A newbie Fuchsia buyer, advice needed please

malebolge

sobie wrote: »

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Annabel also makes a good standard. Pinch all the side shoots of so you are left with one, central straight stem and then as it grows, keep pinching the side shoots away and use a cane to keep the stem straight. Once its got to the height you'd like you can let the top grow out. If you do this is will need frost protection as it will probably only shoot at the base next year. ...

If you want a standard, pinch out the side shoots, as mentioned. If you want a bushy plant, pinch out the tips. Either way, you can take cuttings very very easily from fuchias and grow them in a glass of water on the windowsill.

The way I do it is: Use a sharp knife or secateurs to cut. There should be a tip, and 2 sets of leaves. If there's any flower buds on the tip, pinch them off cause it encourages the roots to grow. Make the cut just under the second set of leaves.

The new roots come from leaf nodes - these are where the leaves join the main stem. pinch off the lower leaves making sure you don't damage the part where stem & leaf join. Doesn't matter if you leave a bit of the leaf stem on, but don't leave the full leaf as it'll rot in the water.

Pop your cuttings in a jar or glass and fill with water. You'll get new roots appearing in 1-2 weeks. When you've got a decent amount of root - pot the new plant up in compost and you've a new fuchia!

I reckon I get at least a dozen plants from every one I buy.

cyclonebri1

They can be kept going for many years, but the flowers get fractionally smaller each year, but, they have to be one of the easiest plants in the garden or greenhouse to take cuttings off, almost every soft cutting taken and dropped in a tumbler of water will root, no need for hormone powder.

They also transfer easily from water to compost when potting up

I overwintered 8 hardy fushias in a cold conservatory last year, 2 didn't make it, including the 1 I was training as a standard, so beware.