Most fuchsias like to be in a shady location, either no sun or morning sun only. However, there are some who don’t mind full sun when gradually gotten used to it. They are harder to manage in full sun, and you must be diligent about watering. Full sun is best left to the hardy varieties planted in the ground.

When caring for starter plants recently planted, water as needed. A finger in the pot will let you know. Increase watering as the plant grows.

Fuchsias grown in Hanging Baskets, Wall Baskets, and Pots need special attention. As these plants are in containers, they cannot send roots down to look for water. They need you to provide it for them. A full grown plant will need to be watered every day. A hanging basket or wall box on a very hot day will appreciate water twice a day. If direct sun is not on them, shower the leaves too. If the plant looks droopy, it needs to be watered.

Occasionally a crust will form in the dirt on top of the container, preventing water to penetrate the soil. The water will roll off to the side of the container and down the side. An easy way to tell if your plant is dry and either not getting enough water or the crust syndrome, is lifting it a little. If the container is dry it will be light in weight, if it has a crust on the top, break it up with a fork. It will need to have several applications of water applied. It should revive within a couple hours.

Never fertilize a dry plant. Always water well first, then wait awhile for the water to be absorbed. We use and recommend Peter’s 20-20-20. A once a week feeding is very beneficial. You can fertilize with every watering using a much diluted solution. We also use Osmocote on top of the soil. By July 1, the application we applied will be used up and another application should be done at that time. 1 Tablespoon to a basket. Continue liquid feed also.

Seed Pods on the plants should be picked off after the blooms fall off.  This is important as maturing seed pods signal the plant that it does not need to bloom as much. 

Whitefly and aphid can be a problem for fuchsias. Orthene is a good product to spray with. We use some commercially available only products and talking with your local nursery will help you find some other choices too. Sometimes spider mite invades in late summer, that will require a miticide. Spider mites require a magnifying glass to see but not the damage they do. They will cause a plant to defoliate from the center of the plant out to the ends. (Not enough water will also cause defoliation)

A Safe Pesticide       In a quart sprayer, mix 1/4 Cup Isopropyl alcohol, 1 tablespoon grated Ivory soap, and 3 cups water. This solution must be sprayed on the insect, usually found sucking the life out of your plants, on the underneath side of the leaves. Aphids hang out anywhere they want, especially on the tips of the new growth.

When you get your plant in the spring, dig a hole about a 12” deep by 12” wide, larger if the plant you got was in a bigger container. If you have poorly drained soil, you will want to dig the hole bigger and add sand or perlite to the bottom. Mix the soil you took out of the hole with peat moss or a bagged compost and fill the hole back to within 3” of existing soil level. Leave the excess off to the side.

Water the prepared hole, then wait a bit for it to drain. Plant the fuchsia in the prepared hole at the level of the soil, which will be 3” below surrounding soil. Water a bit more to settle roots in. Sprinkle 1 tbl. Osmocote 14-14-14 around the top of the hole. As the summer progresses, fill in the hole, but try to keep the remaining soil mixture away from the main stem during it’s first summer as it may cause rot.

In late fall, allow the plant to harden off and drop leaves. Do not prune at this time. When all the leaves have fallen or the weather gets really cold, mound the plant with lots of mulch up to 6” higher than surrounding soil level. Then say in an authoritative voice goodnight, I’ll see you in the spring.

In mid to late April, start to pull back the mulch. If you see new growth, go ahead and pull it all the way off. If no new shoots, wait and check again in a week. When new growth appears on the old woody growth, prune these back to about 6” high. Also prune out weak growth and dead growth (it snaps when you bend it). Prune out some of the stems in the center to open up the plant.

When new growth is 2” long, spread 1 tablespoon of Osmocote 14-14-14 over the surface, not up next to the stem. When things really get growing, liquid feed with a 20-20-20 fertilizer.