Fuschia Fever

Hi. I was just wondering - why do I fail everytime I try to root a fuschia? I have a 100% failure rate so far.

I strip off the lower leaves off the 3 1/2 inch cutting, put it in nice moist soil, put a plastic baggie over it, then put it in indirect light.

Then it just fades away...

I've rooted longer sections in water. This lady roots shorter sections in water using perlite to keep the small pieces upright. Give it a try.

http://users.breathe.com/collingreenhough/Fuchsia_Cutting.htm

Good Luck. -Au

I root my Fuchsia in water, it takes a week or two and then I transfer to a light soil less mix until they outgrow the smaller pots :) I keep them indoors in a window seal :)

Well, I haven't tried the water thing, although I was starting to suspect that something like that might work. My hummingbirds that visit every morning really love fuschias!

Just make sure that they're not too wet, if they can rot, they will.

Hmmm.....let's see......I'm supposed to root it in water......but not let it get too wet.......hmmmmmmm

I think they did that on purpose just to see if you were paying attention.

It was a joke lol


Guess i'm not very funny :(

Well, after trying so long to do it and having a 100% failure rate, it is kind of hard to laugh over it. I wonder if the water should be distilled water or something? I've just been using tap water.

I'm wondering if you were ever successful? I'd be leary of tap water but it would all depend on your water. Try rain water if you can. Are you being careful not to peal away any tissue from the stem when you pinch off the leaves? If the water gets green before new roots form, change the water and be patient. You can do this.

Certainly not distilled water. I use tap water; but not suitable if your local supply is heavily chlorinated. I've also used perlite very successfully. Josh is making quite a serious point I think. Don't let the leaves of your cuttings get too wet, as this can encourage rotting. You can take cuttings through most of the year.

Well, it has been quite awhile since I logged in! Only one of the 6 fuschia cuttings rooted in the distilled water. The others didn't do anything at all and will be thrown out soon. The rooted one has been transferred to potting soil now and is doing fine. I'll be experimenting more with them in the future - I think they might do better with some liquid fertilizer added to the water - just a few drops.

Doesn't it make you nuts when you can't conquer a problem like this? Just wondering how long you are waiting for roots to form? If your slip looks fresh yet, be patient. Are you using a knife to cut your slips? A scissors tends to smash the stem. Sometime I'm going to try taking cuttings by the moon stage. I've noticed that sometimes cuttings take right off and sometimes they just fizzle. My whole life I rooted geranium cuttings in water till the last couple of years. Then they just rotted on me. Now I root them in potting soil and rarely lose a one. Go figure! About using fertilizer, I've always heard you shouldn't do that, but give it a try anyway, on a few at least. You can't always go by the rules. Keep at it, you'll find what works for you.

I rooted magnolias in my EZ Clone and they took 6 weeks to root but the leaves did not wilt so I never gave up. When I root in a bottle, I leave the cap on for the humidity and I add just a few drops of peroxide to hold off bad water.

I rooted some Hardy hibiscus with no problem. Planted therm in pots and immediately killed them. I am going to start again next week with another batch.

I gave the cuttings about 3 months to root in water. Only one did. It still looks good now that I've potted it - even has new growth. So I tell it that it has to do good to make up for the other cuttings being such dismal failures.

I'm going to take some more cuttings and try again, just for the heck of it all. I think that fuschias have a mind of their own anyway. If they are in the mood to bloom, they bloom. If they are in the mood to root, they root. If they are in the mood to rot, they rot.

I wouldn't put up with their moodiness except...they are worth it!

And maybe, after all, I like a challenge...

I use plain tap water, but do change the water every day or two- keeps it fresh, and keeps the oxygen level in the water up, which is important...

Avianut, that for that info. I will change water tomorrow. I took some plants rooted out of the EZ Clone and placed them in the bottles to facilitate a hold until I could get them potted. Do you pot in potting mix or seed starter or what. I planted a Hardy Hibiscus rooted cutting in potting mix and it died in three days.

Strange- I would hardly think anything could die that fast!
I use potting mix. I'd be afraid seed starter (a finer mix) would retain too much water and not enough air. Maybe they need higher humidity while adjusting? (baggie over the pot)
Let me know how it goes!

I agree, I think it needs humidity and maybe more babying than what I gave it. I will succeed, just do not know when....