Beginner seeking help with fuchsia

silvercar

Real beginner here.

I’ve just bought and planted some hardy fuchsia riccartonii.

I know they need regular watering. Should I be pinching out? Some of the branches are trailing near the ground, should I cut them back? Should I tie up one of the branches to encourage some height?

 

Chris25

according to Crocus .co.uk website - To encourage bushy growth, pinch out the growing tips of young plants after the sixth or seventh pair of leaves. During the growing season water regularly, applying a balanced liquid fertiliser each month. Cut back to the permanent framework in early spring.
I should think the lower branches would be fine but if you're happy to forgo those flowers for this season, that should help to bush it out.

[Deleted User]

That's quite a poor specimen there and i'd be more concerned with protecting it from damage first; damage in the form of slugs/snails aswell as being knocked by pets or pidgeons.
If it were me, with such a thin plant, i'd probably grow it in a pot until it matured a bit more - that way you could keep it safer.

Davesnave

I agree with Catsacor; the fuchsia is a poor wee specimen to be competing with the likes of large laurel and needs growing on a bit before being liberated. It hasn't been grown well and there are signs of red spider mite infestation (those brownish patches under the leaves around the mid-rib). If you pot it up , grow it on and plant in October, it'll do better. You may shorten existing stems back by about 1/3 as it should not be making flowers this year. The red spider mite will weaken it, so grow in semi shaded spot and keep mist spraying the leaves with water. It may lose many of them anyway.

peter_the_piper

As above ^^ but I would spray with an appropriate bug killer .

Davesnave

Trouble is, knowing what is effective, although appropriate is easier. I'm still relying on an acaricide from the days before it was banned by the grey suits in the EU!

silvercar

Thanks all.
I bought 4 for £10, so not too expensive if it turns out to be a mistake!

Davesnave

Oh they will be fine, and coming from Edinburgh originally they'll be hardy enough if they make it to a good size before winter.

silvercar

[Deleted User] said:

That's quite a poor specimen there and i'd be more concerned with protecting it from damage first; damage in the form of slugs/snails aswell as being knocked by pets or pidgeons.
If it were me, with such a thin plant, i'd probably grow it in a pot until it matured a bit more - that way you could keep it safer.

Today it was uprooted, I think a pigeon was to blame. It’s now in a pot with some rooting powder on the broken root. 

silvercar

silvercar said:

[Deleted User] said:

That's quite a poor specimen there and i'd be more concerned with protecting it from damage first; damage in the form of slugs/snails aswell as being knocked by pets or pidgeons.
If it were me, with such a thin plant, i'd probably grow it in a pot until it matured a bit more - that way you could keep it safer.

Today it was uprooted, I think a pigeon was to blame. It’s now in a pot with some rooting powder on the broken root. 

Half dead I dipped it in rooting powder and stuck it in a pot outdoors and ignored it. Now 4 weeks later I see signs of life 

what do I do now? Keep it outdoors or should I bring it inside. Should I cut back the stem?
thanks for any help.

Farway

I'd leave well alone for the moment, let it settle before you try anything else.

Weather is reasonable for a couple of months yet so no rush