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Bolivian Fuchsia

Fuchsia boliviana

The seeds are easy to germinate. Any small containers will work. I use the plastic "6-pack" containers that small nursery plants are sold in.  Use a well-draining soil mix, such as 2 parts high-quality potting soil to 1 part perlite.  Fill each container to almost to the top.  Don't compress the soil.  Water it so that it's uniformly moist. Place 2 or 3 seeds on top, and sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top - just enough to barely cover the seeds (1/8", or 2 mm). Lightly water or spray this top layer.   Place the pots in moderate temperatures (about 65-75 degrees F / 18-24°C).  Keep them in a bright spot, but not in direct sun.  Ensure that the soil surface never dries out, possibly by enclosing the pots in a humidity dome or large bag.  Punch some small holes in the bag or dome to let some fresh air in.  By the way, if you are inexperienced with growing seeds, start by planting only half of them.  

Most of the seeds should sprout within 3-4 weeks, but allow up to 8 weeks for any slow ones to sprout.  It's normal for some seeds to be sterile and not sprout.  Once they sprout, they will need more air circulation to avoid getting stem rot.  Water the soil whenever the surface looks dry, but don't keep it always soggy either.  If you have more than one seedling in each container, snip off the weaker one(s) when they're an inch tall - or very carefully remove them. 

I recommend growing them indoors until they're at least a few inches tall.  For lighting, you may use a fluorescent bulb kept about 4-6" from the plants.  Do not use incandescent (screw-in) bulbs, even if they're called "plant bulbs".  You can also put them in well-filtered sunlight.  Transition them to more sun very gradually - no more than an hour more sun every week or two.  Fuchsias don't like dry air.  If the air drops below about 40% humidity, consider using a room humidifier set on a timer.   

Watering - Water whenever the soil is about halfway dry down where the roots are.  A moisture meter probe works well for monitoring this. You can buy it at garden and hardware stores for about $4.  You simply stick the probe in the soil at the level where the roots are, and water whenever the needle is halfway across the dial. Never let the pots dry out, but don't let them sit in a tray of water either.  If your tap water is bad, use bottled or spring water until the plants are a foot tall.

Feeding - Your Fuchsia likes average fertilizing. Feed once a month during periods of active growth, using an ordinary all-purpose fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended dose.  Most potting soil contains fertilizer, which means your seedlings won't need to be fed for the first month of growth. 

If some of the older leaves turn yellow and drop, this is usually a sign that the plant may need more fertilizer (nitrogen), but it could be from underwatering or overwatering.  If the newer turns yellow with green veins, the pH of your tap water is probably too high.  Switch to bottled water if this occurs.  It's normal for the growing tips to appear a little reddish or yellow-green initially. 

Repotting - Repot your plants to larger containers whenever the roots start circling around the bottom of the container or poke out of the holes. Transplant very carefully to avoid disturbing the roots.

Growing outdoors - Fuchsia boliviana prefers filtered sunlight, with protection from strong afternoon sun.  Morning sun + afternoon shade is fine, as is tree-filtered sunlight all day.  The plant prefers moderate temperatures and cool nights.  The ideal temps would be between 45 and 80° during the day (7-27°C), and 40-70° at night (4-22°C).  In warmer areas, give the plants afternoon shade, and don't place them near a wall where heat can collect.  Keep the pot shaded to avoid overheating the roots, and mulch heavily to keep the soil moist.  Black pots are not recommended.  Protect the plants from all frost. 

Pests to watch for - whitefly, aphids, scale (little lumps on the stems or leaves), mealybugs, and possibly spider mites (tiny "dots" under the leaves).

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 

Have fun growing them!

Jeff

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