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Want something different for
that lonely pot or hanging basket this year? Impatiens, begonias, and Sweet William
are nice, but if you are looking for something truly unique that you don't see
everywhere, take a good look at the plant to the right. It's Fuschia, folks, and it's truly different. There are something like 110
different species of Fuschia from small to big shrub-like plants. but you will
probably only find a few of them in your neighborhood nursery, likely very
similar to the one pictured here that I found in a hanging basket at one of the
big box stores. Fuschia flower colors vary and include combinations of
white, pink, purple, red, blue, and even orange.
Fuschia, at least in the most available
hanging basket form, is used as an annual in most places because it is not
reliably frost-hardy, although there are some shrub-types that will withstand
winter except in the harshest places. Just be careful that you know what
you are getting when purchasing this plant if you plan to leave it out all year
long.
It
should be noted that Fuschia is a heavy feeder during the growing season.
Feeding regularly with a slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants or using
water-soluble fertilizer when watering the plant is highly recommended or the
plant will not perform well. Good soil is also a must. Don't use the
cheap dollar store potting soil because it probably won't provide the even
moisture needed for growing Fuschia. Provide a pot
with good drainage, and keep the soil moist at all times. This will
probably involve watering every day during the heat of the summer.
Pinching or cutting back every so often will help the plant to bush out and to
produce more flowers. If you have ever grown
Impatiens, you
get the idea. If you haven't read the drawback section on the
Impatiens page,
please do so. All of them apply to Fuschia. Another similarity is
the ease with which stem cuttings can be taken, so if you want to increase your
Fuschia stock, stem cuttings are definitely the way to go. Fuschia is
definitely not a full-sun plant but it is not a full-shade plant either.
Dappled shade under a tree or half a day of sun at the side of a house
(preferably morning sun) is the perfect setting for this plant.
Fuschia can be fairly easily overwintered in
a cool place like a garage or shed. Cut back to about 6 inches and remove
all the leaves, and then put the pot to bed for the winter. You don't want
it to grow during this time so water very sparingly with no fertilizer - maybe
3-4 times all winter until after the last frost, when you can put it back
outside and start watering and fertilizing regularly again.
In conclusion, although Fuschia has somewhat
of a reputation for being a hard to keep, finicky plant, it's really no worse
than a lot of the more common annual plants you see in local landscapes, but you
do have to be a little more diligent, especially with regular watering and
fertilizing. On a scale of 1 to 3, with 3
being most difficult, I would rate Fuschia as a 2. If you see one at the
garden store this year, try it out, because it could very well end up becoming one of your
favorite plants!
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