Fuchsias are usually propagated via top cuttings. This method not only promises numerous and above all varietal offspring, it also works without any major problems. Some fuchsias - especially the hybrids - also develop root suckers that are simply cut off and replanted. On the other hand, propagation by seed is a little more complicated (but not impossible!).
The fuchsia is easy to propagate from cuttings
Propagation of fuchsia cuttings
With hybrids and crosses in particular, you can only achieve varietal offspring through vegetative propagation of cuttings. Fuchsias root quite quickly and reliably, provided the soil is pleasantly warm. Temperatures between 18 and 20 °C are optimal. In order to achieve this, heated seed trays are often used in nurseries. Both soft head cuttings and woody autumn cuttings can be used for propagation.
summer cuttings
The optimal month for propagating fuchsias is July.
- Cut off shoots about 5 to 10 centimeters long.
- Remove all but four of the bottom leaves.
- Plant the cuttings in a sand-peat mixture (ratio 1:1)
- either straight into the cold frame
- or put the culture vessels in a sheltered place.
- Protect the cuttings from direct sun.
- Keep the growing medium moist and warm.
The rooted cuttings (recognizable by the new young leaves) are potted in a substrate made of garden and standard soil (ratio 1:3) and placed in a greenhouse before winter. From May you can plant them out in the garden; the shoots are shortened a bit so that the plants branch out better. The first real flowering often occurs as early as midsummer.
autumn cuttings
If you want to propagate your fuchsias in autumn using woody cuttings, do not use top cuttings, but so-called cracklings - i. H. There is still a piece of bark tongue on the cutting. This contains a particularly large amount of growth hormones and thus facilitates rooting in a completely natural way. Otherwise, proceed in exactly the same way as when propagating with soft cuttings. Incidentally, fuchsia cuttings can also be rooted in a water glass and then planted.
Propagating fuchsias by seed
Propagating fuchsias by seed is a bit complicated. However, this is not due to the type of sowing itself, but simply to the fact that the seeds only remain germinable for a very short time. For this reason there is really no point in buying fuchsia seeds - as a rule they will not germinate anyway. However, you can sow fresh, self-harvested seeds immediately after harvesting.
- Carefully remove the seeds from the ripe berries.
- Carefully remove the flesh
- and let seeds dry on absorbent paper.
- Sow seeds in seed compost
- and cover thinly with soil.
- Fuchsias belong to the dark germs!
- Cover the seed pot with foil or similar and keep the substrate moist.
- Temperature should be between 16 and 20 °C.
Germination usually occurs after three to four weeks.
tips
Occasionally it is advised to divide fuchsias. In principle, a division is possible, but should only be done in exceptional cases (e.g. if the plants have grown very large). Over the years, fuchsias form a fairly deep and branched root system that can be damaged by division. This in turn affects the further growth of the plant.