Fuchsia (lat. Fuchsia) – evergreen perennial shrub, belonging to the fireweed family. This plant pleases the eye with bright flowers of various shades, which is why they so often like to plant it on home windowsills. The homeland of fuchsias is New Zealand, South and Central America. The flower has been cultivated for more than 200 years. Below we will tell you in more detail about how to care for fuchsia, how often to water it, when to replant it, and what to do if it does not bloom.
In nature, fuchsia looks like a shrub with flexible branches and oval leaves, slightly jagged at the edges. Depending on the type of fuchsia indoor blooms at different times of the year, so you have every chance to have a flowerbed on your windowsill that will be colorful from early spring to late autumn. Varieties include simple (for example, Bon Accord, Winston Churchill), semi-double (Satellite, Snowcup), double (Fuchsia Margarita) and racemose (Leverkusen).
Temperature, lighting
Proper care of fuchsia at home begins with choosing the optimal location for placement. The flower needs partial shade or bright light, but without direct sunlight. Fuchsia feels good on eastern and northern windowsills. Delicately colored varieties are best kept in partial shade, while fuchsias with bright colors should be kept in a well-lit place.
The plant loves cool rooms, so in summer you should try to ensure the room temperature is up to 24°C, and in winter – up to 15°C. In the warm season, the flower can be taken out onto the balcony or street, choosing a well-lit place. The plant does not tolerate heat well and needs to be sprayed, but this must be done after sunset. You can place the pot with the plant on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay. To make fuchsia less likely to overheat in summer, choose a light-colored pot.
Soil and watering
The fuchsia flower loves moist soil, but excessive watering can lead to rotting of the root system. Provide drainage layer from expanded clay or pebbles at the bottom of the pot. In the warm season, fuchsia needs to be watered regularly, but at the same time make sure that it has time to dry. top layer soil. Water must be settled or filtered. IN winter time Watering fuchsia needs to be reduced to a minimum. Provide the flower with a period of rest, but do not allow the earthen clod to dry out.
The plant loves loose, breathable soil. If you prepare the soil for fuchsia yourself, it is best to take 3 parts of turf soil, 3 parts of leaf humus, 1 part each of sand and peat. If you buy ready-made soil in a store, choose a universal one or for flowering plants. You can add a little peat mixture to it.
It is necessary to fertilize fuchsia with complex fertilizers for flowering plants during the growing season. Add fertilizer to the water for irrigation once every 1-2 weeks from the moment the first buds appear on the flower. You can add liquid fertilizer into the water for spraying, but only until the buds open. Stop feeding in September, when the shoots ripen. In winter, during the dormant period, there is no need to fertilize fuchsia.
Pruning and replanting
Thanks to the flexibility of fuchsia branches, it can be given an ampelous, bush or pyramidal shape. The plant is pruned before wintering and in spring. Before sending the fuchsia to rest, old branches are shortened by 2/3, and young ones by 1/3. All leaves, flowers and buds are removed. In the spring, you should shorten the branches by 2 more buds, remove dried ones and those that grow inside the crown.
If pruning was not done in the fall, double work needs to be done in the spring. To ensure a beautiful shape and prevent the plant from becoming bare, new branches must be pinched twice in the spring. The last pinching should be done in the last ten days of May so as not to delay flowering.
Houseplant fuchsia requires annual replanting. It is necessary to take a pot 3-4 cm larger in diameter and height than the previous one. A container that is too large will provoke the growth of new shoots, but will slow down flowering. Bushes up to 3 years old are simply transferred to new pots, and in adult fuchsias the soil is partially changed or 3 cm of fresh soil is added on top.
Growing fuchsia in open ground
Fuchsias do well outdoors. Moreover, this significantly reduces the risk of pest infection - in a hot and dry room, fuchsia is much more often attacked by spider mites and aphids.
Planting
You need to transfer the flower to open ground in late spring - early summer. So that fuchsia can withstand winds and rains, a support is first dug into the ground. Fertilizing with biological fertilizers is effective.
For planting in the ground, it is better to select varieties with powerful, straight shoots. It is better to choose a shaded place, since most fuchsias do not tolerate direct sunlight. But there are also hybrid varieties bred for growing in sunny areas - “Coral”, “Aloha”. It is better to plant ampelous compact varieties directly in pots, because the flowers will still have to be put indoors for the winter.
Cold-resistant fuchsias that can withstand frosty winters open ground, very few (for example, fuchsia Magellan). Some gardeners have conducted successful experiments in wintering fuchsias outdoors - with the onset of cold weather, the above-ground part of the plant was cut off at the root, and the area with the roots was insulated. If you want to be sure to preserve the plant, it is better to put it indoors or outdoors by winter. glazed loggia, because fuchsias love cool wintering. At the same time, do not forget about pruning before the winter holidays.
Problems when growing fuchsias
Even if you are sure that you know how to care for a flower, no one is immune from periodic difficulties. Fuchsias rarely get sick, but are susceptible to attacks by whiteflies, aphids and spider mite.
Pests
- Whitefly. When whitefly infests fuchsia, spots appear on the leaves, they turn yellow and fall off. Sooty fungus appears on damaged areas.
- Spider mite. When a plant is infected with a spider mite, the leaves become discolored and fall off, and black dots are visible on their reverse side. The pest loves rooms with low air humidity.
- Aphid. When aphids are infested, you can notice colonies on the outer parts of the plant. The leaves curl, the stems bend, and the buds remain unopened.
If pests have just appeared, it can help fight them warm shower(with water temperature 36-38 °C). After the procedure, the plant must be allowed to dry and only then exposed to sunlight. If this does not help, you should apply the insecticide 3 times with an interval of 7 days. The solution is prepared according to the instructions, after which the crown is sprayed with it and covered with a plastic bag for half an hour, and the substrate is watered with a 2-fold diluted dose for spraying.
Other problems
- Falling of buds and leaves can be observed when the watering regime is violated, there is a lack of lighting, a sudden change in location in relation to the light, or hot air.
- A short flowering period for fuchsia can be caused by insufficient fertilizing, lack of light and humidity during the growth period, and insufficiently cool wintering.
- Brown spots and yellowing of leaves appear due to waterlogging of the soil during the cold season.
Fuchsia blossom
The plant blooms profusely and for a long time. The flowers consist of a tubular corolla with curved edges and a bright calyx. They somewhat resemble lanterns hanging from branches. Fuchsia blooms can be either monochromatic (pink, red, orange, white, purple, lilac) or contain several shades at once.
During the flowering period, it is important not to turn the plant with its other side towards the light source, otherwise it may drop its flowers. Wilted ones must be removed immediately so as not to stimulate the ripening of inflorescences, which shortens the flowering period. Typically, the flowering period of fuchsia does not provoke allergic reactions in others.
Fuchsia propagation
Fuchsia can be propagated at home using seeds or cuttings. It is best to start the growing process in the spring. Fuchsia loves cool weather, and in summer the cuttings often rot from high air temperatures.
Cuttings
It is necessary to take young fuchsia cuttings 10-20 cm long, since woody ones will take longer to take root. Before placing the cutting in water, you need to remove all lower leaves and shorten the remaining ones so that the evaporation of moisture through them does not weaken the sprout. You can use regular filtered water.
To prevent moisture evaporation, you can build a greenhouse over a container of water by covering the cuttings plastic bag. The first roots sometimes appear within 4 days, although the process usually takes 10-14 days. There is no need to wait for long roots to appear - the cuttings can be transplanted into the substrate as soon as they hatch.
There is another way to root cuttings - placing them directly into the substrate. In this case, placing a greenhouse is necessary, otherwise the leaves will lose turgor. The advantage of such rooting is that the cutting adapts to the soil faster. After rooting, the greenhouse can be removed. At first, there will be a loss of leaf turgor until the plant gets used to a lower level of indoor humidity than in the greenhouse.
Propagation by seeds
This method is complex, but interesting, since a plant grown from seeds rarely retains the properties of the original flower. To do this, you need to exclude self-pollination of fuchsia and pollination by insects. The anthers of the still unopened flower are removed, and the pollen of the paternal plant is applied to the stigma of the pistil.
After this, a fabric or paper cover is put on the flower to protect it from insects. When the fruit is ripe, it is carefully cut, the seeds are removed and dried for a couple of days. It is best to sow seeds in March-April on moist soil, then place the container in a greenhouse and provide good lighting and room temperature.
Shoots appear after 2 weeks, and after 1.5-2 months the seedlings can be planted more spaciously. After another two months, the young plants can be planted in separate pots. The seedlings gradually adapt to the environment, periodically opening the greenhouse slightly. If this is done abruptly, young shoots may die.
If fuchsia doesn't bloom
The reason for the short flowering of fuchsia may be an insufficiently cool winter. If kept in a hot room, the plant may not bloom at all. The absence of flowers can also provoke:
- excessive or insufficient watering;
- poor lighting;
- lack of nutrients in the soil.
Purchase Features
Fuchsia can be purchased at a specialized flower shop or greenhouse. When choosing a seedling, pay attention to appearance plants - roots should not protrude above the substrate, leaves should not have spots or dry areas. The top of the central shoot should not be damaged or pinched. The plant must be accompanied by a certificate indicating the variety, bush shape and a photograph of flowering. The cost of a young rooted fuchsia cutting is 200 rubles.
Fuchsia is a houseplant with bright colors, which can be planted even in open ground. At proper care it will delight you with long-lasting flowering. Fuchsias are easily propagated by cuttings, which makes it easy to expand the collection.
Fuchsia known to gardeners as a charming plant with flowers called who " Chinese lanterns", Who " ballerinas", very popular and unpretentious plant. But this one indoor flower, nestled comfortably on an ordinary windowsill, was a mighty tree that grew in abundance in New Zealand and Central America in time immemorial.
IN indoor floriculture Mostly hybrid fuchsia is grown ( Fuchsia hybrida), numbering a huge number of varieties, both double and semi-double, white, burgundy, red, purple.
Fuchsia - home care
Content temperature
In the warm season, the optimal temperature for fuchsia will be within +20-25 degrees. In principle, higher temperatures are allowed, but not too much. When the temperature rises to +30 degrees, fuchsia can shed its leaves. This should be especially taken into account if you plant it in open ground for the summer, which is not only allowed, but also has a beneficial effect on it. But in this case it must be planted in a place where it cannot be heated to critical temperature. In the summer, many gardeners treat fuchsia as if it were a plant, that is, they dig it into the ground along with the pot. This will allow you to quickly change its location without damaging the plant.
In winter, this indoor plant must be given a rest. Accordingly, the temperature during this period should be significantly reduced (about +8-12 degrees). But severe hypothermia is just as dangerous as overheating. This especially applies to the root system. To maintain optimal winter temperatures, fuchsia is placed on the windowsill at this time, where the required temperature is most likely. In order to avoid hypothermia of the roots from a cold window sill or, on the contrary, overheating from a window sill heated by a radiator, the flower pot must be isolated from it. This is easy to do - place the pot on a suitable piece of foam.
Lighting
Indoor fuchsia is a light-loving flower, but the light for it should be, although bright, diffused, without midday sun rays, which pose a danger to most indoor plants. At home best place for the vast majority of indoor flowers, and fuchsia in particular, these are windows oriented to the east or west. Even if in the morning or evening hours if a certain amount of sunlight falls on the flower, it will only benefit it. The same rule should be used if you plant fuchsia in open ground.
Please note. During flowering, you cannot rearrange or rotate the flower! This can trigger the shedding of flowers and buds.
Watering, air humidity and fertilizers
Fuchsia, which is essentially very simple to care for at home, still requires proper watering. During the period of active development, which occurs in the spring-summer period, it must be watered regularly and abundantly. But regularity does not mean continuous watering and waterlogging of the soil. Here it is necessary to follow the rule of the “golden mean”. The smartest thing to do is to water the fuchsia as soon as the top layer of soil in the pot dries out.. This way, you will protect it from drying out and overflowing.
In winter, watering is significantly reduced. Some seasoned gardeners recommend not watering it at all in October-November, but I would not recommend novice gardeners to do this. Let the soil dry (not completely), and then water it. In general, it is recommended to water fuchsia once or twice a month if it is kept cool. This will be enough. For watering at any time of the year, use settled water, preferably soft and, of course, not cold.
In summer, try to spray the flower regularly. Fuchsia loves it. Others can also be used. During the dormant period, the flower should not be sprayed.
Fuchsia is fed only during the growing season. From March until the onset of autumn, it can be fed with any complex fertilizer for flowering indoor plants weekly ( good result showed fertilizers for ). From the end of summer, fertilizing should be gradually reduced, and with the onset of the dormant period, it should be stopped altogether.
Transfer
At home, replanting fuchsia is a mandatory and annual event, regardless of the age of the plant. It is carried out in the spring, before the start of the growing season. During the same period, other manipulations with the plant are carried out that accompany the transplantation. Be sure to prune the plant before planting. Remove dried, weak or, on the contrary, elongated (fatten) shoots completely. Cut the rest by a third. Taking the plant out of the pot, be sure to check the roots. Remove damaged areas, if any.
It is best to plant fuchsia in a ceramic pot. He'll protect better root system from overheating and hypothermia than plastic. With each transplant, take a pot slightly larger than the previous one, about 1-2 centimeters in diameter.
Unpretentious fuchsia to the composition of the earth special requirements does not present. There are many soil mixtures on sale that are suitable for replanting. This is usually light, loose soil. If you want to make your own soil for fuchsia, you can mix the following ingredients:
- Leaf soil - three parts;
- Peat - two parts;
- Sand (or perlite) - one part
It is highly advisable to add wood ash to the mixture.. It can also be added to the purchased mixture if it is not contained in it.
Be sure to provide.
Fuchsia propagation
Three methods of reproduction are used: seeds, leaves and cuttings. The first two methods are used much less frequently. But this does not mean that they are less effective. They are just more labor-intensive and take much longer to get results. Beginner gardeners (and experienced ones too...) prefer propagation by cuttings. That's where we'll start.
Propagation of fuchsia by cuttings
This can be done both in spring and autumn. Autumn breeding(August-September) is used mainly for slow-growing varieties. Most often, cuttings are taken in February-March, in which case flowering may occur in the same year.
- Cuttings for propagation are taken small (6-10 centimeters long) from the top of the plant, cutting them off under the lower bud.
- The lower leaves must be removed, leaving 3, maximum 4 pairs.
- You can root cuttings in loose (peaty) soil, in wet sand, and in water. For beginner flower growers, I would recommend the last method, for clarity.
- After about 20-25 days (possibly earlier), the cutting will produce roots sufficient to be planted in a pot. For young fuchsias, the composition of the soil should be as nutritious as possible. A mixture (in equal parts) of leaf, turf, humus soil and sand is recommended.
Propagation of fuchsia by leaf
- In this case, you need to take not just a separate leaf, but cut it off with a small piece of the stem.
- The petiole with a piece of stem is buried in the ground (about 1 cm). To do this, you can take the nutrient mixture described above.
- The soil and leaf are moistened and covered with a transparent cap (jar, PE bag, etc.).
- For better rooting, the leaf should be sprayed daily.
- After the young rosettes of the plant appear, they can be replanted.
Propagation of fuchsia by seeds
This process is quite complicated, so I would not recommend it to novice gardeners. Just as an experiment. The difficulty is to properly pollinate the flowers of the plant. Self-pollination of the mother plant is unacceptable! Required artificial pollination. If not all flowers are pollinated, then the pollinated one must be isolated from the rest by placing a protective film cap on it. After the flower bears fruit and it has matured, you can collect the seeds and begin sowing.
This procedure is simple and not much different from obtaining plants from seeds. The only thing I would like to note is that there is no need to bury the seeds in the ground, it is enough to scatter them on the surface of the moistened soil.
This method, despite its complexity and labor intensity, is quite interesting. After all, in this process you can truly get YOUR flower, with a unique color. So, even novice flower growers can feel like real breeders.
Pruning fuchsia
Proper pruning of the plant will not only give the bush a neat appearance, but also stimulate more abundant and lush flowering. In addition to pre-transplant pruning, there are other types of pruning.
Pruning is carried out throughout the summer. Long shoots are selectively pruned, which will later produce new flowers in the fall.
Krona correct form can be formed by evenly cutting off the shoots, leaving two to four pairs of leaves on them.
The standard form of fuchsia looks very beautiful. It's easy to get. It is enough to remove all the side branches of the plant to the desired height. For stability, the central stem of the flower is attached to a support.
And, of course, immediately after rooting the cutting, you need to take care of the future type of the plant. Once established in the permanent pot, be sure to pinch off the top.
Why doesn't fuchsia bloom?
This question comes up most often. And the reasons may be different.
The most common reason is a warm winter. If at home you cannot provide the plant with the necessary winter temperature, then in the spring, carry out a more radical pruning of the shoots.
The second reason is that the pot is too spacious. Fuchsia, like many flowering plants (for example), will not bloom until its roots completely entwine the earthen ball.
Lack of light is another reason. It can be easily removed...
Despite all the love for watering, it is excessive waterlogging that can be the reason that fuchsia does not bloom. Organize your watering.
Be sure to feed the plant. Lack of necessary nutrients may cause this problem.
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Up to 3 years - every year, after - every 2-3 years During the period of active growth 22-24, during the rest period 5-12 During the period of active growth - when the top layer of soil dries out, in winter 1-2 times a month On hot days - morning and evening every day. During the dormant period - do not spray Western and eastern windows During flowering, you cannot move the flower to another place.
Lighting
Fuchsia is a light-loving plant, but it does not tolerate bright sunlight at midday.
That's why optimal place for her - windows facing east and west. The gentle morning and evening rays of the sun will be just right.
If the flower is on a south window, shading will be needed, for example, using a transparent curtain. On a windowsill on the north side, fuchsia will also not disappear, but it will become very elongated, the flowers will become small and pale, and their number will be significantly reduced.
For a flower, it is better to immediately decide on its place. It is better not to rearrange fuchsia during flowering., because this can cause it to drop buds and even leaves. In the warm season, fuchsia can be taken out onto the balcony or into the garden. However, she needs to be accustomed to new things gradually to avoid burns.
Temperature
During the period of active growth and flowering (spring and summer), fuchsia feels best at a temperature of 22-24 degrees. IN summer time, especially in August, it can be taken out into the fresh air. However, when temperatures rise above 30 degrees, the plant may begin to shed flowers, then leaves, and may even dry out.
High air temperatures are detrimental to fuchsia
Therefore, under such conditions, the flower must be protected from sunlight and try to be placed in a cooler place. In hot conditions, sensitive roots need to be protected. Large ceramic – best option, since its plastic counterpart heats up very quickly.
in winter optimal temperature for fuchsia 5-12 degrees. Such conditions can be on a cold window sill, a glazed and insulated balcony, or near balcony doors. At this time, the plant is in a state of rest, and the low temperature serves as a guarantee abundant flowering in the subsequent growth period.
Fuchsia can tolerate room temperature in winter. But then the flower sheds some of its leaves and becomes very elongated, and in the spring it will bloom weakly or not at all with buds.
Fuchsia loves fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts well. When ventilating a room, it is important to take these factors into account.
Watering
In spring and summer, during active growth and flowering, fuchsia requires abundant watering. However, you cannot overdo this - the roots may begin to rot and the plant will die. Watering should be done when the top layer of soil in the pot has dried out a little.. The water should be settled, soft, and at room temperature.
As flowering comes to an end, watering is reduced. In winter, if the room is cool (up to 12 degrees), you need to water the plant 1-2 times a month.
Fuchsia is very demanding when it comes to watering and does not tolerate drying out of the soil. Complete drying of the earthen coma leads to the death of the plant. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil in the flower pot. With a lack of moisture, the leaves droop and look lethargic, and the plant itself may drop flowers and buds.
During cool wintering, the soil in the fuchsia pot should remain moist. Reducing watering is due to the fact that at low temperatures and excess moisture, pathogenic fungi quickly multiply, leading to root rot. But excessive dryness of the soil in winter is just as harmful to the plant as in summer.
The soil for fuchsias should be fertile, contain enough humus and retain water well.
You can buy ready-made slightly acidic soil in the store - suitable substrate for flowering plants. Or cook it yourself. Composition examples:
- Peat, deciduous soil, sand (2:3:1);
- Greenhouse soil, clay-turf soil, sand (2:3:1), a little peat chips;
- Peat, sand, leaf and turf soil, humus (1:1:1:1:1).
Among the best soil mixtures for fuchsia peat should be no more than 1/5. This material tends to dry out in the upper part of the pot and retain moisture in the lower part. Therefore, a large amount of peat leads to stagnation of water at the roots of the plant, which is invisible, since the top layer of soil dries out quickly. This leads to disease of the root system and even death of the plant.
During the flowering and growth period, fuchsia needs regular feeding, especially with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Purchased fertilizers are suitable for flowering plants or specifically for fuchsias.. Nitrogen is relevant for young plants - it stimulates growth, potassium and phosphorus - for adults - they enhance flowering.
Mineral ones can be alternated with organic ones. Sometimes it is appropriate to carry out foliar feeding– spraying along the bottom of the leaves with a weak fertilizer solution.
Feeding is carried out once every 7-10 days in spring and summer, and is stopped during the dormant period.
Humidity
High air humidity – ideal conditions for fuchsia. Therefore, especially on hot summer days, it is recommended to spray it with a spray bottle in the morning and evening.
You can place a container of water near the plant. This will also increase the humidity environment. If the plant does not have buds or flowers, you can give it a warm shower.
During the rest period high humidity can cause harm. Therefore, from autumn to the end of winter, water procedures are stopped.
Spraying on hot summer days in the morning and evening.
Diseases
Let's look at how to care for fuchsia at home during illness. The main ones that affect fuchsia are whitefly and spider mites. To get rid of them, the plant needs to be “bathed” in a warm soapy solution. If this does not help, then three times treatment with Fitoverm or Aktara with an interval of 7 days is indicated.
Diseases that affect fuchsia are black leg on young cuttings, rust on leaves. It is better to get rid of affected plants.
Due to excessive soil moisture, the plant can be affected by root rot. The first symptom of this disease is loss of leaf elasticity. The leaves droop as if there is a lack of moisture. Therefore, inexperienced gardeners tend to water the plant, aggravating the course of the disease. Usually, a flower affected by root rot cannot be saved. It is recommended to take cuttings from healthy shoots and root them.
Problems
Reproduction
Now let's study the propagation of fuchsia at home by cuttings. The simplest and effective way propagation of fuchsia - cuttings. It is propagated by apical and stem cuttings. They are being prepared early spring during planned formative pruning. But you can cut and root the cuttings you like at any other time of the year except winter.
Cuttings are taken from healthy strong shoots. They must be at least 7 cm in length and have several internodes. They are rooted in water or soil.
The easiest way to root is in water. The cuttings are placed in a shallow glass with boiled water at room temperature. After 2-3 weeks the first roots appear. When they reach a length of 4-5 cm, the cuttings can be planted in separate pots.
For rooting in the ground, you can take washed river sand or a mixture of garden soil and peat in equal parts. The cuttings are dropped into a moistened substrate and placed in partial shade. The substrate is moistened as it dries. Cuttings take longer to root in soil than in water. Sometimes it takes 1 month or more for them to develop a root system.
Root growth stimulants are usually not used to propagate fuchsia. Up to 100% of cuttings take root in water and soil.
Rooted cuttings are planted in small pots with fuchsia soil. It is recommended to plant several cuttings at once in one pot to get a decorative and lush plant. They are watered regularly and kept in partial shade for the first 2 weeks. Then the seedlings are gradually accustomed to bright, diffused lighting.
Below you will learn how to propagate fuchsia at home using seeds.
Transfer
Fuchsia is replanted in early spring before the growing season begins. Young plants, the root system of which develops quickly, are replanted annually. Adult flowers need every 2-3 years and even less often. Fuchsia does not tolerate transplantation well, therefore, until its roots have outgrown the pot, this procedure is not carried out.
To transplant fuchsia at home, you need a small and low pot. It should be 1-1.5 cm wider than the previous one.
You should not replant the flower into a spacious pot - problems with flowering may occur. Until the roots of fuchsia have mastered the entire earthen ball, it will increase leaf mass, but not bloom. Therefore, it blooms best in cramped pots.
To the bottom flower pot drainage needs to be installed to drain excess water. In addition to pebbles and expanded clay, you can put pieces of charcoal there to protect the root system from rot.
The plant is replanted by transshipment in order to damage the roots as little as possible. It is carefully removed from the pot along with the soil and placed in a new pot.
To fill the volume, use fresh earthen mixture for fuchsias. The plant should not be deeply buried. It should be no lower after the transplant than before it. After the procedure is completed, the flower is watered and placed in partial shade for 1-2 weeks.
Plant care in winter
The most difficult thing in caring for fuchsia is organizing a cool winter for this plant. The further growth and flowering of the plant depends on this. The main task of keeping fuchsia in winter is to slow down its growth. Therefore, the air temperature is reduced as much as possible, but it should not fall below 5ºC. Also important is timely soil moisture and good lighting.
Fuchsia overwinters best on insulated and glassed balcony or loggias. Here in winter the temperature suitable for its wintering is established. Also, under these conditions, the plant can be provided with good lighting, which is also important for maintaining powerful shoots.
How to water fuchsia in winter?
During the dormant period, fuchsia is rarely watered. At low temperatures, the soil in the pot dries out very slowly, so water it no more than 2 times a month.
Overmoistening in such conditions is detrimental to the flower, since there is a high risk of developing pathogenic fungal infections. During cold wintering, the flower does not need spraying.
If it is not possible to move the flower to a cold room, you can organize wintering on the windowsill.
To grow fuchsia, choose the coldest window sill, far from the heating radiators and facing southeast. It can be quite cold in such a place in winter. To reduce the temperature, you can open the window for light ventilation.
It is impossible to set the temperature on the windowsill in the apartment low enough, so the flower will grow. But its increase will be much less than with room temperature. And good lighting will prevent the shoots from stretching, which will ensure abundant flowering in the summer.
Now you know the features of caring for fuchsia in winter at home.
Growing fuchsia from seeds
Consider growing fuchsia from seeds at home. Fuchsia can be propagated by seeds, although this is extremely rarely practiced in indoor culture. This method is very labor-intensive, it is much more complicated vegetative propagation plants. However, some gardeners still grow varietal specimens from seeds.
Fuchsia seeds can be purchased at specialty stores or garden centers. However, it is advisable to take them from trusted suppliers. You can often buy expired seeds, the germination rate of which drops significantly over time.
You can also get fuchsia seeds at home. To do this you need to have 2 flowering plants. The flower is pollinated artificially, after which a fruit grows from it. Fully ripened fruits are removed and cut to allow the seeds to dry. Then they are removed and stored for no more than 1 year.
The best time to sow seeds is the end of March or the beginning of April. Sow them in small containers filled with moist peat soil. To prepare such soil, you need to mix peat and coarse sand in equal parts. Seeds should not be covered with substrate. They need to be placed on top and lightly pressed into it.
The container with seeds is covered with transparent film or glass. and kept at a temperature of 15-20ºС. Every day the film should be removed for 10-15 minutes for ventilation. The first shoots in such conditions appear after 2 weeks.
When the first leaf appears on the seedlings, the film is removed daily for more than long time, accustoming them to new conditions of existence. After 1-2 weeks they open completely. Seedlings are kept in bright but diffused light and periodically sprayed with water at room temperature.
When the seedlings have 3 leaves, they can be planted in separate pots. They are replanted with a clod of earth, adding soil for growing adult fuchsias into the pot. After transplantation, they are placed in partial shade for adaptation for 1 week.
Photo of fuchsia in the process of care at home and in the garden:
Video
We recommend that you watch a useful video on the topic of the article:
Now you know everything about caring for and growing fuchsia at home, as well as replanting and propagating the plant.
Among the abundance of beautiful flora there is a small fuchsia plant, named after the botanist L. Fuchs. It is a tree-like shrub with abundant branches covered with flowers. Can grow in open ground and in a pot at home. Flowers that look like lanterns, of different colors. There are more than 100 hybrid species. There are simple, double and semi-double flowers. But not everyone can wait for the fuchsia to bloom, and there are several reasons for this.
Fuchsia does not bloom: reasons
Why fuchsia doesn’t bloom interests not only novice gardeners. This plant is very whimsical and can disappoint even experienced gardener. There are many factors influencing the growth and flowering of a plant. Here are the main ones:
- illumination;
- air temperature;
- lack or excess of moisture;
- pests and diseases;
- soil composition.
If at least one of the parameters is not met, this leads to a decrease or complete absence of buds. Therefore, it is worth finding out as quickly as possible why fuchsia does not bloom at home and what to do to correct the situation. There are reasons that can be eliminated immediately and allow buds to appear this year or prepare the bush for flowering next year.
Lack of light
Fuchsia is a light-loving plant; lack of lighting affects the appearance of buds. Better flower place on the eastern, western and southwestern windows (sides of the site). It benefits from fresh air, so it is recommended to send the fuchsia pot to the garden in a pot for the summer, as it is, or replant it on the plot. But you will need to protect the flower from the wind, and on hot sunny days, shade it from direct sunlight.
Fuchsia does not bloom what to do
Important! When the buds appear, under no circumstances should you move or rotate the plant.
Air temperature
For fuchsia, the air temperature has great value. In summer, on hot days (more than 30°C), to prevent the buds from falling off, spray the flower itself and the air around it twice a day. For additional moisture in hot weather, place a small container with expanded clay and water. And the main condition for winter maintenance is the air temperature not higher than 15°C.
Lack of moisture
If there is a lack of moisture, the soil dries out, the foliage falls off, and budding may not occur at all. Recommended good watering settled water, there must be drainage at the bottom of the pot so that the water does not linger, leading to rotting of the roots.
Pests and diseases
Fuchsia, like all plants, suffers from some diseases. She loves moisture, but too much can cause gray rot. Brown spots appear on the stems and shoots are affected. The treatment is carried out with copper-containing preparations, such as foundationazole, pureflower.
Important! If root rot has affected the fuchsia root, it can no longer be saved; all that remains is to cut off the shoots and place them in a glass of water for rooting.
In order not to provoke the disease, use a coarse-grained substrate and water it rarely but abundantly. Glyocladin is used for prevention.
Whitefly
Their insects are loved by fuchsia spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids, so the plant must be inspected for the presence of these pests and treated with insecticides. For example, spider mites can be eliminated with karbofos.
Sometimes they appear on the underside of the leaf. yellow spots. This disease is called rust, which causes leaves and flowers to fall off. Treatment against it is carried out with the drugs Vertan, Bordeaux mixture, which are diluted strictly according to the instructions indicated on the package.
If the plant is affected by pests, but is still able to bloom normally, you still need to take all measures for treatment.
How to make fuchsia bloom profusely
To create beautiful bush The crown is formed by pinching. In February, it is transplanted by transferring from a small pot to a larger one just a couple of centimeters. Fuchsia will build up its root system and spend less energy on flowers.
Since the shoots of the plant have grown over the winter, a central stem and several branches are selected to form a crown and required height pinched. After a few weeks, the fuchsia will be covered in flowers.
Important! Excess shoots can be placed in water until roots appear, and then planted.
The plant needs constant feeding, this is especially important during the flowering period. How to feed fuchsia for abundant flowering? From spring to autumn, feeding (root and leaf) is carried out every week. The sheet is treated with plantofol in combination with zircon and epin. This will prevent the buds from falling off and will affect the abundance of flowering.
Applying fertilizer to the soil
How to make fuchsia bloom profusely
Flowering largely depends on the composition of the soil, what fertilizers are applied (dry or liquid) and fertilizers (mineral or organic). Ready land You can buy it at the store or prepare it yourself. The soil is suitable from a mixture of coconut fiber and any universal soil with the addition of vermicompost for softness and looseness.
Regardless of where you purchased the soil, it should definitely be calcined at high temperature to destroy all microorganisms, disease spores, weed seeds. Or this can be done by strong cooling: the soil is moistened with water, taken out to a frost not lower than −10°C and left for several days. Freezing destroys all pests, but, unfortunately, beneficial bacteria too. Such procedures are carried out 2-3 times, then the soil is watered with biological products, for example, phytosporin containing microorganisms. In this state, the soil is left in a bag for 2 weeks.
Fertilizers for fuchsia are selected depending on the growth phase:
- young specimens need fertilizing with a high nitrogen content to increase green mass and growth of young shoots;
- to make fuchsia cover itself with abundant flowers, you need to add fertilizers that include phosphorus and potassium;
- when treating the bud with the drug, the color turns out bright and saturated;
- It is good to alternate watering flowers with mineral and organic compounds.
Important! Under no circumstances should you water plants with fertilizer in dry soil. In 2 - 3 hours, the soil is shed with clean, settled, warm water, and only then pour in solutions with useful microelements.
Knowing how and what to feed fuchsia, you can speed up plant growth, help it bloom on time, and increase resistance to various diseases.
Time and quantity of watering
During the period when the plant is actively growing and blooming, watering should be plentiful and frequent. There is an opinion that 90 out of 100% of the life activity of fuchsias depends on irrigation. Although they are considered to be moisture-loving, the majority of flowers die from overwatering, and it is impossible to save a flooded plant. For example, in room conditions If the fuchsia has dropped its leaves and buds, you need to check the soil for moisture. If it is very damp, it is worth taking the flower out of the flowerpot, with the remaining roots (white in color) transplanted into another soil, covered with a bag and left in the shade.
Overdrying the soil is also dangerous, as leaves and buds may fall off. The flowerpot is completely lowered into the water until it fills with water, and the plant itself is sprayed with a spray bottle. In general, it is better to spray fuchsia more often and generously than to flood it.
Both experienced gardeners and novice amateurs can cope with fuchsia only if they do everything as described above. It is very important to know how fuchsia grows and what to fertilize it with, then the result will not be long in coming. The plant will thank you with abundant bright flowering.
The indoor plant fuchsia is highly valued among gardeners for the fact that it almost all year round capable of pleasing owners beautiful flowers. The shapes of its flowers are so diverse and original that they can be called a real miracle on the windowsill.
The fuchsia flower is named after the scientist Leonart von Fuchs, a doctor and botanist from Germany. More than 300 years ago, this plant was first bred by the French botanist Charles Plumer.
Strictly scientific name flower – Fuchsia Hybrid ( Fuchsia hybrida). For original form its inflorescences are called “ballerina” or “Chinese lantern”. Initially in their homeland, on the lands of New Zealand and South America, fuchsia was a tree or shrub of quite impressive size. Fuchsia, grown at home nowadays, also looks like a miniature tree. It can also take the form of a bush - it all depends on the type of plant.
Popular varieties
Now about 1000 varieties of this original are known decorative flower. Let's look at the most interesting ones that can be grown at home.
- Variety Deep Purple is a variety with drooping branches. The flowers are large, semi-double, bright blue-violet in color.
- The Bella Rozella variety has lush, curly flowers in many pink shades. Grown as a hanging plant
- Plants of the Checherboard variety are erect and suitable for standard cultivation. The inflorescences are red with white bracts.
- Variety Leonberg – different pink flowers large in size with coral bracts. Suitable for standard cultivation.
- Variety Brutus is a bush form with bright scarlet flowers and bracts with pink edging.
Subtleties of care for lush flowering
Flower growers value and love fuchsia primarily for its long-lasting lushness and original shape of the inflorescences. But for the people's favorite to bloom at home, a lot of effort will be required.
The absence of buds and flowers on a ballerina may be due to insufficient lighting. Fuchsia loves light. Flowerpots with this beauty are placed near western or east windows. In a semi-dark room, the branches of the plant stretch out and turn pale. In such conditions there is no need to wait for flowering. You cannot rearrange a flowerpot with already blooming fuchsia - all the flowers and buds fall out.
Fuchsia came to us from warm countries and therefore it needs warmth for growth and full development. The most comfortable temperature for a ballerina at home is from 18 to 25 degrees. Heat also has a detrimental effect on fuchsia - at temperatures above 30 degrees, the plant loses its foliage and stops blooming. In summer this flower is brought to open veranda and place it in partial shade. Direct sunlight also leads to the death of the plant. Failure to comply with the temperature conditions for keeping this plant can cause rotting of the roots, which can also cause a lack of color on the ballerina.
From spring to autumn, fuchsia needs generous watering, but water it only when the top layer of soil dries out. Irrigation water should be settled and soft. Towards the end of the growing season, the plant is watered less and less, and in the second half of autumn it is stopped almost completely. In recommendations for caring for fuchsia at home, plants are given watering regimens special attention, since excess moisture (as well as its lack) can cause a ballerina to lack flowers and deteriorate her condition in general.
If you want to make a ballerina bloom, you should pay attention to the humidity of the air around her. Fuchsia loves spraying, especially during the growth and flowering period. At this time, the plant is sprayed once a day, in the morning or evening, and a small container of water is placed near the plant. In autumn and winter, such procedures are stopped to prevent excess moisture.
For abundant and long flowering, it is recommended to feed fuchsia. Suitable for use at home complex fertilizers, which contain phosphorus and potassium. The lack of these elements or their absence can cause poor flowering, the formation of small flowers and the fall of buds. From the end of March, the plant is fed once every 7 days; in winter, fertilizing is stopped. But using nitrogen fertilizers you need to be careful: nitrogen in fertilizers stimulates the growth of green mass of the plant, and the formation of buds and flowers is inhibited.
The reason for the lack of flowers and buds in fuchsia may be poor soil. To grow ballerinas, special soil mixtures are used, which you can buy in a store or make yourself. To avoid root rotting, a drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the flowerpot. At home, sand or humus is added to the soil for fuchsia - such soil additives retain water well.
You should not choose a flowerpot that is too large for fuchsia if you expect it to bloom. The fact is that when transplanted, the plant entwines the entire earthen lump and may not have enough strength to flower. In a large flowerpot there is a risk of root disease from excess moisture. It is important to note that this flower feels best in a ceramic pot: ceramic allows air to pass through and heats up less in hot weather.
To achieve timely flowering of fuchsia, you need to pay attention to the conditions of its maintenance in winter at home. The temperature of the room where flowerpots with ballerina overwinter should not be higher than 10 degrees - otherwise the plant continues to grow and produces weak and thin shoots that will not be able to form buds and bloom in the spring. For the winter it can be placed on the veranda, balcony or basement. In spring and with increasing daylight hours, the plant is gradually accustomed to light and increased temperature. If the fuchsia does produce winter shoots, they need to be cut off - no matter how long they are, they do not have enough strength to flower.
Pinching has a good effect on the ability of fuchsia to bloom. Pruning at home is carried out in spring and autumn, while removing damaged, weakened and diseased branches. This procedure stimulates the growth of lateral buds and allows you to take flowering under control. Interestingly, each variety blooms after strictly certain time after trimming. Some varieties of this flower grow a rather long shoot - more than 6 internodes, and only after that they bloom. This fact must be taken into account when pruning the plant. It may happen that the fuchsia simply does not grow to the flowering stage.
Fuchsia - beautiful ornamental plant, which can delight owners with wonderful flowers almost all year round. But in order to wait for it to bloom, you need to strictly follow the rules of caring for the plant at home. It cannot be said that any of them is the main one - to achieve results, all recommendations must be followed comprehensively.
