Fuchsia on the balcony

Location and substrate

Fuchsias are ideal for balconies that face west or east, ergo in the morning or evening, but not have sun all day. The plants come from the mountain rainforests of the Andes, where they in the light of the shade tall trees thrive - accordingly, fuchsias are not sun-tolerant and should be rather light, but shady. Conventional ones are suitable as a plant substrate Potting soilyou with Clay granules (e.g. Seramis) and coarse sand. Fuchsias prefer a slightly moist, but well-drained and moderately nutrient-rich substrate.

As typical rainforest plants, fuchsias like moisture, but do not tolerate waterlogging. So you should ensure good drainage in the pot so that excess water drains off quickly and does not damage the roots. At the same time, however, fuchsias must not dry out, which is why the substrate should always be slightly moist. In addition, the heavily eating fuchsias have to be fertilized once or twice a week in a weak dose. A liquid is suitable for this

Flowering plant fertilizer,(€ 10.86 at Amazon *) which is administered together with the irrigation water.

Unfortunately, fuchsias are very sensitive to frost and therefore not hardy. For this reason, many balcony gardeners only cultivate their fuchsias over the summer and then throw them away in the fall. However, fuchsias can live for several decades and develop one with age - if you let them interesting, gnarled trunk and lignified branches. So it can be worth it to overwinter these interesting plants.

Fuchsias should be cut back before the first frost and placed in a frost-free but cool winter quarters. This does not necessarily have to be light, because the plants shed their leaves in autumn and can therefore overwinter in a dark basement, in the stairwell or in the attic. Put fuchsias in their winter quarters as late as possible and outside again as early as possible. In winter, fuchsias are not fertilized and only watered sparingly.