Fabulous fuchsias to brighten up your garden
Basic care
Fuchsias are renowned for their mass of distinctive, pendulous flowers. They can be grown as shrubs, standards, trailing over baskets or even trained along lattice.
Fuchsias need a sheltered, mostly shady position with morning sun. Water daily (twice daily in the heat of summer if your plants are potted) but don’t overdo it. They also benefit from a daily misting of water which increases the humidity of their environment.
A light prune after the first flowering will encourage repeat growth. Fuchsias are also greedy feeders, so sprinkle with slow release fertiliser to bring out their best.
In the garden
Choose a well-lit, shaded position with good drainage and protection from winds. Mulch well, particularly in summer, to keep their roots cool.
In pots or baskets
Use a quality, well-draining potting mix with the addition of a slow release fertiliser, along with water crystals blended through the mix to give them a good start. If a fuchsia in a pot or basket dries out, immerse the container into a bucket of water and leave it to soak thoroughly.
Propagating from cuttings
Fuchsias are very easy to propagate from cuttings. It’s a great way to swap different varieties with fellow gardeners. With plenty of healthy new growth, spring is a great time to take cuttings and within a few weeks your new plants will be ready to re-pot.
- Take tip cuttings about 10cm length with at least 3 sets of leaves. Make sure your tools are clean.
- Carefully cut off the lower 2 sets of leaves and plant into a pot containing a 50/50 mix of potting mix and coarse sand.
- Place a plastic bag or bottle over the cutting to keep the climate humid.
- Root more cuttings than you need - it’s unlikely that 100% will take, and don’t fiddle with your cuttings; allow them to root undisturbed.