Abutilon from cuttings, which you can either grow on or give away as gifts.
I don’t have a greenhouse, and my house is pretty cold… How can I keep my Abutilon cuttings warm?
Assuming that you are taking cuttings in the spring, your plants should welcome the warmer weather. However, if you want to keep them a little warmer, simply place a plastic bag over the pot, trying to avoid it touching the cutting, and voila! A simple, home made greenhouse that will protect your precious cuttings from the cold.