Summer Survival Guide for Fuchsia
Let's talk about the cultivation method of fuchsia and share some small experiences in plant cultivation. Let's take a look together!
Fuchsia is also known as lantern begonia, with unique flower shapes and a large number of flowers. When in bloom, the flowers hang from the branches, which is very festive and highly ornamental. The flowering period of fuchsia is from April to December. If properly cared for and in a suitable environment, it can bloom all year round.
Fuchsia Cultivation Method
To care for fuchsia well, the focus should be on the following five points.
1. - - Well-drained Potting Soil - -
Fuchsia is relatively easy to grow, but in hot summer weather, it will be dormant. Overwatering can easily cause root rot and wilting. Therefore, when potting, the soil should be loose, well-drained, and fertile without waterlogging.
You can mix two parts of peat soil, two parts of decomposed leaf soil, and one part of perlite, and plant after mixing evenly. Add a sufficient amount of fermented organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer when potting, which can be fermented sheep manure, chicken manure, or soybean cake fertilizer mixed with bone meal.
2. - - Moderate Sunlight - -
Fuchsia loves light but is not tolerant to direct sunlight. It can be maintained in a semi-shaded environment, suitable for balcony or windowsill potting. In early spring, late autumn, and winter, it can be exposed to full sunlight. It is recommended to provide appropriate shading at other times to avoid direct sunlight, as it can easily get sunburned or die.
3. - - Proper Watering - -
Fuchsia requires more water during the growing season. Watering should be done when the soil feels dry to the touch and not too wet or too dry. Note that watering is not at a fixed time and should be adjusted according to the weather. When the surface of the potting soil is dry and the pot feels light when lifted, it's time to water.
4. - - Reasonable Fertilization - -
Fuchsia grows rapidly. During the seedling growing period, it is recommended to apply a balanced growth fertilizer every 7 days to promote lush growth. When flower buds appear, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer every 5-7 days to promote flower bud growth and increase the number of flowers.
Note that fertilization should be stopped in summer, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be used in autumn, and if the temperature is warm in winter and fuchsia continues to grow, fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every 10 days.
5. - - Timely Pruning - -
The natural branching of fuchsia is not very good. If you are raising it from seedlings, you need to pinch the top to promote branching. Multiple pinching can make the plant fuller.
Pinching is usually done when the seedlings have 6-8 leaves. Simply remove the top bud of the fuchsia. When the side branches grow out and have 4-6 leaves, you can pinch again to promote secondary branching.
If the pinching is late, it's okay to wait until the branches grow taller and then cut back. The cut branches can be used for cutting backup, as fuchsia is very heat-sensitive and can easily die in summer, while young seedlings are relatively heat-tolerant and can be grown in advance as backups.
In addition to pruning during the growing season, you can also prune the branches after each flowering to promote branching and control the plant shape.
Since fuchsia is not heat-tolerant and can easily die in summer, special care is needed during the summer.
Summer Survival Guide for Fuchsia
Summer Survival Guide for Fuchsia
1. - - Provide Shading - -
As summer approaches, the sunlight is very strong. First, you should shade the fuchsia to avoid direct sunlight or place it in a bright area with scattered light for maintenance.
2. - - Stop Fertilizing in Time - -
When the temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius, the growth rate of fuchsia will be very slow. Therefore, it is important to stop using fast-acting fertilizers in summer, as they can easily cause fertilizer damage to fuchsia. A small amount of fermented organic fertilizer or microbial organic fertilizer can be used.
3. - - Cooling Measures - -
When the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius, fuchsia may experience widespread wilting. Therefore, special attention should be paid to cooling. In summer, fuchsia should be placed in a relatively cool place with good ventilation. If there is an air-conditioned room, it is best to place it there, which is very helpful for fuchsia to survive the summer.
In summer, it is also important to frequently spray fuchsia and the surrounding environment to lower the temperature. At the same time, control the moisture of the potting soil. In summer, less watering is needed. If fuchsia is watered too much, it can easily cause a large number of leaves to fall, and in severe cases, the roots may rot and the plant may wilt. Therefore, it is appropriate to control watering to keep the potting soil slightly moist.
Sometimes in summer, the leaves of fuchsia may fall off in large numbers, leaving only a bare stem. At this time, it is important to note that it may be due to high temperatures or excessive watering. Appropriate cooling or water control measures should be taken.
For fuchsia with a large number of fallen leaves, there is no need to discard it in a hurry. Often, fuchsia uses leaf shedding as a way to survive. When the weather cools down in autumn, fuchsia will sprout again and continue to bloom. So, don't discard it easily before determining that the fuchsia has completely died, otherwise, it would be a loss.
The above is the experience and knowledge of fuchsia cultivation methods and summer survival guide. I hope this article can be of some help to you!