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 Blooming
Plant
of the month
fuchsia
(printable
PDF)
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BOTANICAL NAME
Fuchsia spp. (FEW-sha or, less commonly, FOOK-si-a)
COMMON NAME
Lady’s-eardrops
DESCRIPTION
These attractive and popular blooming plants are known for their
colorful, bell-shaped flowers that hang from the stems.
COLORS
Fuchsias are available in purple, pink, fuchsia, red, orange and
white as well as bicolor combinations. Some varieties change
color as the blossoms mature.
CONSUMER LIFE
Fuchsia plants will remain in bloom for several weeks, with each
flower lasting several days, depending on location and care. The
plants can last for years with proper care.
AVAILABILITY
The plants are available year-round.
IN-STORE AND CONSUMER CARE
LIGHT Provide Fuchsias with
plenty of filtered sunlight to keep them blooming.
WATER Keep Fuchsias moist at
all times from spring through autumn, but water sparingly in
winter. To water, submerge the pots in room-temperature water
until completely saturated, and then allow them to stand until
all dripping has stopped. Do not allow the plants to remain in
standing water, or root rot may result. On hot days, mist the
foliage with water.
TEMPERATURE Fuchsias thrive
in sheltered areas where temperatures are moderate, about 70 F
and below. Good air circulation is essential, but shelter
Fuchsias from hot, dry winds, which remove moisture too rapidly
and cause wilting.
FERTILIZER Feed Fuchsias
with a water-soluble bloom fertilizer.
REBLOOMING Keep Fuchsias
blooming longer by picking off spent blooms and seed pods. To
encourage branching, prune plants heavily in the spring and
pinch off the tips of the new growth. Continue to pinch until
the plant is filled out.
 CHALLENGES
ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY
Fuchsias are highly sensitive to ethylene gas. Check with your
supplier to make sure your plants have been treated with an
anti-ethylene agent at the grower level or during
transportation.
QUALITY CHECKLIST
WHEN BUYING Select sturdy,
shapely plants with healthy leaves and brightly colored flowers.
PESTS AND FUNGUS Watch for
white flies, Fuchsia gall mites, aphids and rust. Check for
insects at the leaf axils (the axil is the joint between the
base of the leaf petiole and its point of attachment on the
stem).
FUN FACTS
FAMILY Fuchsias are members
of the Onagraceae family. Relatives include Clarkia (aka Godetia)
and evening primrose (Oenothera).
ORIGINS Fuchsias are native
to Mexico, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.
HISTORY Fuchsias were named
for Leonhart Fuchs, 1501-1566, a German professor of medicine
and a botanist.
Some information provided by:
American Fuchsia Society,
www.americanfuchsiasociety.org
Clemson Extension,
http://hgic.clemson.edu
Fuchsia Research International,
www.fuchsiaresint.org
The New House Plant Expert by Dr. D.G. Hessayon
The Chain of Life NetworkÆ,
www.chainoflifenetwork.org
Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Flower & Plant Care manual
You may reach “Blooming Plant of the Month” writer Steven W.
Brown, AIFD, at
sbfloral@aol.com or by phone at (415) 239-3140.
Photos courtesy of The John Henry Company
To enjoy the rest of this
issue, please go to the
Subscriptions page and get your
copy of Super Floral Retailing today!!!
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