Abutilon 'Feya' (Tatiana Tsepkova, 2013)

More New Abutilon Hybrids from Russia!

Let me share more good news with you, dear abutilon-breeders, -growers, and -lovers! This is a new compact hybrid from Tatiana Tsepkova (Moscow). It is white with distinctive hints of lilac. Since the petals look like little wings, the hybrid was aptly dubbed 'Feya" (Fairy).

Don't know about you, but I am definitely looking forward to more of Tatiana's hybrids (... and I know that some great ones are coming very sooooon!..)

Abutilon 'Feya' (Tatiana Tsepkova, 2013)

Abutilon 'Feya' (Tatiana Tsepkova, 2013)

A New Arrival

Today I would like to praise a new abutilon cross-breeder from my hometown Tatiana Sergeeva. Last year she was inspired to try abutilon cross-pollination and breeding, and now she is getting the results -- one by one her seedlings begin to bloom.
Have a look at this tiny beauty: sumptuous color of the petals + cream eye.

We wish Tatiana success and await her further creations with great anticipation!

Abutilon 'Eleganza' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Today I would like to praise the work of my friend and fellow abutilon-breeder from Moscow -- Tatiana Tsepkova (she and her beautiful abutilon hybrid 'Kleopatra' were mentioned in one of the previous posts).
Tatiana, perhaps, is the first person in Russia who took abutilons seriously and started collecting and crossing them on a regular and premeditated basis. Today Tatiana and her husband Dmitry own the first Russian abutilon nursery (and the Internet shop 'Abutilon.ru' located at the same web address www.abutilon.ru).
Among Tatiana's numerous marvelous hybrids there are some real gems, such as one of her first ones (and still one of her all-time favorites) -- abutilon 'Zlata' with bright orange bell-shaped flowers and reddish veins -- a compact heavy-bloomer:

Abutilon 'Zlata' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Zlata' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

 This masterpiece was soon followed by another of her creations -- abutilon 'Eleganza' with huge flowers and the impressive dark beetroot center and veins:

Abutilon 'Eleganza' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Eleganza' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Tatiana's next fiery abutilon with a chocolate-brown 'heart' was aptly named 'Cuore di Leone' and speaks for itself:

Abutilon 'Cuore di Leone' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Cuore di Leone' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Cuore di Leone' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

In the wake of the first hot Italian name, Tatiana then bred and named another eye-catcher -- abutilon 'Albertino' with gigantic bloody-red wide-open flowers:

Abutilon 'Albertino' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Albertino' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Finally, to top off her impressive collection, Tatiana revealed yet another unbeatable super-compact and easily blooming hybrid -- abutilon 'Vera' with a fluorescent center and white rays on tangerine petals:

Abutilon 'Vera' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Vera' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Abutilon 'Vera' (Tatiana Tsepkova)

Enjoy!

Abutilon pictum Tiger Eye

Abutilon Tiger Eye, blooming indoors, Russia

In this post I would like to praise this uncommon choice for a household potted plant. Initially, my abutilon collection started with the notorious Belvue variety and occasional Bella series. Soon enough I realized that Belvue were not of any interest to me due to their excessive height, inability to sprout easily when pruned, as well as very modest diameter of bell-shaped flowers (though they did come in a variety of colors). Bella, on the contrary, turned out to be very compact, bushy and had huge showy wide-open flowers.
Nevertheless, I started looking for other kinds of abutilon, too. In 2012, while traveling in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I spotted this awesome abutilon, which I didn't even know the name of. Don't know why, but I took only one little graft, which I brought all the way back home to Russia. When the graft started wilting, I realized my dreadful mistake and almost wanted to go back to Rio to get more. Luckily, the graft survived. In two or three weeks it produced roots in water and then, when planted, started growing very fast.
By that time I had found its name and everything I could about it. One thing I wasn't sure of was whether this tropical beauty would want to bloom indoors up north and in a relatively small pot.
To everyone's surprise and delight, Tiger Eye started blooming in January, when normally my other abutilons are still asleep. The same blooming pattern repeated this year, which made me think that the plant still lives by its native Southern Hemisphere standards: January is a summer month in Rio.
Anyway, Tiger is a fast grower, but an eager bloomer. It is not easy to form, unfortunately, but I am working on it. The original plant grew up to 1 meter, which was more than enough considering my small windowsill, and was sold. The consequent plants were treated with a growth-hindering hormone, which resulted in short statue, but also didn't allow the plant to develop buds properly -- it didn't bloom fully, the half open buds fell off. So this year I plan to prune it back extensively.
Naturally, I have no intention of getting rid of my Tiger because:
1) it has awesome flowers;
2) I used its pollen to breed smaller hybrids (Carioca, Rio-Rita -- now you understand where their names come from).
Enjoy my photos!

Abutilon Tiger Eye, blooming indoors, Russia

Abutilon Tiger Eye, blooming indoors, Russia

Abutilon Tiger Eye, blooming indoors, Russia

What to Expect...

Prior to performing any pollination, try to imagine the outcomes. Although mathematics never posed any threat to me, the theory of probability, statistics and combination is far beyond my intellectual scope, I am afraid. Therefore, I never calculate chances of a certain trait being transferred, but rather use the complementary principle. According to it, try to imagine how you could improve the already existing hybrids of abutilon. Some of them may lack luster, or size, or peculiarity, or whatever. Thus, I try to cross the plants which can mutually contribute something to one another.
I also have to say that not every hybrid will welcome a crossing. Some are simply infertile; others are just generally reluctant or, like us humans, are waiting 'for the right partner'. Unable to perform any laboratory gene tests, we can vastly rely upon the trial-and-error method thus gaining experience. I make myself a mental (and sometimes actual) note as to which pollination habit a certain hybrid has.
Anyway, the first and foremost thing in hybridization of abutilons one must know is: the seedlings will generally resemble the mother-plant (the recipient of pollen; on which the seeds pod grows) in shape and size, but will add the father-plant (the pollen donor) color hues.
Here are some hybrids of my fellow practitioners Elena Glushkova (abutilon Neon Pink, 2012) and Tatiana Tsepkova (abutilon Kleopatra, 2010).

Abutilon Neon Pink, 2012

Abutilon Kleopatra, 2010

Abutilon Ella (2013)

 Successful Hybrid Criteria

In this post I would like to mention some criteria for new hybrid evaluation. An average abutilon seeds pod can contain up to 15 or more seeds. Of course sometimes there can be zero or just a couple of seeds per pod, but let's consider a joyous situation of successful crossing and consequent seeds germination.
So, as it was said before, in about 3 months our supposed 15 seedlings will start blooming, and we are to decide whether to keep them, give them a 'name' and propagate further for commercial or hybridization purposes ... or to, basically, do away with them!
When assessing a new hybrid, I consider the following aspects:
1) the hybrid promises to be a compact plant with 1-2 cm stem nods (because I live in St. Petersburg, Russia, which is up north, and breed abutilons as potted house plants);
2) the hybrid has a certain lightness to its growth habit with frequent side shoots, which will allow easy pruning and shaping the bush, thus resulting in a bouquet type of flowering;
3) the diameter of the flower exceeds 7 cm (in my opinion, the bigger the better);
4) the shape and color of petals are of some novelty or interest with contrasting center or veins.
Normally, I stick to the simultaneous combination of the above-mentioned four factors. If they coincide, the hybrid stays put and gets a name. In some cases, if the color of petals is promising, I keep the hybrid for further cross-pollination.

Just a hybrid which never made it; sold

abutilon Ella (2013)

abutilon Ella (2013)

not big enough; sold

a chocolate-red one, remains with no name

one of the hybrids of 2013; sold

a curios hybrid 2013, changed color from peach to pink; sold

Abutilon Carioca (2013)

Pluses, pluses...

Well, let me further explain why hybridization of abutilon is such a rewarding process. First of all, abutilon is an eager bloomer with a very long, almost year-round period of blooming. Normally, there are numerous flowers per bush, which somewhat increases the probability of a positive outcome of our pollinations.
Secondly, the stamen and the pistil can be easily accessed. Just make sure the flower is a day old, the temperature is not very high, and the pollen is fluffy and dry. Your positive, cheerful, and hopeful mood can serve as an additional benefit. Best of all I enjoy pollinating abutilons on a bright sunny morning.
What is more, it takes only 4-6 weeks for the abutilon seeds to mature. I recommend you to harvest seeds as soon as they are ready. Soak seeds for a day before sowing, which will result in a more successful germination.
Finally, the greatest advantage of abutilons is the short period of about 3-5 month till the seedlings start blooming. Obviously, that means we can have 2-3 or maybe more generations of new hybrids per year.
Below there are some more of my 2013 abutilon hybrids: Mango, Carioca, Rio-Rita.

Abutilon Mango (2013)

Abutilon Mango (2013)

Abutilon Carioca (2013)

abutilon Rio-Rita (2013)

abutilon Rio-Rita (2013)

abutilon Rio-Rita (2013)

abutilon Carioca (2013)

Abutilon Mango (2013)

Abutilon Mango (2013)

How To...

In case you are wondering how to cross-pollinate abutilons, let me assure you that it is no miracle. It is common knowledge that flowers consist of beautiful petals which somewhat hide a number of stamen and pistils. If we transfer pollen from the flowers of one hybrid (cultivar) onto the pistils of another - voila! - chances are seeds will begin to form and soon enough we will be able to sow them to await results with great anticipation. Of course I deliberately simplify the description of the cross-pollination mechanism just to show you that it can be actually performed by just about anyone with the help of a fine soft brush.

Abutilon Shell (2013)

Abutilon Aurum (2013)

These are two of my 2013 abutilon hybrids which I unofficially named 'Shell' (the pink one with darker veins) and 'Aurum' (the golden one).

Welcome to my blog

Dear reader,
Welcome to my blog! Abutilon has been my passion flower since 2010. In an attempt to diversify my original very modest collection of abutilon hybrids, I decided to try cross-pollination, which resulted in a number of successful new plants.
In this blog I will regularly post the photographs of my plants as well as tips on pruning, fertilization and the like.
Stay tuned!