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closeFuchsias require little sun, lots of care
Roxanne Cooke
DeAnna Houston got lucky when she moved into a house and started growing fuchsias: Her back patio area doesn’t get hit by harsh, direct sunlight.
That’s helpful for Houston because fuchsias planted in hanging baskets can’t handle that kind of light, she said. Fuchsias take well to early morning light, but glaring afternoon sun can easily dry them out.
Houston, who attended Windmill Gardens’ Fuchsia Fantasia event last weekend, has been growing the flowers for three or four years now. Once the weather gets warmer, it’s not too hard for even a beginner to get started, she said.
“They’re real easy,” said Houston, who lives in Edgewood. “Keep them out of the sun; keep them moist.”
And they’re inexpensive, if bought as individual plants, she said. Fuchsias that are pre-potted into baskets or pots can be a little more costly.
“If I’m killing $45, I’m upset; if I kill $7, I’m not as upset,” Houston said.
They last a long time too, if given the proper care during all seasons, said Galen Nusbaum, a master gardener and a member of the Puyallup Valley Fuchsia Society. Nusbaum was helping pot fuchsias and other plants as part of the Windmill Gardens event.
“They will last as long as you take care of them,” Nusbaum said.
During spring and summer, fuchsias should be watered once or twice per day, fertilized weekly and kept out of harsh sunlight. Before they begin to bloom, tips should be pinched back to promote more flowers. In the winter, fuchsias should be protected from the cold, trimmed back and watered less often but kept moist.
Fuchsias should be planted after Mother’s Day, most of the time, Nusbaum said.
The appeal of fuchsias, a few growers agreed, is their beauty and many different colors and shapes. They also attract hummingbirds, and their berries can be turned into jam.
“They just look like little fairies,” said Beverly Mills, another Puyallup Valley Fuchsia Society member.
There are two types of fuchsias. “Trailing” fuchsias are planted in hanging baskets, and the leaves and blooms drape over the sides; “upright” fuchsias are planted directly in the ground and grow straight up, as their name indicates.
The Puyallup Valley and Tahoma fuchsia societies will host a fuchsia show this August at Pioneer Park in Puyallup.
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FUCHSIA GROWING TIPS
> Soil: Fuchsias prefer a loose rich soil. Any good commercial soil mix will do, but make sure that it is a sterilized mix.
> Planting: Make sure that the soil is moist and that containers have good drainage.
> Watering: Fuchsias should be moist at all times. Mist the foliage if the plant is droopy and the soil is moist. Don’t over-water.
> Fertilizing: Feed fuchsias with fertilizer at least once a week, but do not fertilize if dry.
> Spraying: A good insecticide will keep aphids, spider mites and white flies from bothering fuchsias.
> Pinching: When the plant begins to grow, allow a few sets of leaves to develop on each branch. Then pinch out the growing tip to promote a bushier plant with more blooms. Do this at least three times, and blooms will appear eight to 12 weeks after the last pinching.
> Wintering: Fuchsias should be kept slightly moist in the winter, but do not let them freeze. Source: Puyallup Valley Fuchsia Society