Fuchsia Delta Sara.

SeriousHoax

Hello, my sister received this Fuchsia Delta Sara last year from a friend. It was in a 3L pot, but unfortunately, this year it's not performing as well as it did last year with the lovely blue flowers.

I've told her to bring it around to my house so I can try and save it for her. Can you give me any advice, please?

Brie

Does it need new compost? 

The most glorious fuschia that we had (6 foot tall and about 5 wide) was in rotten stony soil that we had, for tidiness, covered in bark chips.  We hadn't realised when we did this was that our cats found this the perfect litter "tray" particularly on wet and cold days as the plant was an easy10 feet from the kitchen door cat flap.  I swear this is why the plant was so vigorous.  So maybe you need to get a cat?

twopenny

Is it in a new pot?

If repotting it should be about 1" bigger than the one it was in.

Any bigger and it works on roots rather than leaves, it can't find moisture also.

Also the compost. If you're putting it in a pot use John Innes 3 or soil or a mix of the two.

I know most is rubbish now a days but you could mix soil and JI3

It looks so poorly that the first thing you need is leaves so add some bonemeal or fish,blood, bone.

Water it with Postrogen to promote growth.

Murphybear

Do you have a local garden centre?  We have a brilliant one very near to where we live and if you take in a sad plant or photos then they will give you lots of help/advice.  

Working_Mum

I'd remove it from the plastic pot and repot it into something  made from ceramic or terracotta. I've found my plants (including a fuchsia) in plastic pots tend to overheat and "sweat" so not ideal for fuchsias  - I'd also give it a good feed and good water and then leave it somewhere sunny but not super scorching whilst it gathers its strength. 
When did your sister cut it back - it looks like it could have been a little harsh and it's gone into shock??
I've recently done this with a sad looking fuchsia I planted last year (in a plastic pot) and it is rallying.
Good luck 

SeriousHoax

Working_Mum said:

I'd remove it from the plastic pot and repot it into something  made from ceramic or terracotta. I've found my plants (including a fuchsia) in plastic pots tend to overheat and "sweat" so not ideal for fuchsias  - I'd also give it a good feed and good water and then leave it somewhere sunny but not super scorching whilst it gathers its strength. 
When did your sister cut it back - it looks like it could have been a little harsh and it's gone into shock??
I've recently done this with a sad looking fuchsia I planted last year (in a plastic pot) and it is rallying.
Good luck 

Think she would have cut it back about beginning of winter.

Dustyevsky

SeriousHoax said:

Working_Mum said:

I'd remove it from the plastic pot and repot it into something  made from ceramic or terracotta. I've found my plants (including a fuchsia) in plastic pots tend to overheat and "sweat" so not ideal for fuchsias  - I'd also give it a good feed and good water and then leave it somewhere sunny but not super scorching whilst it gathers its strength. 
When did your sister cut it back - it looks like it could have been a little harsh and it's gone into shock??
I've recently done this with a sad looking fuchsia I planted last year (in a plastic pot) and it is rallying.
Good luck 

Think she would have cut it back about beginning of winter.

That's not the best time to give it such a severe haircut. Where and how it's kept over winter also makes a difference. The plant is now trying to regrow from quite hard, mature wood and literally finding it tough.

Happily, Morrisons have Delta Sarah as a staple in their fuchsia offerings, so another will cost less than £2 if this one doesn't make it.

SeriousHoax

Dustyevsky said:

SeriousHoax said:

Working_Mum said:

I'd remove it from the plastic pot and repot it into something  made from ceramic or terracotta. I've found my plants (including a fuchsia) in plastic pots tend to overheat and "sweat" so not ideal for fuchsias  - I'd also give it a good feed and good water and then leave it somewhere sunny but not super scorching whilst it gathers its strength. 
When did your sister cut it back - it looks like it could have been a little harsh and it's gone into shock??
I've recently done this with a sad looking fuchsia I planted last year (in a plastic pot) and it is rallying.
Good luck 

Think she would have cut it back about beginning of winter.

That's not the best time to give it such a severe haircut. Where and how it's kept over winter also makes a difference. The plant is now trying to regrow from quite hard, mature wood and literally finding it tough.

Happily, Morrisons have Delta Sarah as a staple in their fuchsia offerings, so another will cost less than £2 if this one doesn't make it.

Thanks I passed on your message and she got one in a 3L pot.