Mallow flower language and symbolism: is it suitable for growing in pots at home?

"In youth we know not the taste of sorrow, yet love to climb the tower. Loving to climb the tower, we force ourselves to speak of sorrow to compose new verses." Most people are surely familiar with the lines above. In fact, they use the "mallow" plant as a metaphor, simply because its flower language carries a satirical meaning. Ancient poets often used this flower's blessing phrases to mock the bureaucratic atmosphere of the time, representing the pursuit of truth and an aversion to hypocrisy.

In recent years, the mallow has also been regarded as a symbol of happiness and well-being. Giving it to a friend implies wishes for a happy life and good health.

The mallow was first distributed in Asia, Europe and North Africa, and later spread throughout China. It is a perennial upright herbaceous plant, with the whole plant growing about 50-90 cm tall. The flowering period is from May to October, and the flowers are mostly purplish red or white, with 5 petals in a spoon shape, giving it high overall ornamental value.

In terms of care, the mallow is by nature light-loving and is best planted before Qingming. If the environment at home is relatively dark, it cannot carry out photosynthesis, and the leaves will later turn yellow. The suitable growing temperature is 15 to 28°C; it can tolerate high temperatures of 35°C but is not very cold-hardy, and if the overall temperature falls below 5°C it will struggle to overwinter.

As for watering, the mallow's soil just needs to be on the drier side; too much watering easily causes root rot. But once the flowering period arrives, things are different: as a rule, whenever the soil feels dry to the touch, it should be watered. Also, since it blooms many times during the flowering period, a lack of fertilizer or too much fertilizer can cause buds to wither. Therefore, from May, when it enters the growing period, apply a fertilizer combining nitrogen and phosphorus 1 to 2 times. Then, during the period of continuous blooming from June to October, it is recommended to apply a phosphorus-based fertilizer as a top dressing 1 to 2 times per month, so that the flowers keep blooming continuously.

If the mallow's soil later becomes compacted, you can choose a loose, fertile sandy soil that the mallow likes, with a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 being suitable. Another trick when planting is to lay a layer of broken tiles or brick pieces at the bottom of the pot, which helps with aeration and drainage.