Question
Hi.  I just (yesterday) brought my flowering maple into the house (dug it out of the garden).  It is about 5' tall and had about 12 blooms at the time.  It was extremely healthy.  Since I brought it in it looks like it is drooping and not looking too well.  
I planted it into a potting soil mix and watered it right away.  
Help!  Is there anything else I need to do to ensure it's survival?  It was growing in a Southern exposure in the garden, so I have it under a skylight which will give it diffused southern light.  The house humidity is about 70.
thanks..Kim

Answer
Hi there,

Your Abutilon is undergoing major shock from having its roots disturbed and from a major shift in its environment, especially light and temperature. What you are attempting to do is very stressful to the plant.

It would have been much easier on your Abutilon if you had kept it in a pot and in shade while it was outside this summer. Then you would not have to disturb the roots and you could move it gradually indoors so it could adapt to the reduced light and warmer temps.

Unless you are a very experienced gardener, there is a very good chance that mistakes were made when you dug it up and potted it.

Given its current circumstance, all I can suggest is that you provide maximum light (skylights do not provide nearly as much light as most folks think), prune it way back, keep it on the cool side at night, and monitor the soil moisture level very carefully, allowing the top quarter of the soil to dry out between waterings. Do not fertilize it.

Good luck with this because you have a major challenge ahead of you to keep this plant alive.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.