Pinching and trimming
Flowers in room fuchsia are formed on young shoots. In order to have more of these shoots, it is recommended to regularly prune the plant, as well as pinch young shoots.
Pinching is an effective method to make fuchsia bloom more profusely. With the help of nips, you can form the necessary plant shape: give the appearance of a ball, bush or small tree in the form of a bonsai.
Depending on the variety, fuchsia can grow up to 3 m in height or even higher. With indoor maintenance, such a plant will be quite difficult and impractical to grow. Low-growing varieties or ampelous fuchsia are preferable for the room. The plant is cut off twice a year: in autumn, at the end of flowering, in October, and also in winter, in early January.
When pruning for the first time in the fall, remove all faded branches at a height of 2 cm from the dormant buds. It is necessary to carefully examine each branch for the presence of pests, remove all excess seed pods and outdated flower stalks. If you find pests, then you need to cut off the heavily damaged parts of the plant and treat the entire flower with an insecticide.
The second pruning is carried out at the beginning of January in order to finally form the crown of the tree. If the fuchsia was in the garage or basement in winter, then the plant is cut only in the fall. In the spring it is necessary to remove only the formed dry leaves and shoots.
If the fuchsia spent the whole winter in the room, then in winter it must be cut off. All thin and long shoots should be removed using a pair of garden shears or a clean pruner. As a rule, such shoots will not bloom luxuriantly and spoil the decorative effect of the entire bush.
With periodic pruning, the plant will grow in breadth instead of height. Old woody shoots are best pruned as well, since they consume nutrients, and at the same time they hardly form flowers on them. All flowers bloom only on young branches. Soon a beautiful and strong bush begins to form.
If you want to form a bonsai tree from fuchsia, then you need to leave one shoot or, conversely, several such branches that can be easily twisted together into a common trunk. At the same time, the tops are pinched to form a lush crown at the tree.
Pinching should be done in winter when the plant is dormant. All unnecessary shoots are removed, leaving only a few branches on the central trunk. In the spring we have to see what came of it. If the crown of the plant is not yet fully formed as you would like, the flower must be pruned again in the spring.
Different, bright and multi-colored indoor fuchsias are considered a precious exhibit in the collection of every grower. If you still have not purchased this indoor flower or you doubt that you will not be able to care for the flower, then this is in vain. Growing fuchsia and caring for it at home, while following the basic rules, is within the power of even a beginner.
How to care for room fuchsia at home
Breeders every year breed several new species, however, the most common is hybrid fuchsia, using its example, we will consider the main points of caring for fuchsia at home.
Lighting
By its nature, indoor fuchsia is not very moody and is quite happy when light is shed on it throughout the day. However, in high temperatures, such as in summer, it is best to periodically put it in the shade. The ideal option is to place it near a window on the east or west side.The flower will quickly make it clear if there is not enough light for it with the help of elongated shoots, which visually makes fuchsia less presentable.
Temperature
How to care for room fuchsia photo
The optimum temperature is determined depending on the period. If flowering has already begun, the flower prefers cooler places with temperatures of 10-13 degrees Celsius. In other periods, he feels great at temperatures of 20-25 degrees. At higher numbers, the fuchsia will wither and gradually shed its leaves, which is a “bell”.
Air humidity
Humidity parameters are again determined depending on the season. Fuchsia does not require strict humidity indicators, it is enough to simply spray it. The schedule is as follows: in the summer, twice a day, in the spring-autumn period, once, in the winter, spraying is not required at all. During the flowering period, you can increase the spraying by one or two times, but in this case, you should carefully monitor the reaction on the leaves and shoots.
Watering
The ratio of fuchsia and water cannot be called completely dependent, a clear balance is maintained here, but there is a main requirement - to use only settled soft water. The watering period depends on the season, in summer, spring and autumn, the flower is actively poured when the top layer of the earth dries. In winter, on the contrary, it is worth reducing the volume of water and not watering the flower more than one or two times a week. In the period from October to December, it is sufficient to do this once a month.
Top dressing
It is worth noting, as with other parameters, this flower is not fussy when choosing a soil. In most cases, a universal ground is ideal. There are also no strict requirements regarding feeding, so you can purchase a ready-made composition for flowering indoor plants.
In some cases, stores have a separate fuchsia blend that can be purchased on request.
The features of fertilization are as follows:
- The first 1-2 months after planting fuchsia should not be exposed to groundbait. The flower needs to get used to the soil, the presence of additional minerals will knock the body down.
- The best time to add minerals is when the bud is growing and forming, in which case it is worth feeding once a week.
- When the buds have already appeared, the amount of the useful mixture is halved, otherwise the buds may fall off.
- The frequency of feeding is strictly observed. It is held in spring and summer, in autumn and winter, it is forbidden to do this, since the plant is preparing for overwintering, and the mineral, on the contrary, will stimulate cells to grow
- It is better to start the spring period with a small dosage, gradually increasing and switching to weekly feeding.
When adding minerals to the soil, it is necessary to periodically loosen the roots. This process is quite complicated, since the root system has a high sensitivity to such processes, but it is mandatory. It is also worth noting that having roots above ground level is a serious problem that can lead to death.
Transfer
It doesn't take long to transplant a plant. Fuchsia transplant is best done at the beginning of the growing season, this is around the end of March. The procedure must be carried out annually to provide the plant with nutrients, to prepare it for flowering and to stimulate the development of the root system. The plant cannot be transplanted during flowering, since during this period it is especially vulnerable and will not be able to adapt to new conditions.
Preparation for transplanting consists in removing old and dried shoots, as well as pinching healthy ones by a third of the length. This will give the flower the desired shape. Next, you need to pick up a pot for transplanting, it should be 1-2 cm in diameter larger than the previous one. When the flower is cut and the pot is prepared, you can start the procedure.
- Gently remove the plant from the pot along with a clod of earth.At the same time, it is better that the soil at the time of transplanting was practically dry or very slightly wet.
- Transfer the fuchsia to a special container (for example, a basin) and carefully inspect the roots for mold and other undesirable phenomena. If you find something, removal of old soil and additional treatment of the root system will be required.
- Place a layer of drainage in the transplant pot (2-3 cm).
- Pour the soil prepared for transplanting in a small layer (3-4 cm).
- Center the plant with the earthy ball in the center of the planter.
- Cover all cavities with soil.
Care features
Caring for fuchsia at home is not difficult even for novice florists. In order for the plant to be lush, at a certain stage of growth, it is necessary to pinch its upper part. This will force the flower to release new side shoots. Fuchsia ampelous variety must be pinched every 1-2 internodes, and bush - after 2-3.
Having provided the plant with the correct soil and optimal living conditions, it is necessary to water the flower in a timely manner and feed it. Let's take a closer look at both procedures.
Watering
Fuchsia is a moisture-loving plant, so you need to provide it with abundant and regular watering.
It is especially important to water the plant on time during the period of active flowering - from May to August. It is necessary to avoid stagnant moisture by providing the flower with drainage in advance.
There should be special holes in the bottom of the pot to drain excess water. Stagnation will lead to rotting of the roots and, as a result, to the death of the plant.
To provide the soil with good air circulation, it must be loosened periodically. In summer, this can be done 2-3 times a week, and in winter - once every two months. Thus, even with excessive watering, the soil will be able to get rid of excess moisture.
If you accidentally flood the plant and it cannot dry out, your actions will depend on the degree of such "flooding". In non-critical cases, it is enough to add sand to the soil and not water it until the upper layers of the soil are completely dry. In a more serious situation, fuchsia will have to be transplanted: for this, carefully remove the flower from the pot, remove the waterlogged clods of earth and fill in semi-dry fresh soil, replacing the old one.
With insufficient watering, the plant also does not feel well: its leaves curl and wither, it turns yellow and takes on a painful appearance. In order to prevent overdrying of the soil, it is necessary to water the fuchsia as the upper layers of the soil dry out.
To restore the elasticity of the leaves (if for some reason you missed watering), you can spray the plant with a spray bottle and cover it with foil for several hours. Before carrying out this procedure, the first step is to provide the soil with a sufficient amount of water. Thus, fuchsia will receive complete hydration and will be able to recover as quickly as possible.
How to feed?
To grow a strong full-fledged plant, it is necessary to provide it with timely feeding. Fertilizing the soil will help to avoid diseases, as well as significantly increase the flowering period, the number of inflorescences and the intensity of color. Top dressing should be applied only during the flowering period: from the end of March to the end of September. Fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will help to build up green mass, stimulate the growth of young shoots, form new buds and open already formed ones.
Suitable for feeding fuchsia:
- biostimulator Sweet: 1 drop of fertilizer per watering, can be used 2-3 times before flowering;
- bone meal: distribute 1 tbsp. l. on the top layer of the soil;
- potassium monophosphate: the preparation in the form of a powder must be diluted in soft water, the granules can be dissolved in water of any hardness (use no more than 1 time per week);
- vermicompost: dissolve at the rate of 10 ml per liter of water, use once every 2 weeks;
- any universal fertilizer for ornamental flowering plants: as a rule, a drop of liquid fertilizer is enough for one watering.
Description
The fuchsia flower is a member of the Fireweed family. It is a very large genus of plants, with about 100 different species. The plant is named after the German L. Fuchs. You can still meet wild fuchsia in the United States.
Fuchsia flower
Conditions
Breeders discover new species every year, although ampelous fuchsia is considered the most common. Its main feature is the growth of side shoots. Fuchsia is grown in pots.
Lighting
Fuchsia is not very capricious in leaving, but it does not tolerate the heat well, it is better not to keep it in the sun for a long time in summer and put it in the shade for a short period. The best option is to place the flower near a window facing the west or east side.
The flower makes it very quickly clear that it lacks light. With a lack of sun, fuchsia will become less presentable: lethargic, with yellow leaves.
Important! The pot should not be moved after the flowering period has begun. The plant is already accustomed to lighting and any changes can severely harm the process.
Semi-double variety
Temperature
To determine the optimal temperature, you need to understand whether the flowering period has begun. When the first buds appear, the plant prefers less warm places with a temperature of 10-14 ° C. In the remaining periods of flowering, fuchsia can feel calm at temperatures of 21-26 ° C.
For your information! At a high temperature of 32-35 ° C, it will begin to shed its leaves.
Air humidity
Humidity is determined by the season. Although the plant is not picky in this regard, a simple spraying is enough for it: in the summer it takes 2-3 times a week, in the spring and autumn 2 times, and in the winter one is enough. During flowering, you can increase the spraying, but you need to monitor the condition of the leaves and shoots.
Note! Spray the flower with soft water only. Moisture should get on the petals, and not touch the buds, especially those that have already begun to bloom
Planting fuchsia
Whole fuchsia (or its stalk) cannot be planted in a large pot. Its size needs to increase over time. To begin with, the pot should be a little over 9 cm in diameter. As the roots grow, it is necessary to transplant the plant, you can prepare a pot a little more than 12 cm.A layer of expanded clay is laid at the bottom. For planting, you only need soil and a bush.
Watering
Fuchsia does not require frequent watering, but during flowering or warm weather, water more than usual. All this to prevent the flower from wilting. There are certain requirements - to use only soft water. In winter, it is worth reducing the amount of water to 1 time per week. From mid-October to December, he will have enough 1 time per month.
Watering
What fuchsia loves
The plant is very fond of bright diffused light. Not very fond of pot turns. If the rules for care are violated, it begins to drop buds and flowers.
Fuchsia likes fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts. You need to properly ventilate the room.
Growing rules
The fuchsia life cycle is divided into a period of activity (spring-autumn) and a time of rest (winter). During the growing season, the flower needs watering, light, feeding. Grooming treatments include pruning and pinching. The first pinching is performed over 2-3 internodes of the cutting. The procedure is repeated as you grow. Cropping is done twice. Faded branches are removed before wintering. In early spring, dry shoots are removed, healthy tops are shortened by 1/3. After pruning, the flower is transplanted into fresh soil.
Important! The dormant period begins in winter. The plant is transferred to a room with a temperature of 10-12 ° .. Watering is rare, the subcrusting stops in October
In the spring, the bushes are returned to the light windowsill, watered with warm water. The cuttings remaining after pruning are rooted in water or soil
Watering is rare, the subcrustals stop in October. In the spring, the bushes are returned to the light windowsill, watered with warm water. The cuttings remaining after pruning are rooted in water or soil.
Read more about the rules for growing fuchsia here, and here we talked about the nuances of growing garden fuchsia.
