Fuchsia flower: description, the nuances of home care

Perennial evergreen plant fuchsia (fushia) belongs to the family of Cyprus. His homeland is the center and south of America, New Zealand.

There are approximately 100 species, on the basis of which numerous hybrid varieties with a wide variety of shapes and shades of flowers were bred.

Description of Fuchsia

Depending on the species, the plant is a tree or bush. Flexible branches are covered with oval-lanceolate opposite leaves of a green or slightly reddish hue. They do not exceed 5 cm, pointed at the ends and along the edge with teeth or smooth.

Flowers have an elongated tubular cup and long stamens. After them, edible fruits appear.

Types and varieties of fuchsia

Fuchsia can be grown as ampelous, bush plants, to form a pyramidal or standard tree from them.

Varieties can bloom in different seasons of the year. As a rule, almost all varieties have edible fruits (berries), but under indoor conditions, they are difficult to ripen, you must wait for their blackness to use for food.

Bush

Other beautiful varieties with terry and semi-double flowers:

• Alisson Bell (purple red);
• Anabel (white);
• Ballerina (scarlet in the middle of a light pink skirt);
• Henriett Ernst (sepals - deep pink, petals - soft lilac).

Ampelic types:

• Blue angel (terry, white with lilac);
• Hollis Beauty (lilac blue);
• Imperial Crown (Scarlet);
• Prince of Peace (white with a red middle).

Fuchsia cultivation and care at home

In April - August, the flower undergoes an active vegetation. December - January, he has a period of rest.

Fuchsia breeding rules

There are two methods for obtaining new fuchsias: seed and cuttings.

Seeds

This is a rather time-consuming process, usually not preserving the individuality of the mother flower. Seeds are sown in early spring:

• Since they are very small, they are mixed with sand and scattered on the surface of the soil.
• Sprinkle with a small amount of substrate.
• Cover with a film or glass.
• Maintain temperature + 15 ... +18 ° C. Poured into the pan.
• Sprouts appear in a month.
• When two sheets are formed, they are dived.

Vegetative

As cuttings, old or young shoots (about 10 cm) are used, which are cut at the end of winter:

• Lower leaves are removed. Cuttings are placed in a glass with water, liquid substrate or sand.
• Create a mini-greenhouse using a plastic container or bag.
• After 2 weeks, when the roots appear, the stalk is transplanted.

How to plant fuchsia sprouts

Sprouts are planted in small containers, not more than 9 cm in diameter. Mandatory drainage. The pot is completely filled with earth so that there are no voids. To do this, it is shaken and tapped, but not tamped by hand, the soil is necessary porous.

Transplantation is performed in the spring 1 time per year. The adult bush is shortened by 1/3, the roots are pruned (excluding ampelous varieties).

The substrate is slightly acidic, there are several options:

• sand, peat, sheet soil (1: 2: 3);
• sand, greenhouse, clay-soddy soil, peat crumb (1: 2: 3: 0.2);
• ready-made mixture for flowering plants.

Further step-by-step process:

• The pot is taken ceramic, to protect the root system from summer heat, about 4 cm more than the previous one.
• Pour drainage on 1/5 of a new container (expanded clay, pebbles) to protect the plant from decay.
• Sprinkle with a substrate.
• By way of transshipment, fuchsia is removed from the old tank without shaking the ground, placed in a new one. Fall asleep voids.
• Spray and water until moisture appears in the stand. After a while, the excess liquid is removed.
• 30 days do not feed.
• After another 60 days, they wait for flowering.

Ways to trim fuchsia

Pinch fuchsia to stimulate good flowering, the appearance of a large number of young shoots, as well as to form a ball, bush, bonsai tree from the plant.

Cut it 2 times a year: after flowering in October and during dormancy - January.

Autumn

Remove stems that have bloomed. Sleeping kidneys are left 2 cm below the cut.

Winter

Thin shoots are removed, old woody ones are pruned, since flowers are formed mainly on young shoots.

Bonsai tree

When forming a small tree, they leave one shoot or several that can be twisted. Pinch the top to create a lush crown.

Bush

If you shorten the flower to the very stump, it will stay in hibernation longer, bloom later, but it will give many young shoots and the plant will take on the form of an extensive shrub.

Fuchsia Growth Problems, Diseases and Pests

With insufficient care and non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, the plant suffers from various diseases.