Home	Strange Wonderful Things Rare and exotic plants & seeds

Fuchsia denticulata

Planting the seeds

Plant your seeds promptly for best germination

 Getting started -- Use small containers or cups that have drainage holes.  For soil, use a well draining soil mix, such as 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse sand. 

 Fill each container with soil, but don't pack it down - just water it until evenly moist.  Place a seed or 2 on top, and sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top - just enough to barely cover the seeds, because light helps the seeds germinate.  Sprinkle some water on the top soil layer.

 Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the soil surface does not dry out.  If you enclose the pots in a plastic dome or bag to maintain moisture, leave it open a crack to allow fresh air in. 

 Keep the pots at about 65-75 degrees F (18-24°C).  Try not to let them get above 76°F (24°C).  I recommend placing a thermometer near the pots to ensure they are at the right temperature.  Keep the pots in a bright spot, but not in direct sun.

 The seeds should begin sprouting within 4 weeks, but allow up to 10 weeks for any slow ones to sprout, especially at cooler temperatures.  If you have more than one seedling in each container, snip off the weaker one(s) after 4 weeks - or carefully transplant it.  Give your seedlings bright light, but avoid direct sunlight. 

 I recommend growing them indoors the first few months.  Fuchsias don't like dry air.  Over about 40% humidity is recommended.  If your room's humidity is too low, you may use an ultrasonic room humidifier, which you can get from thrift stores or home improvement stores.

Watering - Fuchsias like evenly moist soil, but it shouldn't be perpetually soggy either.  Never let the pots dry out, but don't let them sit in a tray of water either. 

 If your tap water is very high in minerals (or "hard") i recommend using bottled spring water or rain water.

Feeding - Your Fuchsia has average fertilizing needs.  Feed about every 2 months with a slow-release (pelleted or organic) fertilizer.

 It's normal for an older leaf to occasionally turn yellow and drop, but if it seems excessive, your plant may need more nitrogen fertilizer.  It can also be from overly dry soil. 

 It's normal for the growing tips to appear a little reddish or yellow-green initially.  If the newer growth turns yellow with green veins, the pH of your tap water may be too high.  Switch to bottled water if this happens.   

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 carefully to avoid letting the soil ball break apart, which can damage the roots.  Watering the soil before repotting will help avoid this.  For the first week after repotting, give no direct sun or fertilizer.

Growing outdoors - This Fuchsia is a forest plant, so it prefers filtered sunlight or morning sun, with protection from strong afternoon sun.  

 It prefers moderate temperatures and cool nights.  The ideal temperature would be between 50 and 80 during the day (10-27°C), and 45 to 65 at night (7-18°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. 

You may plant them in the ground in frost-free areas, such as along the Pacific coast.  Otherwise keep the plant in a pot, and prune it shorter whenever it grows too big.  It can survive a light frost, but try to protect it from all frost, especially when young.

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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