Average rating:
Fuchsias, nicknamed lady's eardrops because of the shape of their flower, come in three main varieties: hardy, tender, and hanging. They all thrive best in the Pacific Northwest, enjoy a rich organic soil, and like to be fed every few weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer. If you live in a warm dry climate, be sure to keep them in a shady area of your porch. Although as its name indicates, the hardy variety can withstand more cold than the other varieties, I recommend bringing all fuchsias that are able to be moved, inside for the winter.
Step 1:

Bring your pots of fuchsias inside before the temperatures go below freezing. If they are planted in the ground and are too large to be dug up and repotted for the winter, cut the fuchsia plant back to the soil line and cover it with a thick layer of straw. This may protect the hardy varieties from freezing.

Step 2:

After bringing them indoors, place the fuchsias in a bright cool location and continue to water and feed them. Enjoy your fuchsias until the flowers die and the leaves start to fall off.

Step 3:

Once all of the leaves have fallen off or you have removed them, cut the stems back to 5-6 inches above the soil line. Place your fuchsia in a location where the temperature is above freezing but below 40 degrees if possible; unheated garages or basements work well.

Step 4:

Check on your fuchsia every few weeks; if the soil is dry, water and return it to the cool area. Fuchsias are dormant in the winter, so they do not need to be fertilized.

Step 5:

When the weather warms in the spring (all danger of frost has past) and new growth starts to appear on your fuchsia, remove it from cold storage and place it on your porch again. Cut off all of the new growth except two or three hardy looking stems.

Step 6:

Once the stems have become strong and about 4-6" tall, begin to water and feed your fuchsia on a regular schedule.

I have found that if you try to keep a fuchsia growing inside over the winter, the new growth will be weak and leggy. If you allow the plant to go dormant for a few months, you will be rewarded with a beautiful fuchsia in the spring, summer, and fall.
About this Author:
Judy Feldstein founded Foliage Unlimited Inc, one of the largest interior plant maintenance companies in Arizona, in 1976. For more information about the care and selection of  house plants, plants that clean the air, or selecting the right plants for your office, home, or business go to: www.foliageunlimited.net or contact Judy directly (judy@foliageunlimited.net).
View more information and all guides by Judy Feldstein

Be the First to Comment on this Article