Fuchsia care: watering, pruning & winter care

Fuchsia owes its flowering power to proper care. We show how to enjoy flowering fuchsias with proper care.

Fuchsias (Fuchsia) have long been appreciated in many gardens, but originally the exotic evening primrose plant (Onagraceae) originated in the mountain forests of South America. Due to this fact, it requires special care, which is a little different from most other ornamental plants. We show how best to care for the fuchsia – from watering, to pruning, to overwintering.

Fuchsia care: watering and fertilising

Especially when it comes to watering and fertilising, some aspects should be taken into account so that the fuchsia stays healthy and has a lush and long flowering. In the following, we answer all questions on the topic.

Watering fuchsias: when and how much?

Fuchsias are one of those plants that have an extremely high water requirement. In their natural environment, the tropical mountain forests, sufficient rainfall is provided and the humidity is always high. Therefore, make sure that they also find approximately similar conditions in your garden. Water fuchsias regularly so that the root ball never dries out completely. Ideally, water every day as soon as the top layer of the substrate has dried again. In addition, the fuchsia will be pleased if you from time to time spray the leaves with water.

Fertilising fuchsias

Basically, it can be said that fuchsias require a larger amount of nutrients, especially for their flower formation. The use of mineral fertilisers is often recommended for fuchsias, but for various reasons it is not advisable: On the one hand, even a slight overdose, especially in combination with little water, leads to burning of the sensitive roots. Furthermore, mineral fertilisers are the far less ecological option. For resource conservation and soil protection, primarily organic means such as our Plantura Flower Food with long-term effect are preferable. In addition, especially in the first few months after repotting or planting, further nutrient supply is counterproductive, as many commercial soils are already pre-fertilised. Therefore, ideally work slow-release fertiliser into the substrate several times a year. In particular, the high content of phosphates promotes healthy flower growth in fuchsia.

Be sure to consider the following aspects when watering and fertilising the fuchsia:

• Water regularly
• Spray leaves with water more often
• Primarily organic fertilisation several times a year

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Pruning fuchsias

Proper pruning is sometimes crucial with the exotic fuchsia, so that the flower comes back every year. Fuchsias always flower on the new shoots of the year, woody shoots therefore lead to a decrease in the popular flowering in the long run. The optimal time for pruning the plant is usually autumn, just before the overwintering of the fuchsia. Cut down the faded shoots at this time, a third of the total volume can easily be cut. However, be careful when it comes to the woody parts inside the fuchsia. This should be spared from severe pruning if possible.

Overwintering fuchsias

With their tropical to subtropical origins, fuchsias are not the right sort for trouble-free outdoor overwintering. For this reason, only a few varieties, mostly hybrids, are cultivated and overwintered in the open ground. The majority must still be moved to a frost-free place during the winter, where it is dark and cool. Ideally, the temperature there should be at least 2 °C and not above 10 °C. In autumn, first carry out the annual pruning on your fuchsia and then put it in a place for overwintering. From April onwards, the plants in pots can go completely outside again, but keep an eye out for late frosts until mid-May. Winter-hardy varieties should always be covered with insulating material outdoors, such as brushwood, straw, leaves or garden fleece.

Heed the following points when overwintering your fuchsias:

• Overwinter at 2 – 10 °C
• Cool, dark and dry location
• Perform an annual pruning in the autumn
• Gradually back outside from April

For more tips and tricks on overwintering your fuchsia, as well as a number of particularly cold-resistant fuchsia varieties, see our special article here.