Planting Fuchsias in the ground

Fuchsias are very easy to grow in the ground particularly if they are planted in such a way as to protect their roots.
This is a method which is widely used in England. It protects the roots and allows the plant to recover if it is affected by frost, cold or heat.
·         A well developed and rooted  Fuchsia in a 5” or 6”or even 7” pot is best although larger potted plants can be used
·         First dig a hole which is twice as wide and twice as deep as your pot.
·         Improve the soil with compost etc. then cover any fertilisers with soil to prevent root burn
·         Water in a weak solution of Seasol
·         Remove the plant from the pot then place into the hole
·         The rim of the pot  should now be about 10cm below the ground level
·         Fill in the hole with improved soil to the level of the rim of the pot thus leaving a depression with the plant in it
·         Water in well
·         As the Spring and Summer progress and the plant begins to grow a longer stem, use mulch and soil to fill in the depression.
 In very cold areas you can add a layer of newspaper under the mulch
·         The roots of the plant are thus some 10cm below ground level and will be insulated from both heat and frost by
the soil above it even if the rest of the plant dies back
 
 
 
Propagating Fuchsias                                                                                                                
You will need:
Ø  A 5” pot  filled in the lower half with a good potting mix and the top half filled with a
 good Propagation Mix or Seed Raising Mixture
Ø  Three prepared cuttings/ Hormone powder
Ø  A thin dibber
Ø  Top half of a lemonade bottle with the lid attached
Ø  Weak solution of water & Seasol
Ø  Rose Shield spray or other Fungus Fighter
 
What to do: Fuchsias are easy to propagate especially in Spring & Autumn
·         Take a tip cutting approx: 8-10cm long
·         Remove all but the top leaves / cut the stem below a node
·         Dip the cut  end into hormone powder
·         Use a dibber to make a hole in the Propagation mix
·         Insert the cutting / repeat for two more cuttings
·         Water lightly with a solution of water and a tiny bit of Seasol to settle the mix/ do not overwater
·         Let stand for two or three minutes
·         Spray the cuttings and soil with a Fungicide such as Rose Shield or Fungus Fighter
·         Place a half lemonade bottle over the cuttings then label & date/ place in the shade
·         Do nothing more
·          After one month remove the lid from the bottle/ inspect plants then spray again with Rose Shield or Fungus Fighter
·         After a further two weeks check the plants and if the tops are growing fresh and green remove the bottle
·         Leave the rooted cuttings to harden off in the shade house for a week or more
·         Mist each day to maintain humidity
·         Gradually move the rooted cuttings outside to get more light
·         As the rooted cuttings grow to two or three nodes pinch prune to encourage branching
·         After about three to four  months the cuttings will have filled the pot with white  roots which
have entered the potting mix in the lower half of the pot
·         Cuttings  should be growing strongly
·         Pot each cutting into its own 4” or 5” pot and grow on/ water in with Seasol
·         Fertilise with a weak solution of Nitrosol  or sprinkle on no more than a quarter of a teaspoon of Nitrophaska
on top of the potting mix in each pot to encourage leaf growth or use a foliar fertilizer like Nitrosol or Charley Carp each two weeks