Fuchsias ( Fuchsia sp. ) , Also known as queen’s earrings , are a genus of very elegant plants of great ornamental value, as they are very beautiful and come in different colors. Mainly, they can be seen in fuchsia or purple, which is the most common and hence its name, and in other colors such as red, pink, orange, white and dark purple that looks bluish.
These plants usually grow in the form of shrubs or trees that do not reach three meters in height, which makes them ideal plants, both for gardens and for pots. Luckily, the care of the fuchsia plant is not too demanding.
If you have decided to have the earrings of the queen at home, whether it is indoors or outdoors, in this article we offer you a practical guide for their care and we hope you find it very useful.
Varieties of fuchsias and general characteristics
We must know that fuchsia is an exotic plant that does not support inclement climates very well. It is widely used as an ornamental houseplant and, although there are resistant varieties (such as Fuchsia coccinea ), most do not adapt to cold climates. For this reason, growing the fuchsia plant in an indoor pot is ideal for harsh climates. Of all the varieties of fuchsias , the strongest is Fuchsia magellanica . This is a deciduous shrub up to 1.5 m. Tall. It is useful as a singular specimen or to form hedges. It has blue, red and purple flowers and it resists quite harsh winter conditions well. Other varieties are Fuchsia ricartonii ,Fuchsia alba or Fuchsia versicolor .
A variety that is marketed in Spain as a seasonal plant is Fuchsia hybrida . It is a hybrid of very colorful flowers that is sold mainly during the spring and summer season and can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
Typical varieties of South America are Fuchsia boliviana (South of Peru, North of Argentina and Bolivia) and Fuchsia pilaloensis (endemic to Ecuador). Fuchsia boliviana is a perennial plant with crimson leaves that can reach up to 3.5 meters high and 1 m. wide.
Potted fuchsia care – guide
Next, we will indicate the basic care of the fuchsia potted plant and we will also talk about the advantages and disadvantages of planting it in pots or planters.
Type of pot and substrate for fuchsias
When planting the fuchsia plant in a pot , the most recommended is to use a clay pot that is large enough, to avoid having to transplant it, and that has adequate drainage . The substrate on which it is planted must be a little acidic, that is, with a pH lower than 6. The more acidic substrates can be distinguished because they have a more brown color, while the more alkaline substrates have a darker color (almost black ). In addition, the substrate must be porous and contain perlite, which facilitates drainage.
Location, temperature and lighting
It must be taken into account that this plant does not withstand low temperatures (below 7ºC) and that it needs a lot of lighting but avoiding direct sun. The ideal is to put it indoors, unless we live in a tropical place in which case it can be outside, and in a cool and well-lit place, in which sunlight reaches it for much of the day but without being too direct. .
Watering the fuchsia plant
With regard to watering, this must be abundant during the flowering season, so that the soil remains moist, but if overdo it since it can cause the leaves to fall. The plant should be sprayed frequently, but without wetting the flowers. The substrate must be rich in organic matter, so fertilizer can be added to the irrigation water.
Advantages and disadvantages of having a potted fuchsia
Planting the fuchsia, fuchsia or queen’s earrings in a pot can have advantages such as:
- It is possible to change their location.
- You have better control over compost and growth.
- Better control over pests, preventing the roots from rotting.
The main drawback of having it in a pot is that it will not develop as much as if it were outdoors and planted in the ground or soil directly.
Reproduction of the plant fuchsia, fuchsias or queen’s earrings
Fuchsias multiply from seeds, pre-grown seedlings, or cuttings. In hybrid varieties, its multiplication by means of cuttings is more recommended, in order to obtain identical flowers to the mother plant. In the case of multiplying a hybrid by seeds, it cannot be certain that the flowers of the new plant are identical to those of the previous hybrid.
How to Make Queen Pending Plant Cuttings
The ideal is to obtain the cuttings during spring, since at this time the plant has everything in its favor: a climate that is not too hot or cold and high humidity that maintains a humid substrate. To obtain them, you have to wait for the temperature to rise above 15ºC and they can be cut with disinfected garden scissors or other sharp objects. The twigs for the cuttings should be approximately 20 centimeters long .
Once the cutting is obtained, the base must first be moistened a little with water and impregnated with powdered rooting hormones. Next, we make a hole in the center of the pot and fill it with equal parts universal growing medium and pearls. Then, we introduce the cutting, each one in a container.
To prevent harmful fungi from appearing, it is important to sprinkle the soil with copper sulfate or sulfur, as well as use fungicides if we see that fungi appear or also as a preventive every little time, especially if it is not the first time they appear in this plant or cutting. Finally, it must be watered and placed in the right place to let it grow. We will have to make sure that it drains well and to continue watering it regularly when the soil dries up.
