Fuchsia Plant (Fuchsia hybrida) Care Indoors and Propagation

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

Description

Fuchsia hybrida is considered as one of the most satisfactory of all flowering houseplants. The blooms are showy sepals and petals which may or may not be the same color.

The flowers 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.

Regular training and pruning are necessary to keep this plant 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.

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.

Toxicity

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

Fuchsia hybrida Care Indoors

Fuchsia Plants (Fuchsia hybrida) blooms in bright light away from direct sunlight, cool to average warmth and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding during the growing season.

Fuchsia does not require the humidity to be raised except when the temperatures are very high. Regular pruning is necessary 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

Fuchsia grows best in bright light away from direct sunlight. It will not bloom if the light is not adequate.

Where natural lighting is not adequate, instal a grow light to supplement it. Check out these link to Amazon for full spectrum grow lights.

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

Watering

Water Fuchsia Plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to top 1-2 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil consistently moist.

Reduce watering during the cold period as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Cool to average warmth between 10-23⁰C is ideal for Fuchsia. Keep it away from cold and hot draughts to avoid sudden changes in temperature.

Average room humidity is ideal for Fuchsia. If the air is too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray to increase humidity. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Potting Soil

The best soil for Fuchsia Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.

Most all-purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant. Buy quality Potting Mix online from Etsy.

Fertilizer

Feed Fuchsia with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal and it can lead to fertilizer burn.

Repotting

Repot Fuchsia during the growing season only when the plant is extremely pot-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.

Use a pot 1 size larger and one that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can result in root-rot disease and the eventual death of the plant. Check out these Self Watering Planters with Drainage Hole on Amazon.

The large Fuchsia plants can be top-dressed annually by replacing the top 3-4 in of soil with fresh soil.

Pruning

Pruning Fuchsia is easy. Remove dead flowers and leaves to maintain the plant neat and discourage pest and disease infestations. Pinch off the growing tips to encourage compact growth.

After flowering, cutback the stems with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors to rejuvenate growth and prevent the Fuchsia from becoming leggy.

Place the plant in a cool place and reduce watering until new growth emerges.

Propagation

Fuchsia Plant (Fuchsia hybrida) can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem-tip cuttings.

How to propagate Fuchsia Plant from stem-tip cuttings in soil

Take stem-tip cuttings of about 4-5 in. length from a healthy Fuchsia Plant. Strip off the lower leaves from the cutting.

Dip the cut end of the cuttings in a rooting hormone and insert them in moist rooting soil.

Position the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges and substantial growth has been observed.

Transfer the rooted cuttings to individual pots and begin routine care. For a fuller Fuchsia, transfer several cuttings into one pot.

How to promote flowering in Fuchsia Plant

Fuchsia Plant requires a resting period during the cold season, about 6-8 weeks. Place the Fuchsia in a cool place, about 10⁰C.

Decrease watering to maintain the soil barely moist and withhold feeding during this cold period (6-8 weeks).

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 in Fuchsia as this treatment mimicks its native growing conditions.

Fuchsia hybrida Problems

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

Dropping flowerbuds

There are four possible causes of flowerbud drop in Fuchsia. One possible cause of flower bud drop is incorrect watering; either underwatering or overwatering.

Maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season but never let it be soggy.

Lessen the watering in the cold period to keep the soil slightly moist but do not let it dry out completely.

Always, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

The second possible cause of flowerbud drop in Fuchsia is low light. The plant requires bright light away from direct sunlight.

Therefore, move it to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light away from direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural light is not adequate.

The third possible cause of flowerbud drop in Fuchsia is too much heat due to hot draughts.

Keep the plant away from hot draughts like hot air vents, hot surfaces among others and keep it away from direct sunshine to maintain a cool to average room temperature.

The fourth possible cause of flowerbud drop in Fuchsia is moving or turning the pot while the plant is in bud.

Avoid moving the plant while in the bud formation stage to prevent bud drop.

Progressive loss of lower leaves

There are two possible causes of progressive loss of the lower leaves in Fuchsia Plant. One possible cause of progressive loss of the lower leaves is underwatering.

Fuchsia prefers consistently moist soil during the growing season and slightly moist in the cold season but never allow the soil ball to dry out completely.

The second possible cause of progressive loss of the lower leaves in Fuchsia is too little light.

Move the plant to a brighter spot as it prefers bright light away from direct sunshine or instal a grow light where natural light is not adequate.

Sudden leaf drop

Sudden leaf drop in Fuchsia Plant is due to hot dry air which leads to very low air humidity. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.

Poor flowering or no flowering

There are four possible causes of poor flowering or no flowering in Fuchsia Plant. One possible cause of poor flowering or no flowering is underfeeding.

Feed the plant every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

The second possible cause of poor flowering or no flowering in Fuchsia is underwatering.

Keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season and slightly moist in the cold season but never let the soil ball dry out completely.

The third possible cause of poor flowering or no flowering in Fuchsia is too little light.

Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive bright light but away from direct sunshine or instal a grow light where natural light is not adequate.

The fourth possible cause of poor flowering or no flowering in Fuchsia is too high temperatures during the dormancy period.

Fuchsia requires a resting period during the cold season (6-8 weeks) to promote flowering.

Keep the plant in a cool place and reduce watering during this period.

Brown leaf spots with yellow margins

Brown leaf spots with yellow margins in Fuchsia Plant are an indication of leaf spot disease which is brought about by overwatering during the cold season.

Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Also, make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Read on how to treat leaf spot disease in houseplants

Pests

The common pests in Fuchsia Plant are Spider Mites and Whiteflies. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.