My thoughts are that fuchsia do NOT like the heat and humidity of the southern warm season. Period. It will probably be cooler under the tree than on the porch with the reflected sun and heat, so you might try it in that location to see if it lasts longer.

Overwatering, by the way, can kill a plant pretty quickly. You may want to 'test' the soil with your fingers before watering. And containerized plants usually need some fertilizing at some point, unless they were loaded up with a slow release product at the grower's.

Thanks, but I know all about container plants in general. Just wondering about specific fuchsia info for my area. Good idea about the slow-rel fert., though, will call and ask about that.

This one has plain green leaves, flowers are pink outside with purple insides. I waited until it showed wilt to water it the first time. Looks like it can go 2-3 days (not sure when it was watered before I got it.)

Maybe it would be happier inside? I like it hot but when it gets above 90, I wimp out & turn on the air to about 82. I have windows on all 4 sides I could hang it in.

Can't believe it was 98 here yesterday already. OMG!!

Fuchsias like to be cooler at night than in the daytime, and I've heard that this 'requirement' can be important. They absolutely do not like the severe heat of your long summers.

I've heard of folks having good luck with growing these plants inside the home. I'd say that you'd have a whole lot better luck inside than outside, in your climate. Have you taken a look in the Fuchsia Forum, just to see what others might have to say? It's not a busy forum, but you might find some helpful information.

By the way, you should be able to see the slow release fertilizer prills, if there are any. Look for little round white or yellow balls. If not, you're gonna need to fertilize at some point. Containerized plants are at our mercy for their nutritional needs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fuchsia Forum

My fuchsia is "dark eyes," btw, just to be clear which plant I'm babbling about.

Thanks for the link, rhizo. I've read about fuchsias until I see them in my sleep sometimes.

I think I have found the problem. Fuchsias are always in those plastic hanging baskets with the center drain hole that is about 3/4 inch above the bottom. I think the water that gets trapped there is what is causing the problem. I took a pruner and chopped a hole in the true bottom of the pot. A lot of water poured out so I got curious if the roots were rotting and removed the hanging thing, then took the plant out of the pot. (rhizo, it was impossible to see the dirt until I did this due to the thickness of the foliage, but I didn't find any fertilizer pellets in there. Thanks for the suggestion.) I was surprised to find that not only was it not root-bound, but the roots had not yet penetrated the deepest 2 inches of soil much at all. Luckily, they didn't seem slimy. I replaced that soil with fresh.

I also cut off a lot of weaker, spindly "inside" branches for more air flow, then removed the non-flowering branches for cuttings. It's still very bushy.

Don't know if this was the right thing to do today since it's probably already terminally ill but at least I feel like I tried. Might just be wishful eyesight but I think it looks happier already. And I wanted to pass on the drain hole thing to others, which I think may be a primary factor of most of the overwatering problems people have, even if they wait until it starts to wilt before watering.

..."wishfull eyesight".....funny! I'll keep my fingers crossed! Sounds like you did everything you could.

Thanks! :+)

I have killed so many fuchsias my Karma is kaput. I could grow them like weeds in coastal California...its the stupid heat, not you. I feel your pain.

Thanks, topsie.

Well, after a surprisingly short bout with too much heat, this plant, who I had named Uma, has succumbed. I even moved Uma inside the day after I did the trimming & root inspection, but she died peacefully by the window this past weekend, dropping all of her leaves on the carpet as if to memorialize herself. Uma was laid to rest yesterday morning in a shady compost pile overlooking the veggie patch. She is survived by a few cuttings in water that are live-looking although there is no sign of any roots yet. The family appreciates the support of all who attended the service. Donations will gladly be accepted to the Empty Hook Foundation via checks written out to me.

If any of the cuttings live, I'll try this one last time as an indoor-only plant.

Dear Uma, she was a good plant and lived a good life.

RIP, Uma. I know that you will not be alone 'on the other side'.

LOL Rip Uma.