Container Abutilon Dying Branch By Branch

Question

Hi, this is the third year we’ve had this abutilon in a pot near our front door. It has done well enough before and we enjoy seeing it as we pause to open the door. It does not receive direct sun for a couple months when the sun is the highest due to an eave. Last spring we printed back for shape, and this spring, I both pruned and repotted it. But after a few weeks, a couple of the branches we had left on died, and now a couple more branches died, and I’m down to only one branch that shows green growth. We checked the drainage and we can feel up the drainage hole to moist soil so it seems not to be blocked. I do not see any obvious pests. (Had a bit of both scale and aphids in years past.) I hesitate to put it out in more sun right now because it looks so fragile, and when I read up, abutilons don’t like to be moved too much. The only other thing I can think of is to leave a moisture meter in the pot because my husband does the watering and he does not check soil moisture with a finger. But was also watering it in previous years. Btw, it’ll be unseasonably warm (>100) in a couple days. Thanks.

Answer 1

That is a lot of stress for such a sensitive plant!

I would say that all of the stress has taken a toll on the plant. The best thing will be to keep a close eye on it, and not do anything else to it until it has recovered.

Be sure that the soil is dry, at least halfway down, before watering. Overwatering will be very bad for recovery.

A fungicide and careful monitoring will be necessary from here.

These articles will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/flowering-maple/growing-flowering-maple.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/flowering-maple/pruning-a-flowering-maple.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/flowering-maple/flowering-maple-care-outdoors.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm