Abutilon Meg

I have never grown Abutilon Megapotanicum, only bedding ones, but I planted a 3 footer out last July. It is now 7/8 ft , how much do you prune it by? and is there any way of stopping snail leaf decimation.

 

I never pruned mine - it stayed at about 8 feet. I always see it quoted as fairly tender, but I would say it was pretty tough. I had it for at least 10 years and it certainly survived -10C, but one winter it was hit by -12C. So I replaced it by something else. However as I was digging it up I saw that it was resprouting from the base again.

For £5 I will sell you my guaranteed snail killer - it really works every time if you follow the instructions. It consists of two blocks of wood marked A and B. The instructions say "place snail on block A and hit with block B". Works every time.

 

I've got one of these in a pot on the allotment.
Its been there for god knows how long, it wont die, but then it dont really live.

Maybe I should plant it out this spring?

 

Finding the snails is the problem Peter!
I don't want it higher than the garage roof and as it grew so fast last year I'll cut it back a few feet and see what happens. I believe the variegated one is less hardy.

 

We've never had a problem with that. It is in a spot where the coffee grounds often get chucked though?

Yes. It transforms it. It is quite adaptable so if it is crowded it will just grow up to find its own space.