How to care for Fuchsia
Let's talk about the cultivation of Fuchsia in family gardening. How to care for Fuchsia? Let's answer your questions in detail.
Fuchsia is very popular among flower enthusiasts because of its lantern-like appearance, but many gardeners don't know how to care for it. Here, I share my experience in growing Fuchsia and feedback from other gardeners for your reference.
Firstly, temperature is worth noting.
Fuchsia prefers cool temperatures, with an optimal growth range of 15°C to 25°C. In most parts of our country, it's challenging to survive the summer and winter. In the south, it's difficult to survive the summer and requires placement in an air-conditioned room or under tree shade, with appropriate foliar watering to cool down. You can also place the Fuchsia pot in a larger pot with two bricks as a base, allowing water to evaporate and cool down. In the south, if the temperature does not drop below 0°C in winter, it generally won't be a problem, except for leaf dormancy. It's best to move it indoors before the first frost. In the north, such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, it's easier to survive the summer, but winter insulation must be done early, placing it in a warm, well-lit indoor area. When the temperature reaches 30°C in summer, Fuchsia grows very slowly, and at 35°C, it will wither and die in large numbers. This is a major bottleneck limiting the popularity of Fuchsia, and many gardeners can only treat it as a seasonal flower.
Secondly, the humidity of Fuchsia should not be ignored.
Fuchsia prefers humidity, so in daily maintenance, it's necessary to increase air humidity by spraying water on the leaves and around the pot in the morning and evening. During the hot midday, avoid spraying water directly on the leaves and instead spray more around the pot. The frequency of watering can be arranged as needed. Watering should be done when the soil is dry, and in hot summer areas, it's best to water in the morning and evening when the temperature is lower. During the plum rain season, it should be placed indoors to prevent root rot. In cool areas, it can be watered by rain, but the pot must be breathable and excess water should be drained to prevent root hypoxia.
Next, lighting is essential for all plants.
Although Fuchsia fears strong light, it cannot do without sunlight. A lack of sunlight not only causes leggy growth but also leads to pale flowers, smaller blooms, and even bud drop. Therefore, when growing Fuchsia at home, it can be placed on a sunny balcony or terrace. In hot summer areas, it can be placed outdoors in the morning and evening when the temperature is slightly lower for photosynthesis. The amount of photosynthesis determines the plant's nutrient reserves, and only with appropriate lighting can Fuchsia produce bright, normal flowers. Lighting needs to be considered in conjunction with temperature and humidity conditions, and in hot summer areas, indoor care is generally chosen, placing it in a well-lit air-conditioned room. In these areas, the goal in summer is simply to keep Fuchsia alive.
After mastering temperature, humidity, and lighting, daily fertilization also needs attention.
After purchasing a Fuchsia seedling, you can change to a larger pot and add base fertilizer, preferably organic fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer, following the instructions. Generally, apply a light fertilizer every ten days, and during the flowering period, apply a mix of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once or twice to supply enough nutrients. A combination of foliar spraying and root watering is best. After flowering, you can apply some compound fertilizer to promote the growth of new branches and bud differentiation for the next flowering season. No need to fertilize when it's too hot or cold to prevent plant damage. For young seedlings, add organic fertilizer as base fertilizer when repotting, with no more than one-fourth of the pot soil. Young seedlings can be sprayed with 0.1% urea once a week to promote growth.
In daily maintenance, Fuchsia plants can generally be divided into hanging and upright types, requiring pruning to promote丰满 growth and bud differentiation. For the hanging type, just pinch the top after flowering, and if the branches are too long, you can prune them according to personal preference, removing about one-third. The upright type also just needs to be pinched after flowering to promote the growth of new branches and make the plant more丰满. After new branches grow, remove inner and weak branches. In hot summer areas, you can prune heavily, removing about half of the branches to help survive the summer.
During pruning, you can also combine cutting. Water cutting has the highest survival rate and is the simplest method. Sharing your Fuchsia with family, friends, and fellow gardeners is a great way to build relationships and make new friends. Let me teach you the simplest water cutting method.
Water cutting requires some preparation, such as selecting healthy, vigorous branches. Cut the end of the branch with a sharp scissors, which heals quickly and is less likely to get infected. The longer the cutting end, the easier it is to plant in the soil, and the more roots it has. Let the cut branch dry for a while to allow the wound to contract. Cut off the top of the branch, as this part easily dehydrates and usually has developing flower buds, which consume the cutting's nutrients and are not conducive to root growth. Then place the cutting in a prepared disposable cup and put it in a place with scattered sunlight. The water used can be mineral water, pond water, river water, stream water, or rainwater, but not tap water, as it contains bleach...
If all goes well, in about 15 days, the roots of the cutting will have grown to about one centimeter. During the cutting period, you can spray a little potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote root growth. When the roots are about two centimeters long and there are many root hairs, you can add soil to the cup, cut a few holes in the bottom of the cup or make a few slashes with a knife to allow excess water to drain out and provide enough air for the roots to breathe, reducing root rot. Note that at this time, the roots may not adapt to the soil environment, so you need to cut off the wilted, dehydrated leaves and place them in a shady place to recover. After the leaves recover, they can gradually adapt to strong light. After a period of recovery, new buds will grow, and the cutting's growth rate will accelerate. At this time, you can spray some foliar fertilizer, such as 0.1% urea, to promote root and leaf growth. You can see roots growing after about a week of potting. After the roots fill the disposable cup, you can transfer it to a slightly larger nutrient pot or a smaller flower pot, which makes it easier to control the soil moisture and prevent root rot. After three months, the plant can grow into a strong seedling, with some growing fast and others slow due to variety differences and personal care. I hope this simple method is helpful to everyone.
Currently, the main way to obtain Fuchsia is to buy it from a local flower market, followed by exchanges with friends, asking friends to purchase, or buying it online. When buying Fuchsia online, pay attention to acclimatization and authenticity. Regarding authenticity, I won't say much here. The key to shipping Fuchsia across regions is acclimatization. Many people can't bear to prune the buds and branches after receiving the seedlings, but at this time, Fuchsia is very weak. During long-distance shipping, Fuchsia will be dehydrated and damaged to varying degrees, and the damage to the roots and leaves during transportation will slow down later growth. Therefore, after receiving the seedlings, you need to prune the branches and leaves and provide adequate humidity and watering to replenish moisture. It's best to buy online during cool, rainy seasons to aid acclimatization. If you can't avoid summer shipping, check the weather forecast in advance to predict if the weather will be suitable for acclimatization after the package arrives.
The comprehensive method for caring for Fuchsia introduced above hopes to solve your green plant problems.