Fuchsias: tips on location, plants & Co.

Fuchsias are popular summer bloomers. In order to enjoy a floriferous fuchsia, one must know its planting and care requirements.

With its extravagant flowers, the fuchsia (fuchsia) a welcome change in the garden and gives it an exotic flair. The popular evening primrose plant (Onagraceae) is actually by no means native, but comes from the mountainous regions of South and Central America and was introduced in the 18th brought to Europe in the 19th century. Due to this circumstance, some tips are required when cultivating the flowering plant. We present everything about the fuchsia - from the most popular species to planting and care.

Fuchsias: characteristics and origin

The fuchsia is a genus that includes a total of over 100 different species that are native to large areas of South America and also to the Pacific region. The plant was named after the German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs, which is how it got its unusual name. The fuchsia has become particularly popular thanks to its striking flowers, which present their flower stalks for all pollinators. An overview of the most beautiful fuchsia varieties get here.

Fuchsia color: what colors are there?

What makes the fuchsia so popular as an ornamental plant in gardens is its almost unbelievable variety of flowers. The thousands of varieties ensure a variety that is second to none and literally covers all color combinations. The sepals and petals are usually different colors, ranging from white, yellow, red, pink, purple to blue - including everything in between.

Hanging or standing fuchsias?

When buying a fuchsia, the question inevitably arises: should you choose a hanging variety or a standing one? The answer to this depends on one hand on personal taste, on the other hand also on the destination. Hanging fuchsias, for example, are particularly suitable for a place in hanging planters, where the branches can easily reach down a bit. Standing specimens do best in pots on the balcony or patio, hardy fuchsias also directly in the bed.

Are fuchsias poisonous?

The rumor keeps circulating that the fuchsia is a poisonous plant. In fact, the exotic plant is classified as non-toxic and the fruits of the fuchsia can even be eaten. On the other hand, it has been shown that consuming a larger amount can lead to acute stomach and intestinal problems and the fruits should therefore be consumed with caution.

Fuchsias: Popular species, cultivars and wild forms

The variety of fuchsias is immense and is constantly increasing through breeding. Deciding which type and variety you want to grow for your own garden is therefore anything but easy. We present the most important types and varieties on the market for you:

Popular fuchsia species

• Fuchsia magellanica: Probably the best-known fuchsia species; also known as scarlet fuchsia; forms the basis for many hybrids in breeding; mostly red sepals and violet petals.
• Fuchsia boliviana: species from the high mountains of the Andes; long, tubular petals; not frost hardy.
• Fuchsia triphylla: Red flowering species from the Caribbean; distinctive racemose inflorescences.

Standing fuchsia varieties

Leverkusen

• Pink flowering variety
• Suitable for the pot
• Growth height up to 50 cm
• Belongs to the species Fuchsia triphylla

Shadow dancers

• Available in different colors (pink/red-white/red-pink/white-purple)
• Suitable for the pot
• Bushy growth up to 40 cm
• Half-shady to shady location

Mary

• Red flower color
• Long flowering period
• 30 to 60 cm in height

maxima

• Showy flower with pink sepals and purple petals
• Strongly branched
• Partially shaded location

Hanging fuchsia varieties

Annabel

• White-pink double flowers
• Suitable for outdoors
• Shady location

Pangea

• Orange-red flower
• Not hardy
• Growth height up to 50 cm

laurie

• Pink flower color
• strong growth
• Partially shaded location

Fuchsia varieties: Hardy fuchsia varieties

Delicate Purple

• Pink-purple flower
• Hanging growth habit
• Simple flowers

dollar princess

• Pink-purple flower
• Suitable as a bush or standard tree
• double flowers

Cardinal Farges

• Red and white flower
• Partially shaded location
• Single to double flowers

Wild forms of fuchsia

• Fuchsia Procumbens: Particularly unusual variety from New Zealand; very small, variegated flowers; small, dense growth.
• Fuchsia microphylla: Species native to Mexico; small, pink flowers; small leaves.

Planting fuchsias in the garden: location and substrate

Due to their exotic origin in South America, fuchsias are among the plants in the garden that place special demands on their environment. We present everything worth knowing about the location and the right substrate.

Fuchsias: the right location

Fuchsias originally come from the mountain forests of the Andes, where they naturally thrive in a partially shaded environment. Therefore, make sure that your fuchsia can find similar conditions in your garden. In particular, too much sunlight in the root area can cause problems for the plants.

Fuchsias when to go outside?

With the exception of a few varieties, the majority of all fuchsia varieties cannot withstand the frosty conditions in winter in this country. After the purchase, it is therefore crucial when you put your fuchsia outside or when you plant it. The move outside should definitely be done in April at the earliest, as soon as frost is no longer to be expected. You should even only plant them outdoors from May.

Fuchsias in pots: Which substrate is the right one?

When it comes to the substrate for repotting and planting, fuchsias are generally not very demanding, so you can confidently use commercially available potting soil. In any case, it should be permeable and rich in nutrients. For reasons of bog protection, the use of peat-free soil is recommended. Such a peat-free organic soil is also ours Plantura organic potting soil, which saves up to 60% CO2 compared to conventional soils.

When selecting the location, pay attention to the following criteria:

• Partially shaded location
• shadows in the root area
• In the pot outside from April; outdoors from May
• As a substrate, peat-free potting soil

Multiply fuchsias yourself: how does it work?

to grow fuchsias, is not a complicated undertaking and every hobby gardener can do it with just a few tricks. The quickest and most effective way to do this is to grow fuchsia cuttings. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. In summer, cut off a shoot about 10 cm long from the plant.
2. Remove the leaves from the lower end of the shoot and plant at least half of the cutting.
3. For cultivation, use nutrient-poor and permeable cultivation substrate such as the Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil.
4. Always keep the cutting warm and moist. Direct sunlight should be avoided if possible.

After a short time the cutting will develop new roots. It's always worth growing multiple cuttings in parallel to maximize the chances of success.

Caring for fuchsias: important tips and tricks

Fuchsias are essentially non-native as ornamental plants in Central Europe - it is therefore not surprising that that the care and conditions of their environment are a little different than those at home Plant. We provide everything you need to know Care of fuchsias in front.

Water fuchsias properly

As a classic plant from the mountain forests of the tropics, two factors are always top priority for fuchsias: lots of water and high humidity. Regular watering is very important for plant health, so the roots should never dry out completely. Water your fuchsia daily and spray the foliage from time to time if possible.

Fertilize fuchsias properly

The supply of nutrients is particularly important for fuchsias so that they can grow well throughout the summer and form lush flowers. The following applies to fertilization: The first months after repotting, additional fertilizer should be avoided. Over-fertilization should also be avoided afterwards, as fuchsias are sensitive to excessive amounts and burn the roots quickly. Although liquid fertilizer provides nutrients quickly, improper use often leads to an overdose. Therefore you should use an organic liquid fertilizer like our Plantura Organic flower & balcony fertilizer always dose according to the information on the packaging, so you rule out over-fertilization.

Cut fuchsias

The skilful Cutting a fuchsia should be carried out every year to maintain the lush blooms of the tropical plant. Fuchsias always bloom on the young shoots, so cut back the faded shoots every autumn. You don't have to be very careful when doing this, the only important thing is that the heavily woody parts of the plant are not cut back too much.

When caring for fuchsias properly, keep these aspects in mind:

• Water regularly
• Spray the plant with water from time to time
• Fertilize regularly but little; ideally with organic means such as compost
• Cut back annually in autumn

Overwinter fuchsias skilfully

An unfortunate quality for many hobby gardeners is the strong frost sensitivity of the beloved fuchsia. Except for a few hardy fuchsia varieties most specimens are therefore cultivated in pots and placed in a frost-free place in winter. In any case, cut back the bush in the fall and provide a location that meets the following criteria:

• Cool (frost-free, at least 2 °C)
• Dark
• Dry

In spring, overwintered fuchsias can slowly be re-adapted to the light and warmth outside. Hardy specimens in the garden should always be properly covered with straw and leaves as well as a garden fleece for the winter. Nevertheless, the following applies here: Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the plant will come back in a cold winter. How to with hardy fuchsias best way around, we show here.