Fuchsias are typically known as shade plants, but they require a substantial amount of sunlight to grow and blossom. It is best to select an outdoor location where the plants can receive direct morning sunlight or filtered sun throughout the day. In regions with a warm climate, it is crucial to provide more shade. Fuchsias thrive in areas where summer temperatures are below 85 degrees Fahrenheit and have cool nights. In hot and dry climates, the size of the flowers decreases, and the plants grow poorly. To compensate for this, growers must offer good shade and wind protection and install automatic misting systems. Most fuchsias cannot tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures. However, hardy varieties can survive low temperatures if they are well-established in the soil, planted deep, and given a heavy layer of compost. Container plants should always be kept under cover.
Red and orange flowered fuchsias can grow in full sun near the sea, while white and pastel hanging basket varieties require shaded areas. Some small-flowered houseplants can also grow in a very bright window, but they usually do not grow as well as those planted outside, especially on the West Coast.
If the stem appears too elongated between the leaves, it is advisable to move the fuchsia to a brighter location. Regularly rotating the plant a quarter of a turn will also help the plant grow symmetrically. If the shade comes from trees, be cautious about where you place the fuchsias until the trees have fully leafed out.
Soil is essential in growing fuchsias. Plant them in humus-rich soil in the garden or use a light organic potting mix in pots with proper drainage. Wooden containers or fiber pots keep the roots cool and allow the plant to “breathe.” Clay pots dry out faster, but they also do the same job.
Fuchsias like their roots moist but not wet. Water when the surface of the growing medium becomes dry. A houseplant in full bloom needs water once a day or possibly twice in very hot and dry weather. Do not water a wilted plant in midday heat if the soil is still wet, as it can suffocate the roots. Misting the leaves can reduce the surface temperature and move the plant to a cooler location.
In March and April, start a regular fertilization schedule to ensure that your fuchsias grow and bloom well during the summer. Begin with a light application every week, using a half-strength balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Fuchsias need continuous feeding since there is little soil to hold nutrients and frequent watering leaches them out faster. It is best to switch to a “bloom” formula of fertilizer when they are budding, but do not entirely eliminate nitrogen because the plant will continue to grow while blooming. In colder winter areas, withhold fertilizer in the fall to harden the plants off before they go dormant for the winter.
Whiteflies can be problematic in warm climates and for greenhouse growers. Removing infested leaves, vacuuming adults, or flushing (spraying) with water sprays can keep Whitefly populations down in the early stages of development. Insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem oil can reduce but not eliminate populations, so it’s crucial to test all sprays first because tender leaves and flowers burn easily. Additionally, beware of the fuchsia gall mite, a microscopic mite that feeds on the plant sap and injects a toxin that causes gnarled and shriveled growth, similar to peach leaf curl. Stems, leaves, and flowers swell and become hairy and galled. The mites live and breed within these grids, protected from predators. Refer to the detailed review below for treatment.
