Selecting new fuchsias
Top tips on what to look for when buying
In most centres these days you’ll find a good selection of fuchsias in small thumb pots from about mid-February onwards. Try to buy these fairly quickly after they arrive in stock, as they’re not always maintained as well as they should be. Look at the leaves and ensure each leaf is a similar size to its opposite number or pair if growing in threes. Check the whole plant over for any signs of disease, especially any botrytis. If you buy one with the growing tip removed make sure there are three sets of leaves left on the main stem as this will give an ideal bushy plant. A retired industrial chemist, John has had an interest in horticulture for many years and in fuchsias specifically for more than 30 years. He has amalgamated a collection of more than 250 different fuchsias and is fascinated by the range of flower shapes, sizes and colours. John is the current Editor and webmaster of the British Fuchsia Society.
When you get your new plants home, remember they’ll still need protection from low overnight temperatures up to the end of May. Acclimatise them to your conditions, and move them on to larger pots, the 6cm (2½in) size is ideal. From March onwards you’ll start to see
larger plants for sale in garden centres in 9cm (3½in) pots. These have usually been pinched twice, once at the main growing tip and once on the sideshoots. Carry out the same checks as before, making sure the sideshoots have been pinched at the same number of pairs of leaves and the plant is a nice overall shape. Again, acclimatise the plants to your growing conditions and move them on to larger pots before they become root bound.