The fuchsias (Fuchsia sp.)also known as queen earrings, are a genus of very elegant plants and of great ornamental value, as they are very beautiful and come in different colors. Mainly, they can be seen in fuchsia or purple, which is the most common and hence their name, and in other colors such as red, pink, orange, white and dark purple that looks bluish.
These plants usually grow in the form of bushes or small trees that do not reach three meters in height, which makes them ideal plants, both for gardens and for pots. Luckily, the fuchsia plant care they are not too demanding.
If you have decided to have queen earrings at home, whether it is indoors or outdoors, in this EcologíaVerde article we offer you a practical guide for their care and we hope you find it very useful.
Varieties of fuchsias and general characteristics
We must know that fuchsia is an exotic plant that does not withstand inclement climates very well. It is widely used as an ornamental indoor plant and, although there are resistant varieties (such as Fuchsia coccinea), most are not adapted to cold climates. For this, the indoor potted fuchsia plant cultivation It is ideal for harsh climates. All fuchsia varietiesthe strongest is magellanic fuchsia. This is a deciduous shrub up to 1.5 m. Tall. It is useful as a singular specimen or to form hedges. It has blue, red and purple flowers and resists quite harsh winter conditions well. Other varieties are Fuchsia ricartonii, fuchsia dawn either fuchsia versicolor.
A variety that is marketed in Spain as a seasonal plant is fuchsia hybrida. It is a hybrid with very colorful flowers that is sold mainly during the spring and summer season and can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
Typical varieties of South America are Bolivian Fuchsia (South of Peru, North of Argentina and Bolivia) and fuchsia pilaloensis (endemic to Ecuador). Bolivian Fuchsia It is a perennial plant with crimson-colored leaves that can reach up to 3.5 meters high and 1 m. wide.
Potted fuchsia care – guide
Next, we indicate the basic care of the potted fuchsia plant and we will also talk about the advantages and disadvantages of planting it in pots or planters.
Type of pot and substrate for fuchsias
at the time of plant the fuchsia plant in a pot, the most recommended is to use a clay pot that is large enough to avoid having to transplant it, and that has adequate drainage. The substrate on which it is planted must be slightly acidic, that is, with a pH below 6. The most acidic substrates can be distinguished because they have a browner color, while the more alkaline substrates have a darker color (almost black). ). In addition, the substrate must be porous and contain perlite, which facilitates drainage.
Location, temperature and lighting
Keep in mind that this plant can’t stand low temperatures (less than 7ºC) and that you need lots of lighting but avoiding direct sun. The ideal is to put it indoors, unless we live in a tropical place in which case it can be outside, and in a cool and well-lit place, in which sunlight reaches it for much of the day but without being very direct. .
Watering the fuchsia plant
With regard to irrigation, it must be abundant during the flowering season, so that the soil remains moist, but if it is exceeded, it can cause the leaves to fall. The plant should be sprayed frequently, but without wetting the flowers. The substrate must be rich in organic matter, so fertilizer can be added to the irrigation water.
Advantages and disadvantages of having a potted fuchsia
plant the potted fuchsia, fuchsia or queen earrings plant can have advantages such as:
- It is possible to change their location.
- You have better control over fertilizer and growth.
- Better control over pests, preventing roots from rotting.
The main drawback of having it in a pot is that it will not develop as much as if it were outside and planted directly in the ground or soil.
Reproduction of the fuchsia plant, fuchsias or queen earrings
Fuchsias multiply from seeds, pre-grown seedlings or cuttings. In hybrid varieties, its multiplication by means of cuttings is more recommended, in order to obtain flowers identical to the mother plant. In case of multiplying a hybrid by seeds, it cannot be certain that the flowers of the new plant are identical to those of the previous hybrid.
How to take cuttings from the queen earrings plant
The ideal is to obtain the cuttings during the spring, since at this time the plant has everything in its favor: a climate that is not too hot or cold and high humidity that maintains a moist substrate. To obtain them, you have to wait for the temperature to rise above 15ºC and you can cut them with disinfected gardening shears or another sharp object. The twigs for the cuttings should have a length of approximately 20 centimeters.
Once the cutting is obtained, the base must first be slightly moistened with water and impregnated with powdered rooting hormones. Next, we make a hole in the center of the pot and fill it with universal growing medium and pearls in equal parts. Then, we introduce the cutting, each one in a container.
To prevent harmful fungi from appearing, it is important to sprinkle the soil with copper sulfate or sulfur, as well as to use fungicides if we see that fungi appear or also as a preventive measure every so often, especially if it is not the first time they appear in this area. plant or cutting. Finally, it must be watered and placed in the right place to let it grow. We will have to make sure that it drains well and continue watering it regularly when the soil dries out.
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