In their natural habitat, fuchsias grow in the nutrient-rich, humus-rich and moist soil of their rainforest home in the Peruvian Andes. The perennial plants can easily become 15 years and older, but woody over time. For this reason, a regular pruning - ideally carried out annually - is essential.

An annual pruning promotes the abundance of flowers in the fuchsia

Cut back fuchsia annually

Fuchsias only bloom on soft shoots this year. However, since these become lignified from autumn and thus age, fuchsias that have not been pruned become more and more lazy with the years. To prevent this, you should cut back the plants once a year. You remove about a third to half of the bush without cutting too far into the old wood. Leave at least 10 centimeters of the wood! You should also remove faded and sickly parts of the plant immediately so that the fuchsia stays healthy and blooms diligently throughout the summer.

Pruning: Better before winter or in spring?

It is up to you whether you carry out the annual pruning in the fall or in the spring. However, there are some good reasons for an autumn cut:

  • cut back, hardy fuchsias are easier to overwinter
  • fuchsias that are cut back and not hardy take up less space in the winter quarters
  • pruned fuchsias need less light in winter (less foliage = less light)
  • Above-ground plant parts of hardy fuchsias freeze back anyway
  • Dried plant parts are potential targets for pathogens
  • Fungi etc. nest there more easily and weaken the plant
  • You don't run the risk of missing the right time for a pruning in the spring

Raising a standard fuchsia

However, the lignification also offers the opportunity to train fuchsias not only as a bush, but also as a standard or even as a bonsai. However, these growth forms require regular parental pruning over the years.

  • Support the cutting of a standing fuchsia variety with a stake.
  • Semi-hanging varieties can also be used for this purpose.
  • Regularly cut off all side shoots.
  • As a result, the plant grows faster and develops a stem.
  • Once the fuchsia has reached the desired height, let the side shoots grow.
  • However, avoid "wild growth" but form a crown through targeted cutting.

In terms of care, standard fuchsias or bonsai make the same demands as naturally growing fuchsias.

tips

We know fuchsias primarily as bushy plants or specially trained high stems. What is less known is that Fuchsia excorticata is also a fuchsia that grows as a tree. This is native to New Zealand and is called "Kotukutuku" there.

Category:

Indoor plants