Landscaping with Fuchsias

Fuchsias fit very well into a mixed garden of shrubs, trees, bulbs, annuals, perennials and groundcovers. They can be used in garden beds, pots, baskets, in mixed borders, courtyards, large and small gardens. They are particularly useful in small gardens as they give a long display.
Fuchsias originate in misty alpine areas. They need good free draining soil with lots of rich humus, which simulates the dead leaf matter in their native habitat. They prefer lots of light and some direct sun especially early morning sun particularly in winter and humidity.
Deciduous trees such as maples, lilacs, magnolias and flowering ornamental fruit trees with their short trunks and broad canopy are ideal companion plants. They provide a natural light and ambience that shadecloth or shade houses do not. The lime green leaves and red stems of maples mimic the new growth and stems of the Fuchsias. Underplanting with tiny annuals such as Johnny Jump Up, Virginia Stock, small violas, Lobelia, Alyssum, perennial Scabios, native Brachycome or Veronica “Georgia Blue” in either gardens or pots makes a great long lasting show. They finish as the fuchsias are coming into full flower.  Orchids in flower can be placed in a courtyard around fuchsias in pots placed on the mulch under the tree.If you have early and late flowering Orchids they will still be in flower when the Fuchsias flower. Pots of Lillium Regale or Asiatic Lilliums will give a sophisticated look for Christmas with the Fuchsias. Baskets with ‘floppy’ fuchsia such as Swingtime, Sophisticated Lady, Elizabeth’s Dream, Uncle Charley, Kirribilli, Cascade, Chantelle , Kite , Hula Girl make a stunning picture swinging under the trees. Baskets and pots placed on mulch around the trees in hot weather can be misted or the mulch wet thoroughly to provide humidity to the fuchsias on hot days. Tall deciduous shrubs such as Viburnam Opulous Sterile( Snowball Tree) , Abutilon, Virburnums  and Roses , tall salvias e.g. Waverley, Indigo Spires growing in Northern sun provide shade on their south side for small spreading fuchsias such as Hanging Bubbles, Swingtime,  Laura, Acclamation, Blue Lagoon, Candy Bells, Hula Girl, Kirribilli.  Late winter and Spring flowering trees such as Magnolia, Lilac, Michelia,  Cherry, Flowering Peach with wide spreading branches growing in sun  look wonderful with pots on the mulch underneath and baskets hanging in the branches. Again, they let in the light in winter, flower when the fuchsias are making green growth then provide a fresh green background when the fuchsias are in full flower.
Fuchsia like a South Side Garden particularly if it gets early morning sun and shade from lunchtime on. They grow well with Camellias particularly Japonicas and Reticulates . Choose white: Nuncio’s Gem, Alaskan Queen, Polar Bear, Red: Kramer’s Supreme, Volcano, Deep pink: Lasca Beauty, Debutant, Buttons and Bows. Plant the camellias at the back then plant, cane begonias  and  complementary fuchsias such as tall uprights:  Annabel, Alaska, Bianca, Australia Day, Heidi Ann, Display, Georgana , Phyllis,  then, in the front,  trailers such as Alwyn, Hidcote Beauty, Blue Lagoon, to pick up the whites, pinks and reds of the Camellias. Plant Brachycome between to provide a gentle contrast. The Camellias flower when the fuchsias are in leaf then provide a deep green shiny background   for the fuchsias when they flower. Interplant with Bluebells, freesias, Johhnny Jump ups, small violas, primulas   for an Early Spring display. In cool climates add Tuberous Begonias for Autumn colour.
One advantage of a landscaped garden using fuchsias is that pests and diseases are kept at bay.
A monoculture will always encourage pests coming to a ‘feast’ so there is a greater need to spray. The more you spray the more you need to spray. Another advantage is that even when the fuchsias have been pruned heavily or are not in full flower, there is still interest in the garden and lovely places to sit and enjoy.
Janice Devine

Fertilizers
Discussion at the August Meeting was based around fertilizers. Some of the highlights were;
·         a weak solution of Seasol on cuttings and young plants will encourage root growth and strengthen leaves against pests and diseases
·         high nitrogen based fertilizers encourage leaf growth e.g. . Nitrosol, Charlie Carp, Nitrophoska,
·         high potassium based fertilizers will strengthen stems and promote flowering: Phostogen, Sudden Impact for Roses, Thrive Fruit and Flower, Rich Grow, Bloom Buster, Hortico all purpose
·         a little Nitrophoska mixed in with the potting on mixture for rooted cuttings will encourage leaf growth
·         Kendrick has analysed  the PNK of fuchsias and found the plant have 15% Nitrogen, 3.5% Phosphorus and 12.5% Potassium. It appears Nitrophaska has that same analysis
·         Green Gold slow release fertilizer is good in cold areas as it will release its fertilizer in temps as low as 4C sprinkle on potting mix
·         Make a mix with 1 teaspoon of vinegar to
     1 litre of water/ spray onto cuttings to help   
      root growth
NB: remember when fertilizing to use a little often and alternate fertilizers to prevent a build up of salts and/or lack of certain minerals. Plants need plain water as well as fertilizers
Tip or Pinch  Pruning; This is the process by which the growing point of each stem of the fuchsia is taken out by ‘pinching’ out the tiny leaves in the center. The plant will then produce two stems from the growing point.
Tip or pinch pruning ( sometimes called ‘stopping’ ) can be done at any time but is generally used most often during the weeks of rapid growth after the plant has been pruned back hard. Allow the stems to grow to three or four nodes with pairs of leaves before pinching out. If you pinch too early or too often then you will not get the long stems you need to fill a basket or make a nice full plant in the ground. Tip or pinch prune two or three times then stop and allow the plant to flower. Taking cuttings is also a way to ‘pinch prune’
Each new stem needs at least three or four  nodes before pinching again. You will then get a pair of flowers hanging from each leaf node and it will make a very pretty picture.
Nodes:
Leaf nodes are important in fuchsia culture:
·         as new  stems grow they produce ‘bumps’ from which comes leaves and later flowers
·         a pair or sometimes three leaves will come from each node
·         when taking cuttings of tip growth cut just below a leaf node then dip in hormone powder and put cuttings in propagation mix
·         a stem node can produce leaves, flowers or roots
·         allow stems to develop three or four nodes before tip pruning to allow for more flowers
·         internodal means ‘between the nodes’ when taking a cuttings from a plant first cut in the internodal space then cut just below the node before planting .