Fuchsia

Family. Onagraceae.

Homeland. South America.

Description. The Fuchsia genus consists of deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs.

The stems are erect or gracefully drooping, becoming woody at the base with age.

The leaves are green, glossy, usually simple, elliptical, 4-7 cm long, arranged oppositely or in whorls of 3-5 pieces. The edges of the leaf blades have small teeth.

Flowers suspended on long stalks, solitary or in small inflorescences. The shades of flowers vary from white, soft pink, to lilac, blue, violet and red; there are varieties with flowers painted in contrasting shades.

The sepals are wide open, the petals are very attractive, wavy-curved, reminiscent of a skirt, the stamens are very long and thin. The hanging buds resemble ballerinas twirling in wide skirts. There are simple and double varieties.

If you pollinate the flowers of fuchsia, the plants form round edible fruits that taste like grapes.

Ampelous fuchsias are perhaps one of the most beautiful plants for growing in hanging pots: their stems with hanging bright flowers hang in a beautiful cascade over the edges of the pots.

Height. The height varies greatly depending on the specific species and variety and can be from 20 cm to more than 1 m .

Care at home

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

Fuchsia propagates vegetatively - by stem cuttings 8 - 10 cm long or by sowing seeds in the spring.

The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings and the bases are dipped in rooting powder.

For planting, prepare small plastic cups or pots with drainage holes.

The bottom of the containers is lined with a layer of small pebbles, expanded clay or foam balls - such a layer will help quickly remove moisture from the roots.

Fill the cups with nutritious and loose soil, the surface of which is thoroughly moistened using a sprayer with water at room temperature.

The bases of the cuttings are immersed 1 - 2 cm into the soil surface.

Cover the seedlings with clear plastic or glass to maintain uniform humidity.

New growth usually appears within a month. Cuttings can even be rooted in water.

Sometimes propagated by seeds, but bushes obtained from seeds may not retain the varietal characteristics of the parent plants.

Maintenance, pruning 

If it is possible to maintain coolness during the dormant period, fuchsia care will not take much time and will not require much effort. Some varieties require regular pinching of apical buds to form a dense crown - others can be formed as a standard tree. It will also be very interesting to grow as a flowering tree - bonsai. Tall species may need support for growth. Timely remove wilting buds to extend the flowering period. Tall bushes will need formative pruning, which is carried out in early spring.

Take the flowers out into the garden in the warm season, taking care of gradual acclimatization to new conditions. In the fall, shoots can shed leaves - this is normal for some species. Faded branches are cut off, and after a month they begin to grow again and often repeat flowering. Weak, diseased shoots should be removed with a sharp sterile instrument.

Transplanting

Fuchsia prefers tight conditions - this way its flowering will be more abundant. Replant in early spring, before new shoots appear. The pot should have large drainage holes.

Flowering time 

From spring to autumn, fuchsias can bloom very abundantly and for a long time.

Diseases and pests 

Leaves wrinkle when the soil dries out. Direct sunlight on hot days can cause leaf burns. Drought during the flowering period causes plants to drop buds. The tips of the leaves turn brown and dry if the air humidity is low. One of the most common problems is that fuchsias can drop leaves - sometimes this happens in the fall, before the bushes go dormant, and then this is normal. When grown in high humidity conditions, the leaves can turn yellow and fall off, similar problems occur with magnesium deficiency.

Of the harmful insects, whiteflies, aphids, spider mites sometimes appear.

Watering 

During the growing season, keep the soil evenly moist, preventing it from drying out. In the fall, gradually reduce the frequency of watering and during the dormant period simply protect the soil from drying out completely. 

Temperature

If possible, keep the fuchsia cool; even during the growth period, the plants prefer temperatures around 16 - 18 ° C. Higher temperatures shorten the flowering period or even cause the shoots to drop their buds. The rest period should take place at a temperature of 7 - 10 ° C.

Feeding 

From April to September, regular fertilizing with liquid complex fertilizers is carried out every 2 weeks. In the fall, feeding is stopped and resumed only with the beginning of new growth. 

Lighting

Shoots and leaves should receive at least 3-4 hours of direct sunlight daily. Shade only from the hot midday sun.

Soil 

Fuchsias prefer soil that is rich in nutrients and has good drainage. A mixture of leaf humus, peat and sand with the addition of well-rotted manure and small pieces of charcoal is suitable. The pH level should be neutral or alkaline.

Spraying 

Place the pot on a tray of damp pebbles or use a humidifier. The pot can be surrounded with a thick layer of moist sphagnum moss.  Provide this plant with good air circulation, but keep it away from cold drafts.

Purpose

Depending on the specific species, representatives of this genus can be used as a hanging plant or for vertical gardening.

Hydroponics

You can grow fuchsia hydroponically.