Caring for a Fuchsia in a Pot

Fuchsia plants are vibrant, colorful flowers that add life and beauty to any room. Often people will grow fuchsia in a garden or outside in the ground, but did you know that it can also be grown in pots?

In this article, we will discuss fuchsia plant care for those plants in pots. Read on to find out how to care for your fuchsias!

There are various fuchsia varieties, from hardy fuchsia to tender.

Also, from trailing fuchsia or hanging fuchsias, bush fuchsia to upright fuchsia. 

Position your pot in a light position with filtered or partial shade. Fuchsias do well with the morning sun but need protection from the afternoon sun.

Best Soil for Fuchsias in Pots 

The potting soil for fuchsias in pots needs to be light and airy—fuchsias like moist soil drains well. The soil mix should help retain water and not dry out too quickly as the plant will drop its buds, and the leaves will turn yellow.

At the same time, they do not like to be waterlogged, which will cause root rot. So choosing a mix that keeps the plant evenly moist and allows aeration, and the plant will flourish.

For best results, there should be three parts peat moss, compost or other organic material mixed with one part coarsely-chopped straw or hay and one part perlite, vermiculite, or potting soil.

The container must have drainage holes and should be filled with potting soil level within one inch of the top.

Watering a Potted Fuchsia 

Take care not to over-water the plant because it can cause the plant's root rot and eventual death. Underwatering is also a problem as they will drop their flower buds.

The watering frequency will depend on the size of the pot, its position and the size of the pot.

An easy way to test if your fuchsia needs watering is to put one finger about an inch (2.5cm) down into the pot. If it feels wet, you should wait a few days before watering; if not, watering is necessary.

If the pot is standing in a saucer, do not let the pot remain in the water as this will encourage root rot.

If you notice any wilting leaves, it may need watering as well but first, check if the soil is damp as wilting can also occur in hot weather.

Remember, if the fuchsia is in a hanging basket, they tend to dry out faster and should be checked more frequently.

In hot, dry climates, fuchsias will need to be misted regularly. However, a hot protected balcony can have a microclimate, and the pot will dry out quicker. 

How to Keep Fuchsias Flowering 

Fuchsia is a flowering plant and can keep on blooming by cutting or pinching it back. They bloom on new growth only, so pinching forces the plant to produce new growth and new flowers in about six weeks.

Take off about a quarter of the branch and do this continually throughout late spring and summer.

You will also need to remove any brown or dead leaves and flowers that have already bloomed. Deadhead your fuchsias regularly.

Cutting back or pinching your fuchsia will keep it flowering all season long.

Feeding Fuchsia in a Pot 

Fuchsias are heavy feeders, and frequent watering leeches the nutrients out of the soil in the pot.

There are many different fertilizers for flowering plants that you can purchase. Still, a liquid (water-soluble) fertilizer is ideal because they are easily absorbed by plant roots and spread throughout the soil more quickly.

My preference is a liquid seaweed extract. Always water the plant first, then fertilize with the liquid fertilizer.

A fertilizer for tomatoes is a good one for fuchsias or any flowering plant or a formula listed as 20-20-20.

To keep your fuchsia healthy and thriving, apply fertilizer every second week during the growing season. Or quarter to half strength every week.

Always follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging because different brands will have different application rates. Foliar feed onto the leaves as well by sprinkling from above with the watering can rose.

Stop fertilizing towards the end of summer to slow the growth.

Taking Fushcia Softwood Cuttings 

• Fall is an excellent time to take fuchsia cuttings.
• Use the soft growth and not the hard stems.
• Cut just below a node about four inches (10cm) from the growing tip.
• Dip the cutting in a rooting medium.
• Remove all fuchsia flower buds and flowers and lower leaves.
• Insert cutting into medium, covering the lower node.
• Cover with a plastic bag or a lid.
• Place in a well-lit area out of the direct sun an ideal temperature of 70F (21C)
• Check them daily and ensure the soil is kept moist.
• Repot when the roots are about half to one inch (1-2.5cm) long.
• Feed weekly with a very weak solution of organic liquid fertilizer.

How to Revive a Potted Fuchsia Plant 

There are many reasons a plant starts to die, and we will not always be sure of the reason.

It could be damaged roots, incorrect position, fuchsia rust, fungal disease, spider mite, fuchsia gall mite, compacted soil, wrong soil mix etc.

Two of the causes could be overwatering or underwatering. Over or underwatering refers to how often you water and not the amount of water.

Remove the plant from its container. You may detect whether the plant has been overwatered or underwatered.

Revive an Overwatered Fuchsia

Watering too often is drowning your plant's roots, so it suffocates from inadequate aeration. 

• Remove the plant from the container to see if there are any white hairy roots. If not, they will have died from overwatering.
• Remove all the soil from the root. Check if the drainage holes are blocked.
• Replace the plant in the pot with new potting mix and mist it. Position the pot in a shady area where there is no sun.
• Do not water for at least a week. After that, you will notice the leaves falling off. If the plant recovers, it will start showing signs of new growth.
• Use a moisture meter and only water in small amounts when it is dry and carry on misting.

Revive an Underwatered Fuchsia 

Ensure that the plant is stressed is due to underwatering and not stressed from too much humidity, insects, or disease.

• To revive underwatered fuchsias, you need to cut the stems back and remove dead or wilted leaves.
• Remove the plant from its container and replace the soil while ensuring no clogs in the drainage holes.
• Fill a bucket with water and immerse the pot into the bucket of water.
• Let it soak for a couple of hours.
• Replace the pot in its position.
• Keep an eye on the plant's condition and continue watering as necessary. Mist regularly.
• It is important to keep underwatered plants out of direct sunlight as this will cause them to wilt even more quickly.

Pruning Fuchsias 

Pruning fuchsias in late winter early spring allows you to reshape plants. Remove all dead branches and twigs and prune back one-half of the plant's height.

Replace the potting mix, and at the same time, you may need to prune the roots if needed.

After new shoots appear, start with a weak fertilizer solution with a high nitrogen content to encourage fast growth.

Once the plant starts forming leaves, pinch out the tips. The pinching will encourage the plant to grow additional side shoots and new branches and bush out.

When these new branches start forming leaves, pinch their tips as well.

Overwintering Fuchsia 

• Prepare for overwintering your plant by watering less often by late to mid-October.
• Don't remove any seed pod.
• Reduce the watering by allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
• The semi-hardwood branches will become hardwood.
• Use organic mulch to insulate the plant during cold temperatures.
• If fuchsias roots freeze, the plant will die.
• Always protect your plants from the cold winter winds and freezing temperatures. A hardy variety fuchsia will do better than a tender one.