 Gardening |
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FUCHSIA
Fuchsias are rewarding
plants to grow. They require little work and are very easy to
look after.
The plants flower for a long time, usually from June or July,
until the first frost. This could mean that the flowers are still
being enjoyed in November, if that is when the first winter frost
occurs.
On the occasion of the first frost, the plant will, within a day,
suddenly look different. The flowers will shrivel and the green
leaves will change colour to brown and eventually fall.
If you are a gardener who enjoys a colourful display of flowers,
but with the minimum of work, then choose varieties of Fuchsia
having large flowers and those that are hardy (when in a sheltered
position should survive moderate winters).
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A group of five
Fuchsia 'Sealand Prince'
plants, create a colourful four feet high bush.
(Click
photos to enlarge, then 'Back' to return)
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PROPAGATION
Fuchsias are easy plants to propagate. As well as being
a way to increase the number of plants, it can also be used as a form of insurance
against loosing outdoor plants, during a severe winter.
There are various ways to propagate these plants. One method that enables progress
to be watched, is to take 4 or 5 inch cuttings during late summer, and then
suspend them into containers of rain water. The photographs above show the method
in action. The lower section of a milk container holds the water, and a card
with a hole supports the cutting. Leave for a few weeks until the roots grow.
They can, if desired, be left in the water container for several more weeks
after the roots have grown. When ready, carefully tear the card to remove the
cutting and plant in a 5 inch flower pot, containing seed and cutting compost.
Keep well watered, because the roots have been used to being immersed in water.
After planting, some of the cuttings may loose their leaves (right hand photograph),
but it might not indicate a failure. Be patient, it is still possible that fresh
leaf buds will appear.
Keep indoors, or in a heated greenhouse, until the warmer spring weather allows
them to be planted outside.
VARIETIES
There are thousands
of different varieties to choose from. The following are a few to look out for.
They are hardy and have large flowers.
Annabel
Dollar Princess
Empress of Prussia
Oetnang
Pink Galore
Prosperity
Sealand Prince
