Children call them dancing ladies and adults try to keep them alive from season to season. They are the varied and glorious fuchsia plant. Taking care of them can be a challenge in certain climates. They have a comfort zone of moderate to just under moderate. They are shade-loving, although some enjoy a well-mannered bit of sunshine. Unless they are in a year-round moderate climate they will drop dead in the winter chill, thus you must move them indoors in winter. Meet the requirements of your fuchsia and it will be smooth sailing all the way.
Instructions
1. Find a variety of fuchsia you love out of the more than 10,000 varieties. Make sure it is suitable for your climate. Fuchsias will grow well in a shaded area with a small amount of filtered sunshine. They are especially suited to pots where they can spill over in a riot of color or baskets hanging overhead with their dangling florals. If you are unsure, talk to the experts in a fuchsia club in your area. Benefit from joining their discussions because club members are always generous with advice and cuttings.
2. Armed with baby plants, choose a large metal hanging basket. Fuchsias like to spread out their roots. Place a coconut mat liner in to regulate the water retention in the basket. Choose fuchsia planting soil from the nursery. Use a sand and humus mixture as an additive to the soil if you can't find fuchsia planting soil. Purchase fuchsia fertilizer. Fuchsias like to be fertilized early in the spring and then every week through their blooming season ending in the fall. Use a fertilizer that is meant for floricultures.
3. Choose a large ceramic pot if you prefer that to a hanging basket. Do not use plastic pots because they heat the roots. Be sure there is adequate drainage for the pot. Packing peanuts made of Styrofoam placed in the bottom of the pot will help to disperse water away from roots that can rot if drainage isn't adequate. Place either the pot or basket outside if the temperature is mid-70s but don't place it in direct sunlight. Fuchsias like evenings where the temperature stays above 30 degrees and will set more flowers if that is the case.
4. Watering is crucial. Planters need daily watering and the water cannot pool at the roots. Spray the leaves as well. If the plant is droopy or feels light, it probably needs to be watered. If it starts to cast its leaves it's too hot. Bring the plants in when the days turn sweltering and put them out in the later afternoon and evening.
5. After flowers bloom they leave a cylindrical pod. Pick these off to keep the plant blooming. Snip back unsightly branches in the fall after blooming has passed and turn it into an even round shape. Pick off any leaves that aren't healthy. The fuchsia can winter over with no leaves at all. Remove the plant from its roomy basket or pot and snuggle several together in a good-sized pot. Store them wherever you would store potatoes over the winter. They must not freeze. They will need to be watered enough to moisten their roots over winter.
Tips Warnings
The trimmings from the fall fuchsia plants will make good starter plants if put into soil, watered and given proper amounts of sunlight. It will take about 10 days for the new roots to develop.
Fuchsias attract white flies, snails and spider mites and they will all kill the plant. Check out the article in resources for specifics on pesticides, apply and safety precautions.
Tags: care, fuchsia, hanging, baskets, Fuchsias like, fuchsia planting, fuchsia planting soil, hanging basket, over winter, planting soil, their roots
