Fuchsia Pruning and Care Tips

Propagation - Fuchsia Pruning and Care Tips
How to prune a Fuchsia - Includes care tips:
Flowering
• Fuchsias flower on new growth.
• They flower profusely from spring through to autumn.  
Position
• Fuchsias grow best in dapple or morning sun.
• If you live in a frost area, plant in a warm protected position.
• Plant in a position that allow good air circulation because some varieties particularly some hybrids are susceptible to rust disease, thrips and mites.  
Soil
• Fuchsia prefer a moist, well drained, well composted and mulched soil.
When to prune
• Prune in late winter or early spring in warmer areas.
• Early spring after frost have passed in cold areas.
How to prune
• Cut out dead growth.
• Cut each stem back to a healthy node.
• Cut to desired height – half to one third.
• Prune out spindly growth
• Prune out old wood.
• In spring when new growth is around 4cm long, tip prune to encourage additional branching and hence more flowers.
• In autumn give a light trim and tidy-up.
• Tip prune throughout the year when desired.
• Prune off seed pods.
• Fuchsias flower 6 weeks after pruning including the autumn prune or any tip pruning.
Water
• Fuchsias are moderately thirsty plants. Keep moist but not wet.
• Keep soil healthy by adding composts and mulches. This helps conserve moisture in the soil.
• Occasionally, especially with varieties susceptible to pests, water by …..
Fertiliser
• Fuchsias are moderate feeders.
• Fertilise twice a year using an organic complete fertiliser in spring and autumn after pruning.
• Add mulch and compost
• Supplement with a good liquid organic or organic based fertiliser, worm or weed tea and manures.
Mulch
• Mulch Fuchsias. Use manures and/or homemade compost with back chip on top or and straw mulches.
• This will gently feed your soil and keep it cool and moist during the warmer seasons. Keep mulched all year.
Propagation
• Soft or semi hardwood cuttings during the warmer months
• YouTube link. How to propagate using cuttings (soft...
Common Problems
Diseases
• Rust
• Botrytis
Pests
• White fly
• Thrips
• Two spotted mite
• Grasshoppers/katydids
• Caterpillars
Lack of or no flowers
• Provide at least 2 – 4 hours of morning sun or dapple sun.