Fuchsia is a beautiful shrub with pendulous flowers that resemble ear drops. For that reason, it is also often called "Lady's Eardrops". Nevertheless the name Fuchsia has found common usage. It was first described in the 17th century by the French botanist and Catholic missionary Father Charles Plumier, who named it after the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs.
Fuchsia is a native of South America. Some species are also found in Central America, Mexico, New Zealand and Tahiti. They have bell-shaped flowers which consist of a tube ending in four spreading sepals and four overlapping petals. There are today thousands of cultivars; many gardening enthusiasts have made collecting fuchsias a hobby. Fuchsias originated from the cool mountain, in fact, the first time I came across Fuchsia was at Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.
Botanical Name
Fuchsia
Common Name
Lady's Eardrops
Family
Onagraceae
Type
Garden Plant
Position
Fuchsias require a cool, bright area outside of the sun.
Care
In temperate climate, fuchsias should be given a rest during the winter. Temperature should be kept at between 6° to 10°C. The plant should be pruned at the beginning of January.
Watering
If kept outdoors in the garden, the watering regime should naturally follow the weather. The plant likes compost that is slightly moist, so plastic pots are more suitable, as they retain moisture better. In winter, the plant should be kept drier, but the compost should not be allowed to dry up completely.
Feeding
Feed once every 10 days during the active growth season, between early May to August.
Repotting
When repotting the fuchsia, use standard potting compost.
Propagation
Fuchsias grown from seed may different in colour from their parent plant. Seeds should be sown immediately after harvest. Do it at the beginning of August, under glass. Use a mixture of leafmould with peat and sand. They should not be given a rest on their first year, and the temperature should be kept between 10° and 13°C, to get them ready to flower by the next year.
Fuchsias can also be grown from cutting, which can be done the whole year round, but for the northern hemisphere, preferably between May and September.
Pests and diseases
Aphids, grey mould, red spider mite and whitefly all attack the fuchsia. Destroy affected parts and spray the plant with zineb.
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