Fuchsia Plant (Fuchsia hybrida) Care Indoors, Common Problems and Remedies

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Fuchsia hybrida blooms best in bright light, average warmth, moderate humidity and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Fuchsia Plants are some of the most popular flowering plants whose blooms are showy sepals and petals which may or may not be the same color, may be single, semi-double, double bells or clustered blooms on soft-stemmed bushes.

Fuchsias may be grown as a bush or in a hanging basket for the trailing types. They are some of the best flowering plants for hanging baskets and require regular training and pruning to keep them free-flowering and shapely.

They do not like sudden changes in growing conditions, therefore, maintain the right growing conditions as much as possible. Avoid moving the plant during flowering and bud formation as it can result in the dropping of buds and flowers.

Botanical name: Fuchsia hybrida
Family: Onagraceae
Common name: Fuchsia

Origin

Majority of Fuchsias are native to South America, Central America and Newzealand. Fuchsias are named after the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs. Most of the Fuchsias under cultivation now are hybrids. Fuchsia hybrida is a hybrid between Fuchsia magellanica and Fuchsia fulgens.

Is Fuchsia hybrida toxic?

No. Fuchsia hybrida are non-toxic to humans and pets. The fruits and flowers can be eaten with no ill-effects.

How to care for Fuchsia hybrida indoors

To care for Fuchsia hybrida indoors, provide bright indirect light (filtered light), warmth of 15-23⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in spring and summer.

Hybrid Fuchsia require regular pruning to keep the plant neat as well as encourage a bushy growth. Repotting is only necessary when the plant is extremely pot-bound as it blooms best when root-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions.

Light Requirements

Where is the best place to put a Fuchsia hybrida?

Fuchsia hybrida thrives in bright indirect light; a spot infront of a large window is ideal for this plant. Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching.

Where the light is too low, the growth will be slowed and the plant will not bloom. Therefore, if the natural lighting is not adequate, you may instal a grow light to supplement it.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent leggy growth.

Watering

How often should I water Hybrid Fuchsia?

Do water on a schedule. Water your Hybrid Fuchsia liberally in spring and summer while allowing the soil to top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Maintain the soil consistently moist but not soggy to avoid rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.

Reduce watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.

Use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf fall. Ensure that the water is chlorine-free to avoid browning of leaf tips and edges.

Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to root-rot and eventual loss of the plant.

Temperature & Humidity

Fuchsia hybrida grows best in a warmth of 15-23⁰C. Keep it away from both cold and hot drafts to avoid sudden changes in temperature which can cause reduced growth, yellowing and leaf drop.

Hybrid Fuchsia flourishes in a humidity of 50-55%; if the air is too dry, it may lead to brown leaf tips and edges. To heighten humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Maintain a good air flow to discourage fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

What is the best fertilizer for Fuchsia hybrida?

Feed your Fuchsia hybrida with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer. Withhold feeding in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.

Regularly, flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil. Let the stream run for 5-10 minutes to get rid of as much salt as possible.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Fuchsia hybrida should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. A mix of 2 parts organic potting mix and 1 part perlite (for drainage) is ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot your Fuchsia hybrida in the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when extremely root-bound as it blooms more when pot-bound. Do not repot a plant that is in flower as the repotting shock can shorten the flowering period.

Select a pot 1 size largerthat has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can result in root-rot and the eventual death of the plant. Take a look at these self watering planters with drainage hole on Amazon.

The large plants which may be difficult to handle can be top-dressed annually by replacing the top 3-4 inches of soil with fresh soil.

Pruning

Pruning Hybrid Fuchsia entails removal of dead flowers and leaves to maintain the plant neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

How to make a Fuchsia hybrida more bushy?

Pinch off the growing tips regularly to encourage a bushy, compact growth.

After flowering, cutback the stems with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to rejuvenate growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy. Place the plant in a cool place and reduce watering until new growth emerges.

How do I encourage a Fuchsia hybrida to bloom?

Fuchsia hybrida requires a resting period of about 6-8 weeks in the cold season.

1. Place the plant in a cool place, about 10⁰C.


2. Decrease watering to maintain the soil barely moist during the rest period.


3. Withhold feeding during this cold period of 6-8 weeks.


4. After this cold treatment, put back the plant in a brightly lit place and continue with normal routine care.

The cold treatment will promote flowering as this treatment mimicks its native growing conditions.

Fuchsia hybrida Propagation

Fuchsia hybrida is propagated at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) from stem-tip cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil.

Read more on how to propagate Fuchsia Plants from stem-tip cuttings by 2 easy methods).

Fuchsia hybrida Problems

Fuchsia hybrida problems are flowerbud drop, poor flowering, leaf drop, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.

Flowerbud drop

Flowerbud drop on Fuchsia hybrida is caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, low light, temperature stress, nutrients deficiency or sudden movement.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil.

Low light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is not adequate.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, hot air vents, hot surfaces, AC units among others.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer.

Sudden movement: Avoid moving or turning the pot when the plant is in the bud formation stage.

Poor flowering or lack of flowers

Poor flowering or lack of flowers on Hybrid Fuchsia is caused by lack of nutrients, incorrect watering, soggy soil, too little light or lack of cold treatment.

How to fix it

Lack of nutrients: Feed the plant every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

Incorrect watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry but never let the soil ball dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Make sure the pot has a drainage hole and soil is well-draining.

Too little light: Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if natural light is not enough.

Lack of cold treatment: Give the plant a rest period of 6-8 weeks during the cold season. Keep the plant in a cool place and reduce watering during this period.

Leaf drop

Leaf drop on Fuchsia hybrida is cause by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, drafts or dry air.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out and do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot as it grows best in bright indirect light or instal a grow light where natural light is insufficient.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, stoves, drafty windows and others.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.

Pests

Common pests on Fuchsia hybrida are spider mites and whiteflies.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap. Ensure to follow the manufacturers' instructions.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Maintain the plant properly pruned to reduce the hiding places for these pests.


5. To minimize the pests infestations, group the plants together or set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity.


6. Ensure a good air flow to discourage the pests infestations.

Diseases

Fuchsia hybrida is prone to leaf spot disease which presents as brown leaf spots with yellow margins. It is enhanced by overwet conditions in the cold season.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to other plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide as indicated by the manufacturer.


3. Decrease watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.


4. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent excess soil moisture.

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