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Tips for growing Fuchsias for showing

Early March. If you start with a rooted cutting in early march you should be able to produce a decent sized plant for a show in August or September. You will probably get the best results in this time if you choose a single flowered or small double flowered bush variety.

Pot your cuttings up into a 3½” (9cm) pot. Use a good general purpose compost (the types with a percentage of soil added are good). When the cuttings has three pairs of leaves , pinch out the growing tip leaving three pairs of leaves. Place it in a sunny spot with a minimum night temperature of 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C). For example, a heated greenhouse or a windowsill. Turn the plant ¼ turn every few days to get even growth. When the plant has filled the pot with roots, move it into a 4½” (11cm) pot. Pinch out the growing tip of any shoot that has three pairs of leaves. Pot on again when the roots fill the pot, this time into a 6” (15cm) pot. Keep pinching out the tips of any shoot that has three pairs of leaves.

Early June. Find a place outdoors, that has no cold winds and not too much hot mid-day sun, to stand the plants. Place a few plants around your Fuchsias in order to keep up the humidity. In hot summer, a tray lined with capillary matting may be needed to keep the plant watered properly.

Watering. Several times a week. In hot weather, water daily.

Watch out for pests and spray if needed.

Feeding. Start feeding about a month after you first pot up your cuttings. Use a balanced liquid feed. Little and often is best for Fuchsias so give ½ strength dose, compared to the recommendations on the packet, once a week to start with. Increase to twice a week when the good growing weather arrives.

Mid June. By now, you should have completed the pinching and potting so the plants just need growing on. When the buds start forming, give the plant a few ½ strength feeds of a high potash feed to improve the flowers and the colour of the foliage.

Before entering your plants into a show, pick off any dead flowers and leaves.

Good luck. I hope you do well.