i just bought a new fuchsia and read that it is a tropical plant that likes humidity. living in central texas, we get out share of humid days, but for those non humid days, what do i do for humidity? my plant with be in a pot in a shaded part of my balcony. is misting it on non humid days sufficient or do i need to develop something better?
how to maintain humidity for tropicals..
Misting might help, but, you would have to mist constantly! I love fuschias, however, they only do well for me early in the spring and slowly decline in the heat of the summer. If you have a cool shady area, you may have better luck than I.
Susie gave me a heat tolerant fuschia that blooms all summer regardless of the heat and I now stick with that plant. It is really hard to pass up all those beautiufl baskets in the spring tho!!
Mel, I know what you mean. The Lowe's had some nice fuchsia baskets, but I passed them up. The little heat tolerant one is blooming!!
Great! That plant you gave me has made it's rounds. It has now gone full circle!!!
I am sooooooooo glad I shared it. Isn't it funny how things work out? I wouldn't have it now if I hadn't shared with you.
i'm guessing seattle probably has higher humidty than austin and wouldn't need to humidify their plants? im thinking about those 90 degree days in austin that are bone dry where an extra boost of moisture might help
If you can stick a glass of water in the basket...and keep it full, it will provide some humidity....also grow in in some shade at noon where it will be a bit cooler...
I can see where your climate would make it difficult for the Fuchsias to thrive. I know during the mid summer here in Oregon they suffer a bit from the heat. And Yes even here in Oregon during the summer it can be a dry heat. My fuchsia baskets are located in shade area or just morning sun. I do mist them in the morning on the days we get in the upper 80's or warmer.
I bet it's a big challenge to get them blooming in TX hot dry summers.
Best of luck to you all.
HOT and humid here in south florida already, but the fuscia I have in pots are loaded with blossoms. I treat this as an anual, it is so beautiful and cheaper than cut flowers!
I grew these all summer in baskets in western new york years ago, humid hot days and cool nights. ( I almost killed myself on a dropped blossom though- very slippery and I just went down the stairs like they were a ski slope)
Maybe if you place the pot on top of a deep saucer filled with rocks and water the evaporation from the saucer would help to humidify the air around it? Like creating a micro climate for the plant...and then put it in dappled shade.
Just a thought :)
Mounted along the length of my garage over a loooong planter we have misters we purchased at Home Depot. It is flexible plastic tubing and we leave them up all year long. You hook a garden hose to it and you are ready to go.
Charley's Greenhouse has a more permanent kit for using solid pvc.
And yes, it does make a difference. Also have permanent misters along the back side of my house in CA near the pool.
Hope this helps.
I really fell in love with Fuchsias this June. I basically spent the entire month of June in England (East Sussex and Cornwall) and Scotland this year. Wow, for those that have never had the chance, you just wouldn't believe it. Most of their wild flowers are many of the flowers we pay good money for and pray they survive. In Scotland the hills and mountains (Munroes) were literally purple with acres of Rhododendrons. Most of the dwellings that you ran across, including the cottage we stayed at across from Loch Lynn had Fuchsias everywhere.
I was glad to read that there are some gardeners that are actually growing them, or at least trying to down in the South/Southwest. A friend of mine in the West Midlands around Birmingham has been trying to get me to try them but I really thought it was much too hot here.
Does anyone have any recommendations regarding a hearty variety for Southeast Texas? I would really love to start growing them as they seem to be virtually maintenance free in the UK.
Thanks..........
Tomatomaniac
Ha ha ha ...sorry....my suggestion? move..........
But seriously I don't know why some folk think they are tropical...if you live in Texas find the coolest most sheltered place you have and start off with the most common fushias so you don't get to upset if you lose them.They are beautiful in England because it is mild in the Summer.....good luck :)