General Growing Advice
Using a good quality multi-purpose compost, pot up your plugs into 10cm pots. Once your plug plants have been potted on and labelled, water them in well and grow on for around 5-6 weeks. Water once the compost starts to dry out.
If preferred you can pot on the plugs into hanging baskets, flower bags or pots. Add a slow release plant food like Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food to your compost which will give extra nutrients for strong and healthy plant growth.
Keep plants frost free until mid/late May and then harden off before being placed in their final positions when the risk of frost has passed in your area.
Water as necessary giving a liquid feed such as Neudorff Organic Plant Feed as instructed throughout the growing season.
***For packs of 20/40 plug plants gently remove the small plugs from the tray by pushing up from the bottom using a pencil.
Fuchsia Specific Advice
Fuchsias are stunning and can be planted in all manner of containers, baskets or situations. They are very rewarding and extremely easy to grow from plug plants.
Transplant your plugs on the day you receive them if you can. Use a good quality, free draining multipurpose compost. 10cm pots (4”) are the best size to use. If you are using old pots, make sure you sterilise them first to remove any pathogens. We find Jeys Fluid to be the best, if you can’t find any, give them a good wash with warm water and soap.
Your Fuchsias can be moved to their final positions, whether container, basket or into open ground, as soon as they have developed a good root ball. Carefully remove the pot and check the roots -they should be white and fill the pot evenly.
Depending on how you wish to display your fuchsias – for instance in a hanging basket or as pot plants - removing the growing point will encourage the production of side shoots to produce a well-proportioned plant. Trailing varieties will benefit from one pinch whereas a bush variety may require two or more. Pinching will delay flowering by approximately 6 weeks but the improved display makes the wait well worthwhile!
Watering is perhaps the most important task during the growing season, two very simple but basic rules being; never allow the plants to dry out and never allow the plant to stand in waterlogged conditions for any length of time. Over watering can result in flower and leaf drop. (Water standing for a very short period in a tray or plant saucer will not cause harm). Aim to water in the evening and to keep the soil evenly moist. In very hot weather an overhead spray will be beneficial.
Fuchsias are fast growing plants and regular feeding will be necessary to sustain them, starting with a balanced feed applied weekly approximately six weeks after potting. Large plants, especially those planted in baskets, may be fed more often to ensure a long flowering period.
Botrytis (Grey Mould) and Rust are the two main diseases affecting fuchsias. A well-grown plant seldom succumbs, so the best defence is to pay careful attention to growing conditions, watering, feeding, etc., and to inspect your plants frequently for signs of disease. If treatment is required several treatments are available.
