A bad year for fuchsias?

A._Badger

Has anyone else been having trouble with fuchsias this summer?

Several have developed badly mottled leaves which eventually drop. Marinka seems to be worst affected, though Blackie is also suffering.

It isn't fuchsia rust, nor red spider mite damage and I doubt it's nutritional as they are in a decent compost, fortified with Osmocote and the watering has been pretty consistent.

These are outside grown, in containers, both in sun and shade.

I'd be interested to hear if it's just me who is having a problem.

uppsadaisy

I'm new to gardening but got several small fushias from b n q, and took some cuttings off the plants I already had. Generally they are all ok. The best one is in full sun, thats shot up. Ive nit feed tgem. I think I may have put some epsom salt in the soil when planting but cant quite remember.

Ps im in London.

peter_the_piper

I suspect that its to do with the heat. I cant speak for marinka as w! had none left but mike muersing and harry gray suffered worst for us. Im hoping they will recover as the weather Gets cooler.

busiscoming2

Mine usually do really well. This year though, even though I water them regularly they don't seem to be as happy. One in particular just didn't grow or flower, one has gone pale and looks ill and a couple of others seem fine. Sorry I don't know their varieties.

peter_the_piper

uppsadaisy wrote: »

I'm new to gardening but got several small fushias from b n q, and took some cuttings off the plants I already had. Generally they are all ok. The best one is in full sun, thats shot up. Ive nit feed tgem. I think I may have put some epsom salt in the soil when planting but cant quite remember.

Ps im in London.

Please feed them!! Just as directed on the packet. Not necessary to put epsom salts in the soil generally.
We get lots of people asking why their plants have not done well, when asked when they last fed them, they look astonished that they should need feeding because they water them.

cyclonebri1

All my over wintered ones, both parent plants and last years cuttings have suffered some form of burn or leaf damage.
I added 2 new varieties and they have grown exceptionally well and provided many cuttings.
I think in my case it's time I replaced the older ones, there's enough choice out their.

Incidentally, 1 variety I planted this year was a trailer called Bella Rosella.
Now I've grown large varieties in the past, Texas Longhorn being 1 of the largest, but this is unbelievable.
I'm not exaggerating as I measured this, the petals were just over 6" at max spread. If you find 1 buy it, but I'm guessing it will need tender overwintering

malebolge

I'll second how beautiful Bella Rosella is. I got mine from Thomson & Morgan in a fuchia giants collection - checked and they're still on the site, available for delivery from March next year. My fuchias overwintered well, but like cyclonebri1, I had leaf damage (and the dreaded vine weevil grubs, which seemed to be impervious to the nematodes I used) so I took advantage of a discount deal on the T&M ones.
I tender overwinter all my large doubles; last winter I did leave a few out and they survived but it was a mild one, and although they have flowered they're nowhere near as good as fresh cuttings from parent plants.
This year hasn't been a great display, due more to vine weevil grubs than anything else though. I changed from provado to the nematodes and the blighters seemed to thrive.