How to grow and care for Fuchsia plants
Fuchsia plants can be grown from seeds or clippings, but are most commonly sold as established plants. Depending on the variety, plants will begin to produce flowers in early to mid Spring and continue to bloom into early Fall. In general, Fuchsia plants require constant moist soil and partial sun. They will not thrive and may even die if they are over watered or exposed to direct sunlight.
Propagating is done by taking cuttings. This is best done when the plant is finished flowering. It is best to have the compost moist as watering immediately after planting will just wash away the rooting compound.
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Place 3 light support stakes into the compost and use these to support a clear plastic bag over the cuttings. Place the pot on a windowsill or in a glasshouse and the new cuttings should take root fairly quickly.
If new growth is evident give the cuttings a gentle thug and if resistance is felt it is time to lift the cuttings and pot them up separately. Plant out once any danger of frost has passed.
Water requirements:
Fuchsia plants require moist soil to thrive. Fuchsia grown in containers should be planted in high quality, well-drained potting soil. Potted Fuchsia will likely require daily watering, but the best way to determine if they need watering is to stick a finger into the soil and make sure that it is damp. Potted Fuchsia will not thrive if the soil is left dry or if it is overly wet; if the soil is too wet, the roots may rot, killing the Fuchsia plant.
Fuchsia planted in gardens, once established, requires slightly less maintenance than potted Fuchsia. Garden Fuchsia should be planted in loose, well-drained soil. Plants will grow best if the soil is moist, but in a garden, they can tolerate a dry day better than potted plants.
Fuchsia should be regularly fertilized. Using a liquid fertilizer once every couple of weeks will allow Fuchsia plants to thrive and produce flowers throughout the growing season.
Sunlight requirements:
Fuchsia plants do not grow well direct sunlight or excessive heat. For the best results, Fuchsia should be planted in areas that get partial sunlight. The temperature requirements may vary between varieties of Fuchsia, but as a general rule of thumb, Fuchsia plants grow best if the soil is cool and they are shielded from the hottest hours of sunlight. Plants that receive too much sunlight will lose their flowers quickly and wilt.
Planting Requirements for a Fuchsia
On the whole, the Fuchsia is suited to a variety of soil types and conditions the main considerations for siting a Fuchsia relate to the fact that the plant is native to South America and as such even so-called hardy varieties are not entirely exempt from the effects of a cold winter.
As such a free draining soil will help to protect the plants root system from cold spells in which waterlogged soils such as clay freeze solid. In addition, open and exposed sites should be avoided for the same reason.
Fuchsias grow vigorously throughout the season and put on a long display of flowers, as such frequent feeding and watering are required throughout the summer. Whilst a general purpose liquid or soluble feed works well enough specialist Fuchsia foods are available and will really help shrubs to give one’s garden that little extra vibrancy.
Initial planting is also a consideration in the success of any Fuchsia shrub. In order to give the plant the maximum chance of survival initial planting should take place at a greater depth than other shrubs.
This will allow deep planted roots to be protected from cold spells ensuring that even if the old wood is killed by a cold winter the plant is able to regenerate from its roots. Alternatively, potted specimens may be brought indoors or into a greenhouse for the winter period thus protecting the plant from frosts.
Fuchsia varieties:
There are literally hundreds of varieties of fuchsias in a wealth of different colours and colour combinations. Most produce relatively small flowers, whereas the so-called ’Turbo’ varieties produce quite large flowers.
There are small, simple, single-petalled varieties all the way up to those that are multi-petalled and large enough to sit in the palm of your hand.
Fuchsias are divided into three broad groups:
Bush fuchsias grow upright into bushy plants.
Trailing or basket fuchsias produce long, trailing stems, making them perfect for hanging baskets and adorning the edges of containers.
Both bush and hanging fuchsias are regarded as being half-hardy perennials, that is they won’t survive temperatures below 4-5C (40-41F) and need overwintering in frost-free conditions, if you want to keep them for subsequent years.
Hardy fuchsias are bushy varieties generally regarded as being frost tolerant and can be left out in the garden all year round. The boundaries between hardy and non-hardy are somewhat blurred, and varieties that are hardy in mild climates, such as in Cornwall, may not be hardy in more exposed, colder regions of the country.
Some fuchsias also produce colourful red-tinged or purple foliage.
