Anisodontea Elegans Princess

Full Sun / Half Shade

Water your cape mallow only in case of prolonged dry spells and/or heat waves. Water in the evening, around the base of the plant, to avoid losing water through evaporation. Potted cape mallow requires very regular watering. Water as soon as the surface soil is dry. Provide for regular watering over the first year after planting.

Pruning, fertilizing, and repotting: Maintain the shape of the head with selective pinching of the new shoots (overzealous pinching will prevent the formation of flower buds). Pinch each shoot between thumb and forefinger or cut with pruning shears. Do not shear the plant as though it were a hedge. Fertilize standards grown in pots as you would other pot-grown plants. If you find that a standard in a container dries out quickly after watering, the plant probably needs a larger pot. Lift it from its current pot, make four deep vertical cuts in the root ball, and place it in a new pot that is 2in wider and taller than the old one, filling in around the root ball with fresh potting mix. Water thoroughly after repotting.