Maiden's Blush Fuchsia

Hello All, I live in Central Alabama and I recently happened upon a beautiful hanging baskit full of fuchsia at my local hardware store. At the time I didn't know what type of plant it was but bought it anyway because it was so lovely. After it bloomed, and I mean it bloomed...it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time. However, after that, it began to look a little sick with yellowing leaves, fewer blooms, etc. My dad thought it was getting to much sun (it was at his place on a nearby recreational lake) so I brought it home to try and figur out what to do for it.

After several hours of research I finally got the correct name for it and discovered that there were three plants in the pot and it was pot bound. Yesterday evening I broke it up and put a plant in its own pot and watered them well. I understand from my research that they resent being transplanted and will probably look a lot more droopier than usual and their flowering might slow. I'm prepared for that as it isn't an annual and should bounce back next year.

Long story short, these are my questions.

1. What do I do to winter it? Purn it or leave it alone? From the looks of the existing plant...it looks like it was pruned back and this spring new growth came back at the end or near the end of where it was pruned.

2. Will it go dormant like boganvilla's and drop all it's leaves or will it keep it's foliage and just stop growing for the winter?

3. How much water and light do I need to give it during the winter?

Thanks everyone for letting me ramble. I love this plant and want to help it this winter to survive...all advise is greatly appreciated!

Hi alsplan! Fuchsia is a deciduous shrub, and most varieties are not frost hardy. You can over-winter them by giving less and less water as the temperature falls, and they begin to lose leaves. Don't allow the pots to become water-logged. I don't know how cold your Zone gets, but I'm betting you get some frost. I would recommend bringing the pots indoors whenever a freeze is forecast, but put them somewhere cool, like a basement or garage, so that the plants don't break dormancy prematurely. In spring, when you see new growth, prune to remove any weak or dead-looking branches or twigs.

This message was edited Jul 28, 2007 8:40 AM

June's got good advice for overwintering, the other thing I'll tell you is that they don't really like heat very much, so between now and the winter I would make sure and not let it be too much in the sun (especially since you just transplanted it). I wouldn't let it have any direct sun at all until it's recovered from transplanting, and even once it's recovered from that I wouldn't put it anywhere that it'll get more than a bit of morning sun, otherwise it'll fry.

Thanks guys...I plan on bringing them inside this winter because while it never really gets below freezing very often here in good old Wetumpka, Alabama...lol, it does from time to time.

One other thing...we don't do basements much here in the south so would an above ground metal building do to winter it instead of a basement? That's one of my main concerns...I want to let it go into it's dormant state but I'm not sure if total darkness is correct otherwise I'll bring them in my house where it will receive natural light.

Thanks again for all the good advise.
AL

Al, regarding overwintering in darkness: if the plant is totally dormant - no leaves - then darkness should be OK, but check often to see if the plants start into growth, because a warm spell might make them think it was spring. Also check for mold growing on the soil surface, and treat with fungicide if necessary. If you see signs of growth - swelling leaf buds - you'll have to move the pots into the house and keep them on a shady windowsill.