How to Grow the Beautiful African Mallow Shrub Indoors

The African mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus), also known as turtle weed or wax mallow, is a fantastic houseplant that adds a splash of tropical flair to any indoor space. With its glossy green leaves, pendulous flowers in shades of red pink or white, and arching branches, this compact shrub makes a stunning addition to living rooms, bedrooms, and offices.

Though native to the West Indies and parts of Central America, the African mallow adapts surprisingly well as a container plant and is not too difficult to cultivate indoors With the right care and conditions, you can keep your African mallow healthy and blooming for years to come Here is everything you need to know about successfully growing the African mallow as a houseplant.

Choosing the Right Container

The African mallow grows to be around 3-4 feet tall and wide in ideal conditions. Select a container that is large enough to easily accommodate the shrub’s mature size, at least 12-16 inches wide and deep. Make sure the container has drainage holes at the bottom to prevent soggy soil and root rot.

Terra cotta, ceramic, and plastic planters all work well for the African mallow. Avoid containers that are too large, as the plant may become unstable and topple over. You can always repot into a larger container later if the shrub outgrows its original pot.

Providing the Right Soil

African mallows thrive in a rich, well-draining potting mix. Standard commercial potting soils work well, as long as they contain ingredients like peat moss, perlite, bark chips, or coconut coir to keep the soil loose. You can also make your own by mixing equal parts potting soil, perlite or vermiculite, and compost.

The soil should be moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch to dry out slightly between waterings. Add a layer of pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot below the soil to improve drainage. Proper soil moisture helps prevent issues like root rot, mold, and blossom drop.

Giving Your Plant Plenty of Sunlight

Like most tropical plants, the African mallow requires plenty of bright, direct light to look its best. Place your shrub near a south or west facing window where it can soak up lots of sun. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Insufficient light leads to sparse, leggy growth and a lack of blooms. If you don’t have a suitably sunny spot indoors, you can supplement natural light with a grow lamp. Fluorescent shop lights or LED plant bulbs hung just above the African mallow encourage lush, compact growth.

Maintaining Ideal Temperatures

Hailing from tropical areas, the African mallow prefers warm temperatures between 60-80°F during the day and around 55-65°F at night. Keep your plant away from cold drafts, air vents, and windows that may drop the temperature too low in winter.

You can boost humidity around your African mallow by placing its pot on a pebble tray filled with water. Misting the plant daily also mimics the moist environment of its native habitat. Avoid temperature extremes to prevent premature leaf and blossom drop.

Watering Your African Mallow Properly

The African mallow requires consistently moist (but not soggy) soil to thrive. Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Be sure the excess water can drain out the bottom of the pot so the roots don’t end up sitting in standing water.

As a rough guide, you’ll probably need to water a container grown African mallow every 5-7 days in spring and summer, and every 2-3 weeks in fall and winter when growth has slowed. Reduce watering if you notice yellow, drooping leaves, which indicate overwatering.

Feeding for More Flowers

Like most flowering plants, African mallows benefit from regular fertilizer to look their best. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every 2 weeks in spring and summer while the plant is actively growing. Discontinue fertilizing in fall and winter.

You can also top dress the soil with slow release pellets or spikes formulated for blooming houseplants, following package directions. This provides a steady supply of nutrients for several months. Good drainage is especially important when fertilizing to avoid buildup of salts that can burn the roots.

Maintaining Humidity

The African mallow naturally grows in the humid tropics and appreciates a moisture-rich environment. Mist your plant daily with a spray bottle of plain water to boost humidity around the leaves. You can also set the pot on a pebble tray filled with water, which slowly evaporates to increase humidity as well as providing moisture to the plant.

Aim to keep the relative humidity around your African mallow between 50-60%. Low humidity causes leaf browning and blossom drop. A humidifier in the room also helps keep your shrub hydrated and happy in dry indoor air.

Encouraging More Blooms

African mallows can bloom year round, but produce the most flowers during summer. To maximize blossoming:

• Give your plant plenty of direct sunlight.

• Apply fertilizer regularly in the spring and summer.

• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

• Maintain warm temperatures between 60-80°F.

• Prune back leggy stems after flowering to encourage bushier growth.

Deadheading spent blooms also promotes more blossoms. simply snip off wilted flowers as soon as they fade with clean pruners. This neat appearance keeps your plant looking its best.

Pruning Your African Mallow

Pruning is important for maintaining an attractive, shapely African mallow. Use clean, sharp pruners to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased stems as soon as you notice them. Also trim off leggy branches to encourage bushier, compact growth.

You can prune your African mallow at any time of year. However, minimal pruning immediately after flowering allows time for the plant to regrow before the next bloom period. Remove up to 1/3 of the oldest, tallest stems at once to control size and shape. Never prune more than 1/3 of the plant at one time.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

African mallows are susceptible to a few issues when grown as houseplants. Watch for these common problems and take prompt action at the first sign of trouble:

• Leaf spots or powdery mildew: Increase air circulation and reduce humidity. Treat with neem oil or sulfur fungicide spray.

• Aphids or whiteflies: Wipe off pests with insecticidal soap and water solution. Remove severely infested leaves.

• Blossom drop: This can result from overwatering, underwatering, insufficient light, or temperature extremes. Adjust care accordingly.

• Leggy, sparse growth: Usually a sign plants needs more sunlight. Rotate the pot or supplement with a grow light.

• Root rot: Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Repot in fresh, well-draining soil if severe.

With the proper location, soil, watering, and pruning, an African mallow can thrive for many years as an indoor container plant. The bit of effort needed is well worth it for the unique tropical flair these shrubs add!

Displaying Your African Mallow

One of the great benefits of the African mallow is how adaptable and easygoing it is. This tropical shrub looks fantastic displayed in pots:

• On an end table or accent table to add a burst of color beside a sofa or bed.

• Clustered with other container plants on an outdoor patio or balcony.

• Placed in front of a large window to take advantage of bright sunlight.

• Lining an entryway or porch where passersby can admire the blooms.

• On plant stands or shelves where the arching stems can spill attractively over the edges.

Choose a prominent spot in your home to show off the glossy leaves, abundant flowers, and graceful shape of your African mallow. It brings life to any space as a fabulous focal point.

Enjoying Your African Mallow Year Round

One of the best things about growing African mallows is their long bloom period. With the right care, they can flower nonstop nearly year round, even when grown indoors. Follow these tips to help your shrub put out blooms in every season:

• Spring: Increase watering and begin fertilizing as growth takes off. Provide at least 4 hours of direct sun per day. Prune back any leggy stems.

• Summer: Water whenever the top inch of soil dries out. Mist leaves to boost humidity. Give plenty of sunshine and regular feedings.

• Fall: Allow soil to partially dry between waterings as growth slows. Maintain temperatures above 60°F. Reduce feeding.

• Winter: Place plant near a sunny, south facing window if possible. Water sparingly, allowing soil to dry out some. Decrease fertilizer.

With a little attention to its seasonal needs, you can enjoy the colorful, elegant blooms of the African mallow in every season for years to come