Fuchsias are quite widespread as ornamental plants, as the bushy shrub with the characteristic flowers is particularly popular as a pot and traffic light plant. Fuchsia bonsai, on the other hand, are quite rare because the plants are quite demanding in terms of location, substrate and care. If you pay attention to the special needs of the fuchsia, nothing stands in the way of bonsai training.
The fuchsia bonsai is very demanding
Choosing the fuchsia species and variety
In principle, all fuchsia varieties that grow upright are suitable for designing a bonsai, and half-hanging specimens can also be trained accordingly. Either a cutting from an existing plant is suitable as a starting material, or you can buy a plant in the garden center - fuchsias are mainly offered there in spring. However, if it should be a rather rare variety, you can contact specialist dealers who specialize in fuchsias.
design options
Bonsai are usually brought into the desired shape with the help of pruning measures and wires. However, fuchsias may only be formed into bonsai by means of educational pruning, since wiring is not possible due to the rather porous structure of the shoots - the branches and twigs would simply break with such an attempt. The appropriate pruning and training cuts are all the more important, because a dense crown only develops when there are many fresh shoots. In order to get the thickest trunk possible, you should keep the leaf mass as large as possible at a low height.
Caring for fuchsia bonsai properly
When caring for a fuchsia bonsai, the most difficult thing is the right supply of water and nutrients. Bonsai are traditionally cultivated in shallow planting pots, which, however, have a serious disadvantage: the substrate dries out quickly, especially in summer, which has fatal consequences for the rather moisture-loving fuchsias. It is therefore best to use a substrate that can store water at the same time, but does not form waterlogging. A mixture is suitable for this
- 1 part potting or universal soil
- 1 part sand
- 1 part clay granules (e.g. Seramis)
- 1 part peat soil
and about a handful or two of mature compost. Always keep the substrate slightly moist and, if possible, do not place the bonsai in direct sunlight but in light shade. In winter, even hardy fuchsia varieties should not overwinter outdoors, but in cold house conditions at eight to ten degrees Celsius.
tips
Bonsai roots should be grown as densely and close to the trunk as possible, which is why you should keep the plant pot as small as possible and also regularly cut the roots.