The wild forms of the fuchsia, which is so popular with us as an ornamental plant, originally come from the rainforests of Central and South America, but have been increasingly cultivated in European gardens since the beginning of the 18th century. Many of the more than 100 different species and more than 12,000 varieties have been bred specifically for the garden or balcony and are therefore much less sensitive to the sun or cold than their predecessors were. In the following article you will find the most important information on the subject of fuchsia care.

Fuchsias need a lot of water

Should you water fuchsias?

As typical rainforest plants, fuchsias love moisture, which is why the root ball should never dry out. The plants also like it when you spray them all over from time to time - too little humidity will only result in buds and flowers drying out. Incidentally, rainy but warm summers are ideal for fuchsias, as they thrive particularly well. In very hot and dry phases you should water at least twice a day. But even if fuchsias need moisture, they - like so many other plants - do not tolerate waterlogging at all.

When and with what can I fertilize my fuchsias?

The richly flowering fuchsias are also heavy consumers, which is why they should be fertilized at least every three to four weeks during the growing season. A commercially available liquid fertilizer for flowering plants is sufficient for this.

Does it make sense to mulch fuchsias?

Since fuchsias prefer a moderately moist plant substrate and - especially if they are rather sunny - "cool" feet, you should mulch the plants with bark mulch or similar. This not only prevents the soil from drying out, but also keeps the heat-sensitive roots cool.

When and how often should you transplant potted fuchsias?

Potted fuchsias should be repotted once a year if possible, with spring being the best time to do this. Use fresh, pre-fertilized substrate and make sure not to start regular fertilization until a few weeks later.

How are fuchsias pruned correctly?

So that the woody shrubs do not become bare over the years, they should be cut back every year in early spring. Cut back diseased, withered and dried-up plant parts generously, but without cutting too deeply into the wood. In the course of the summer, faded shoots should also be removed.

Which pests or diseases are common in fuchsias?

Although fuchsias are considered to be quite robust, they are often attacked by pests or diseases - mostly due to incorrect care or unfavorable weather. Animal infestations are mainly caused by bedbugs, spider mites and aphids. In terms of diseases, gray mold rot, fuchsia rot and root rot caused by waterlogging and soil bacteria are the most common.

Fuchsias do not bloom - why is it?

If fuchsias do not want to bloom, there can be many reasons. In most cases, however, insufficient fertilization and / or an unsuitable location are behind it.

Are fuchsias hardy?

There are specially bred, hardy fuchsia varieties that still need winter protection. On the other hand, non-hardy species and varieties are best overwintered in a cool, but frost-free place.

tips

When fertilizing, the soil should be moist but not dry - otherwise the roots cannot absorb the nutrients optimally, and they also risk burning.

Category:

Indoor plants