We need a Fuchsia Forum!

I sent the following message to the administrators, and they suggested I post here and see what kind of response my request will generate from other members:

Can you add a Fuchsia Forum for your members. There are hundreds of varities and I am sure a lot of Fuchsia growers out there would like a Fuchsia Forum to discuss all aspects of gardening with Fuchsias. I know I have Fuchsia questions I hope other members can answer. The Fuchsia genre is so large and popular, books have been written about this plant, websites are solely devoted to this plant. I hope Dave's Garden will add a Fuchsia Forum. Thank you.

Since the administrators monitor this Discussion Forum, if you want a Fuchsia Forum added to the mix, YOU NEED TO VOTE YES!

I vote....YES please :)

I vote yes! I'm so interested in hardy fuchsias but know next to nothing about them. A Fuchsia forum would be a great place to pick some knowledgeable DGer's brains ;-)

Yes!

no fuchsia forum

Ummm....why not, dp72?

I thought votes were usually for or against something. If the only vote allowed is either yes or no, why have a vote? The right to vote without having to explain your vote is a basic right in the U.S.A.

I think new forums are created when Dave deems that there is enough interest to warrant creating one. Not decided by "votes" per se.

When I typed "I vote yes" in my post above, it was simply in keeping with the spirit of the OP's post as a way of showing interest in a fuchsia forum. Not to cast an actual vote..because in the end it's not our decision.

I extend my most humble apologies for interfering in the internal affairs of DG. I'll try to remember my place from now on.

???

I wasn't trying to be offensive. You have the right to be disinterested in any proposed forum.

I was just curious as to why you would not like the rest of us to benefit from one.

No offense meant, none taken.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "vote" but rather said if you have an "interest" in having a Fuchsia Forum added, let the administrators know by sounding off here.

My response would be, Yes, I would like to have a Fuchsia Forum.

dp72: Do you grow fuchsias?

Yes I would love to have a Fuschia forum!

I would like to learn more about them.

I have started growing fuschias and think a fuschia forum would be a good idea

I'm neither for nor against but would like to add that the one thing that will do the most to persuade admin to start such a forum would be fuschia related content. In other words, pick an existing forum whose category includes fuschias (shrubs maybe?) and start threads there discussing fuschias. When the number and size of fuschia threads reaches a certain level, admin will be able to see the need for a fuschia forum and will be more easily convinced to create one. Just a thought.

I have always wanted to grow fuschias but have no idea of culture. A forum for them would be great. I know I and others could really benifit from it.

I would appreciate a forum dedicated to Fuchsias.

I don't think the "Trees, Shrubs & Conifers" forum is the best place as it doesn't really fit.
There are 47 forums listed within the"Specific kinds of Plants" on the Communities page. Some would probably be considered more obscure than others. As examples, Gladiolas, Gingers, Plumerias. I would bet that there are more folks growing Fuchsias than the other three combined. However, these forums were started due to the amount of interest expressed. (No intention to slight any of the other three - I have grown plants from all three categories, and still do - these are just examples.)

Location for a "starter" thread is tough. Based on zones, I would guess Fuchsias are grown as annuals for the greater part of the growing community within DG. However, the hardier varieties are perennial.
"Container plants" might be a better place to start.
Culture/care, overwintering, selections, & propagation of fuchsias would seem to warrant its own forum.

I was just giving you the suggestion that admin usually gives in these situations. I wasn't suggesting that Fuschias don't warrant there own Forum. Rather, I was suggesting, as admin often does, that if you were to start fuschia threads in a Forum, that these actual threads would help to show the real interest in discussing fuschias. I was just trying to help you in making your case to get a Forum. If they see that a number of people are actually starting Fuschia related threads and discussing fuschias it will go a long way toward making your case that there is a need for a Fuschia forum.

The mention of a forum related to trees and shrubs was just an off hand example. You can choose any Forum you think appropriate. It is just that seeing actual threads discussing fuschias will be more likely to persuade admin.

Again, I stress that I am not trying to argue with you or be difficult. I'm trying to help. I just happened to stubble upon your thread the other night when I was out wandering around DG, and I'm just trying to help by pointing out what I have seen Terry and other Admins point out many times in these situations. As they will tell you, they make the decisions about these things based largely on the amount of traffic that already exists out there for a particular plant or subject. If you start talking about fuschias in some forum, any forum, and the number of threads reaches a certain volume then they will be more likely to create a Fuschia forum and move the fuschia related threads to it.

a forum to discuss fuchsias would be nice. after all, they are a large, varied group that have EVERYTHING to do with gardening. Some of the forums have nothing to do with gardening, and if i'm not interested, I don't go in. the same would apply to anyone not interested in fuchsias, but i bet there would be a lot of interest.

I'm also a big fuchsia fan and would greatly appreciate a fuchsia forum - Thanks!

Scutler - I did not interpret your post as argumentative or anything negative.
To the contrary, it started a thought process; so I decided to look into the different forums listed - when they started, how many threads, types of questions, etc.
I understand there is a process that we need to undertake, and that Admin would see new forums a bit differently than the rest of us would. I'm sure there is a great deal of work associated with it for them.
My intent in looking into it was to try to discover where the best place would be, as I would like to see one begun. I did not want to see it get lost in the shuffle.
My apologies for the lack of clarity.

Katye,

Sorry if I misunderstood. Sometimes it is difficult to convey intent with words alone. I wanted to be sure everyone understood that I wasn't trying to offer constructive advice.

In addition to starting threads to hold discussions related to Fuschias, another thing that will help your cause is if you do a search and locate existing threads related to fuschias. Then you could supply links to those threads here as part of your case regarding the need for a forum specific to Fuschias.

What I have heard Admin say in the past, and I hope I am able to paraphrase this correctly, is that they are reluctant to start a new Forum (when we already have so many) if it isn't going to be used - and apparently that does happen sometimes. That's why the best way to make your case, in addition to what you are doing here, is to demonstrate the need for a Fuschia Forum by starting fuschia threads, holding conversations regarding fuschias, and locating existing fuschia threads.

I hope I've explained this correctly. Best wishes in your pursuit of a fushia Forum!

Excellent advice & insight Scutler - thank you so much!

I had not considered utilizing the links.
Whether or not a forum is created, it is useful to have the information consolidated - right here seems like a great place to start.
Thanks again!

I have collected some hardy fuchsias in the past and had several hanging baskets, but this last spring I found this great nursery in Wa. that had 300 different types and a lot of hardy ones. i bought 30 of the hardies and have them in all areas of my garden. it seems when so many other perenials are fading and are done blooming they seem to brighten every spot they're in. they fit right in as companion plants in among my Hosta cultivars and the Hosta hybrids that I'm growing. I'll enjoy these beauties right up to the first frost. I plan on collecting more next spring. Jim

here are a few of the existing threads I found having to do with fuschias:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/380408/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/988120/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1008709/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1005148/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1002213/

Hardy Fushias????

What zone are they usually hardy to? I am in Zone 6B, are there any hardy for me?

I found a website with Fushia on it this spring and was amazed at all the different colors available.

A Fushia forum sounds great.

I have been hoping to see a new forum for fuchsias too!! I have started a few threads to see if there was enough interest in doing so. I haven't had time to read everything above, but I will come back and read it all. Just wanted to get my vote in here!
We could help each other out allot if we were all together in one forum!
There are over 10,000 known varieties of fuchsias out there!

Here's a copy and paste of the message the Administration sent me when I first inquired about getting a Fuchsia Forum:

Hi hummer_girl,

Thank you for the suggestion! Historically, most new forums began as
a "grass roots" effort - a member posts the suggestion in the Dave's
Garden forum here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/dg

As administrators, we watch such threads pretty closely to see how
much interest is generated by the topic. After several days (possibly
even a few weeks) of monitoring the thread, we can get a "feel" for
the level of sustained interest, take the suggestion under advisement
and make a decision.

Please feel free to propose your idea in the DG forum (link above)
and we'll see what happens - good luck!

Happy Gardening,
Melody

That is why I started my "grass-roots effort" in this forum. I have also put threads about starting a Fuchsia Forum in many other Forums, directing response to this Discussion Forum to hopefully keep us from scattering all over the place. But if threads are generating interest elsewhere, let's keep posting the thread links here to help anyone with Fuchsia Q&A and also to let the Administration know how seriously we need a Fuchsia Forum.

Thanks everyone for voicing your interest. Let's keep this thread active. And to all the silent viewers who have stopped by to see what's going on, let's hear from you about your gardens. Got any fuchsias growing?



This message was edited Aug 17, 2009 2:02 PM

Here's another thread provided by PedricksCorner:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/988127/

I grow both hardy and hanging-basket fuschias and would definitely refer to a fuschia forum if it existed.

Here's 2 more threads I started regarding cold-hardy Fuchsia in the Midwest. Same question directed at Central Midwest Gardening and Upper Midwest Gardening.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1028331/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1028330/

My question is, in zones 5b/6a are there any cold-hardy Fuchsias for our area, if so, which variety and what gardening secrets would I need to know to grow this plant.

I have been wanting to try a cold-hardy Fuchsia for a long time and need help.

I also started a thread in Propagation of Fuchsia Gartenmeister Bonstedt and here's the link:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1028348/

Thanks!

This message was edited Aug 17, 2009 4:03 PM

I would be sure to visit a fuchsia forum! I could start a thread on my F. boliviana(need advice on it) and we could share pictures!

hummer_girl, just stopped into take a peak, I still need to read all of the above. Wanted to let you know about the best website I've found so far for information on winter hardy fuchsias. I refer to them constantly:

http://www.nwfuchsiasociety.com/

I have also been amazed and thrilled to read many members notes here in the Plant Files Fuchsia category about how they are overwintering their fuchsias indoors and how they do that. As I have been growing fuchsias for 27 years and would never have considered trying to grow one indoors! ;-)

I am interested. :)

Katye, I think your first entry here hit the nail on the head. Just trying to decide where to start a thread on fuchsias that would reach the largest number of people who might be interested, was time consuming. The subject shouldn't be limited to a region. And where you grow them determines so much. As in many areas they are treated like annuals, which I found very surprising since I know they can live for decades! So if I started a thread in perennials, everyone who thought of them as annuals, might never notice, right? And even if you grow them as the perennials they are, in some places they are considered deciduous because they will at least lose their leaves, if not die down to the surface completely and then come back up in the spring. But before I began reading and writing in the forums here, I would have been horrified to see any of my fuchsias lose their leaves!!! Where I live, I can count on them to be blooming in the middle of winter!
And besides helping each other grow them, we can also help each other identify them, as it is not at all unusual to purchase any plant in a retail nursery and get it home, only to discover someone looking at the plant before we did, had pulled the name tag out and replaced it with the wrong one....................

A big YES on the Fuchsia forum idea from me. I have Fuchsias of all descriptions (7 uprights, 9 dwarfs, and several "species" like magellanica, triphylla, and thymifolia). I love them, and so do the hummers. Like PedricksCorner, mine bloom practically year round. We do need a place to exchange information, tips, and identification.

I agree about a fuchsia forum. Mine lose their leaves in the winter. Sometimes they will leaf out in the spring and sometimes they need to be cut to the ground and re-grow. But they always live. They take a long time to leaf out in the spring. They are always the last thing. Very suspenseful.

I don't know what a fuchsia looks like so I vote no. I like crape myrtles but I think there is a forum for that.

I'm in favor!

SWgardener: Tell us about your F. boliviana. Do you grow it as a perennial in zone 6a, or treat it as an annual, bringing inside during the cold months. I know not all zone 6a's are created equally, but I would love to have a F. boliviana I could grow here (zone 6a, though the old charts list me as zone 5b).

weatherguesser: Tell me which fuchsias your hummers like. I plant 95% hummer friendly plants and I just learned not all red-blossomed fuchsias have nectar, which was a real surprise.