With their exotic flowers, fuchsias ( Fuchsia ) are one of the most popular flowering plants on summer balconies and in the garden. An ideal location is important for the nightshade plant to thrive.
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site conditions
The distinctive flowering plant originally comes from the mountain forests of Central and South America, some also from New Zealand and Tahiti. There they grow slightly hanging or with upright stature in the edge area of the rain forest at altitudes of up to 3000 meters. We should create similar conditions so that the exotic nightshade also feels at home with us.
light faded
Fuchsias prefer a light and warm location outdoors. However, the plants do not appreciate being exposed to the blazing sun for a long time. Too much direct sun will cause their flowers to wilt and fall off. A spot that offers them mild sunlight in the morning or late afternoon is ideal, such as a west- or east-facing balcony. In the garden bed, shading over the midday hours can be achieved by planting taller shrubs or perennials underneath.
windbreak
The fuchsia will thank you for a sheltered spot in the garden or on the balcony, as the flowers can easily be broken off by the wind or heavy rain.
temperature
The exotic flowering shrub is used to relatively warm temperatures and high humidity in its homeland. Therefore, it cannot tolerate icy temperatures. Excessive heat is also anything but ideal for the fuchsia.
- 18 to 20 degrees
- Maximum: a 24 Grad
- Minimum: 8 to 12 degrees depending on the variety
- high humidity
Cultivation in the bucket
When cultivating fuchsias in a hanging basket or bucket, make sure that the pot is not too big. The plants try to penetrate the entire soil. If the roots have too much space, they will not form a stable ball and the rest of the fuchsia will wither. On the other hand, of course, a cramped space is not ideal. Make sure at all times that there is no waterlogging. The best way to achieve this is with a water drain in the planter. In addition, spacers in the form of small wooden blocks in the coaster protect against wet feet. Alternatively, you can also place the pot on an upside down saucer so that the remaining water can drain off.
- prefer to repot more often
- 5 to 7 plants per meter balcony box
- Hanging baskets: 3 plants with a diameter of 20 cm
Shade plant pots
The soil temperature has a decisive influence on how much sun the plant can tolerate. Hot root ball fuchsias have great difficulty growing in sunny locations and should therefore prefer a more shady position. Therefore, make sure that the pot is not in the sun if possible. Alternatively, it is of course possible to shade the root area.
relocation
Always keep a close eye on the weather conditions in summer, as long periods of heat above 27 degrees weaken the plant. In these cases, it is better to allow the beautiful flowering shrub to move to cooler areas with a little more shade. To do this, you can, for example, take the pot off the balcony railing and place it on the ground. In the case of overhanging specimens, it has proven useful to place a second, upside-down pot underneath so that the sensitive shoots do not snap off. However, plants that come from the field or a greenhouse find it difficult to adjust to the dry air in living spaces. They shed their flowers and quickly wither. A change of location in the apartment is therefore not advisable.
floor
Fuchsias prefer airy, slightly acidic to neutral and nutrient-rich soil that drains excess moisture well. Nevertheless, you should make sure that the substrate is able to store the water to a certain extent, because the roots of the beautiful flowering plant must not dry out completely. A high proportion of mineral components such as clay or loam helps here. Unfortunately, a perfect composition can hardly be found in the garden. It is therefore worth buying a high-quality potting soil or mixing an ideal substrate yourself:
- 2 parts normal, pre-fertilized potting soil
- Part 1:
- clay or loam
- Sand
- coarse-fiber white peat or coconut fiber
- mature compost
- pH: around 6.5
indoor plants
Fuchsias are not suitable for permanent cultivation as a houseplant. They suffer from the low humidity. It is therefore essential to avoid a location on window sills above the heating. There is a risk that the roots will overheat and dry out. While the ornamental plant blooms tirelessly from spring to autumn outdoors, indoors its flowering is rather sparse and limited to a few months.
Sun-tolerant fuchsia species
In general, the fuchsia should not be placed in full sun, but there are a few fuchsia species that are generally less sensitive to full sun. The flower color can be used as an indication of how much sun a species or variety can tolerate: species with brightly colored flowers can be sunnier than those with very light flowers. The sun-tolerant fuchsias include, for example, the Triphylla hybrids, also known as grape-flowered fuchsias.
Upright growing varieties:
- ‘Garden Master Bonstedt’
- ‚Leverkusen‘
- ‚Mary‘
- ‚Small Pipes‘
- ‚Thalia‘
- ‚Tourtonne’
Hanging varieties:
- ‚Mantilla‘
- ‚Pangea‘
- ‚Trumpeter‘
