OT - Hardy Fuchsia Care?

5 years ago

Hello everyone! I just purchased a "Dollar Princess" fuchsia from Lowes a couple of days ago and I would greatly appreciate if someone could give me some care tips so I can keep her happy and healthy. I plan to attach the pot to a plant hanger and hang it in a spot that gets a few hours of morning sun and shade for the rest of the day. I have had it in a spot that gets shade all day, but moved it to the location where I want to hang it today. It's dropped 2 or 3 small buds every day since I've gotten it. Is it because of the change in its environment? I'm worried that it's going to die. I don't have too much experience with fuchsias. I watered it with some 7-7-7 African violet fertilizer today. How often should I fertilize it? Also, does it go dormant over winter? Is there any special winter care for it?

Thank you for your help!

damask_rose : )

Featured Answer

sautesmom Sacramento

5 years ago

So fuchsias are one of the plants I collect. A few points:
The baskets you buy (Dollar Princess is probably the most common basket variety) have been grown in high humidity, not too sunny or hot greenhouses. They will not be happy launched from there into dry 90s porches. The fastest way to kill them is strong sun in large plastic hanging pot. It's too hot for their roots, they stop taking up water and the roots cook and drown. They will acclimate after a few months, but a really hot day right from the nursery, it's touch and go. When I have new ones and high 90s forecast, I bring them inside until the 80s are back.
If they start to wilt even though the soil is wet, they could get to the point of no return in just a couple of hours.
The good news is they are much more cold hardy than I first thought. I have had mine survive even high 20s for a couple days. So if you keep them alive through November, they should come back next year.
Carla in Sac

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Comments (7)

sautesmom Sacramento
5 years ago
What are your daytime temps?
damask_rose_zone9b thanked sautesmom Sacramento
damask_rose_zone9b
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi sautesmom! In the summer the daytime temps are usually in the 80s and 90s, but it can get up in the hundreds in late August.
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damask_rose_zone9b
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for the advice sautesmom! The temperatures have thankfully been in the mid-80s this week which is good. I have kept it in the shade for the past few days to acclimate it and I let it get some morning sun today. So far so good! I really hope I can keep it alive and thriving. Do you think I should mist it to increase the humidity?

Thanks again for your help!

damask_rose : )
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Unless there are two different fuchsias with the same name, my experience with Dollar Princess is very different. It is a very hardy, shrub type fuchsia, suitable for planting in the ground in zones 7 and above.

It is an upright grower and would not be well suited to a hanging basket. In my climate, these can be grown well in quite a lot of sun and are very drought tolerant once established, although I'd recommend at least some afternoon shade in hotter climates. I seldom ever water mine and we can be very dry in summer with virtually no measurable precipitation from July through September.

They generally do go dormant in winter and lose foliage although not always. I had several different hardy fuchsias retain almost all their foliage last winter but my garden is relatively protected by surrounding woods.

Shrubby, hardy fuchsias do not require the same degree of care or maintenance as do the tender, basket or annual type fuchsias. They are tough, workhorse plants in the garden with an exceptionally long bloom period....often late into winter. I've had them flowering at Christmas time!!
damask_rose_zone9b thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
damask_rose_zone9b
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for your help gardengal! I have placed it in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. For some reason my Dollar Princess seems to be more inclined to droop than to grow upright. I saw some ones that were more upright but I chose this one so I could hang it for the hummingbirds. I’m glad to hear that they’re very tough plants; I was worried that they might be fussy or hard to care for. I sure hope it will still be blooming by Christmas!

Thanks again!

damask_rose : )
damask_rose_zone9b
Original Author
5 years ago
Hello! I thought I'd give an update on my fuchsia. The buds that it had on it when I got it from the store have just finished blooming. The weather has cooled down by ten degrees or so and it has a whole new batch of buds! I can't wait till they open!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

damask_rose : )