fushias

[Deleted]

i would like to keep one that i have had in a basket this summer, lovely deep red with the dark purple middle, the leaves have a reddy coulour as well. it has got quite big and has branches on it over 1ft long.

how can i keep it overwinter and should i trim it please

[isabella]

Do you have a greenhouse blacky?

When I want to overwinter fuchsias I cut back the foliage by at least half and remove all the leaves.I also give it a spray with a bug killer.
The Fuchsia would then be overwintered in a frost free greenhouse.

[Weeterrier]

That is what I do too. And I keep them almost dry till the Spring.

[Deleted]

thank you so much for all your help, i have done as you all suggest but have popped it in the spare bedroom as i don't have a greenhouse

some of the bits i chopped off have been put in a pot, do you think they will root for me

sorry not replied sooner PC has been iffy and i have to get hubby to sort it for me.

[Weeterrier]

They may very well root. But once growth starts again, you can start taking some little tip cuttings to root and grow on.

[Tig]

I have two tender fuchsias which I would like to keep - I think it's possible to lift them with a good rootball, trim and clear them of foliage and bury them horizontally 1ft deep in the border (or spare parts of the veg plot) - has anyone else tried this?
I haven't got a greenhouse, so I've got nothing to lose by giving it a go!
Tig

[Weeterrier]

I haven't tried this myself Tig, but I know it is meant to be a successful method of overwintering. I believe it is also possible to keep the Fuchsias buried in dry compost in a cardboard box, and kept frost free, perhaps in a garage.

[Plocket]

I would have thought it's worth giving your idea a go, but in the meantime I would cut some of the stems to take cuttings. Just bung them in a glass of water and put them on a north-facing windowsill and wait for them to root. Then if you do lose your original plants outside, you'll have babies for next year.

[Dutchy]

Hi Tig it is possible to do this with older plants. Properly woody.
You cut it back, remove the sprigly branches all leaves and flowers, you leave the soil around the roots.
The hollow in the ground has to be about two feet deep. Put the plants in, fill in with dryish fluffy soil ( tried to find the word for turfmolm = peatdust ? ). Cover the hole with planks and plastic to prevent the winter rain from getting in. Place the soil you dug out on top of that. It should work.
You could also use an old unplugged freezer that you leave in the garage and pretend that is is the hole you dug. Plants in fluffysoil in and this you can occasionally check to see if nothing bad got to your plants.
I'd say, go for it ( the hole in ground) as you have nothing to loose

[Rosefriend]

Well we can't leave out Fuchsia's outside even in a hole unless we know we are in for a mild winter. I bung all mine in the cellar after cutting them down by a good third and I just keep them moist through the winter. As the cellar is dark they do lose their leaves but that isn't a problem. Other way is in a garage wrapped in fleece or newspaper and failing that, I agree with Dutchy - go for the hole in the ground and as Plocket says take some cuttings first.

RF

[Tig]

Thanks for all your help - I wish we had a cellar, I could try the garage, but it does go down to below zero in there if it gets really cold. Think I may try the 2ft hole - just need to mark the spot or I may never find them again!! And I'll see if I can find a couple of suitable cuttings - though they are covered in flowers still, and not many shoots are bud free, will this matter?

[Dutchy]

As there will be planks, plastic and a mount of earth on top you should be able to find them again.
Good luck

[Rosefriend]

tigridia said:

Thanks for all your help - I wish we had a cellar, I could try the garage, but it does go down to below zero in there if it gets really cold. Think I may try the 2ft hole - just need to mark the spot or I may never find them again!! And I'll see if I can find a couple of suitable cuttings - though they are covered in flowers still, and not many shoots are bud free, will this matter?

Just nip the buds/flowers off Tig and either put them in some compost or in water which I find easier - they will root quickly.

RF

[Barbara]

i never dig up my fuschias.
i always leave them in the ground,
the frost kills the tops, but they always flower the following year.
i've lived in this house for 11 years, and never lost a fuscia yet, and my back garden is north facing and most of them are planted there.

[magrich]

I am with you Barbara, I leave my fuschias in the ground. I must say that sometimes they look lifeless in february but they always spring back to life. The only one I ever lost was in a hanging basket which got overlooked when a sudden early frost came. BUT i do always take cuttings just to be sure which is why most of my friends now have fuschias in their gardens!

[purplejulia]

I have been given some white japanese anemonies by a friend - she dug them up from her London garden yesterday.

If I planted them in my border now will they survive the winter?

[Chuckles]

I had some from pink one's from a friends garden about 6-8 weeks ago, I pulled them up so they had very little root, popped them into 5" pots and they are now showing new growth. I'd say plant them as long as the ground isn't frozen and give then a good dollop of compo in the hole and around them. Or pot them up and keep them somewhere sheltered over winter and plant next spring

[purplejulia]

Thanks Chuckles
I planted my japanese anemonies in the ground yesterday. It wasn't as cold and miserable as today, so I am glad I have planted them already. They looked a bit sad but there had quite substantial roots so fingers crossed they may survive the winter.
PJ

[Chuckles]

purplejulia said:

Thanks Chuckles
I planted my japanese anemonies in the ground yesterday. It wasn't as cold and miserable as today, so I am glad I have planted them already. They looked a bit sad but there had quite substantial roots so fingers crossed they may survive the winter.
PJ

PJ chop off the sad looking bits even if it means you take the lot off at just above ground level, pop some compo on the top too for a bit of protection

[Deleted]

i kept my fushia from my summer hanging basket in the spare bedroom over winter and it has just started shooting the bits i chopped off and put in a pot have not rooted sadly.

[Tig]

I have one which is starting to grow Blacky

I ended up leaving mine above ground (in their pots) but on their sides, in the most sheltered spot in the garden.

I will wait and see if I get any activity from the other pot, it may just be slower to wake up

The cuttings I took all rooted, but then went mouldy and I ended up chucking them. Should have potted them up really

x Tig

[Chuckles]

I've been keeping an eye on my over wintered Fushias too Blacky and they are shooting too

PJ did your japanese anemonies do any good, mine that I put n pots with very little root have started to grow new leaves, infact I put a few in the garden the other day. Not sure if they will flower this year though, will have to wait and see.

[purplejulia]

Apr 16, 2008 22:21:12 GMT Chuckles said:

I've been keeping an eye on my over wintered Fushias too Blacky and they are shooting too

PJ did your japanese anemonies do any good, mine that I put n pots with very little root have started to grow new leaves, infact I put a few in the garden the other day. Not sure if they will flower this year though, will have to wait and see.

Well Chuckles - I have been scratching my head trying to remember ever having any japanese anemonies for planting let alone who gave them to me. But thanks to last year's diary found out by process of elimination the answers.

Where I put the plants is another matter entirely. Sorry Chuckles, as far as I can tell nothing has come up yet. So maybe it was a frost casualty. As you can see it is the small hours so I will have a nose round the garden tomorrow.

Thank you for reminding me.

PJ

[Deleted]

i forgot about my cuttings and sadly they all popped off

[Weeterrier]

;D

[Ladygardener]

I left my fushia outside well sheltered at the back of the border last winter instead of lifting it. When springtime came I cut it down by about 1/3rd. It's been blooming it's socks off for ages now and the flowers are not as quick to drop off as they normally are. Just goes to show how mild our winters are compared to previous years. I have to point out that because it's right up against a wall and facing south it does get any sun we have and the never gets waterlogged.
Here is a little pic I went out into the rain to take today. ;D

[Weeterrier]

They are lovely LNG, will you be taking cuttings?

[nightowl]

My local GC has 2 standard fuchsias that I must get pics of

They've had them for donkeys years, they're like trees - stems are about 8ft and thick as your arm, flowering tops are about 6 ft across or more, with branches supported on the greenhouse cross-beams!! Amazing things!!

[Tig]

I'm pleased that the two pots I had last year have some surviving bits growing.

One is a bit slow off the mark, but his one has done very well, buds nearly opening ..



I have three trailing ones in a large container which were a freebie from Parkers earlier in the year, think they are Devonshire Dumpling, Royal Mosaic and I think the other one is Rocket Fire (Rocket something anyway ) - they are just getting buds on

x Tig

[Rosefriend]

My fuchsia's are doing well... here my winter hard ones..









and many many thanks to Wee



and the others make a lovely show as well Wee.



RF