Because they can be difficult to grow in the cold months, many people replace them with annuals each year.For years to come, you can keep your fuchsias healthy with a little care.If the plants are in a pot or basket, you'll do best to keep them indoors.If you grow hardy fuchsias in the ground, you can leave them in place for the winter as long as you prepare them first.
Step 1: In the fall, water the plants every 3-4 weeks.
When the weather gets cooler in September and March in the Southern Hemisphere, you should only water your plants for 3-4 weeks.You should stop watering them about 4-7 days before you plan to prepare them for winter.If the root ball is wet, there will be water droplets that can damage the plant.
Step 2: If you watch for the first freeze, you'll know when to prepare your plants.
If you want to know when the first hard freeze of the year will be, check the Farmer's Almanac or a local gardening center.If a freeze comes early, it's important to keep an eye on your local weather forecast.Plants should be prepared before the cold weather starts.If you live in Zone 10 in the Pacific Northwest, your first frost would be between November 1 and November 10.It would be a good idea to prepare the plants during the last couple of weeks of October.If there is a freeze, bring the plants inside until the freeze warning has passed, then put them down as normal.
Step 3: Prune back the plant by 1/3 and cut 1 in above the leaf joints.
When you're ready to cut your plants, take a pair of shears and wipe them down with rubbing alcohol.Cut off 1/3 of the plant's branches.If you cut above a leaf pair, you will encourage future growth.As you cut, look for branches that extend past the perimeter of the pot.Disinfect the blades of your shears between plants if you're going to peck multiple fuchsias.If you want to keep the plant alive in the winter, you can cut it all the way back.It's fine to only trim it down by 1/3.
Step 4: Remove the leaves from the plant.
To remove leaves from a plant, use garden shears or scissors.New leaves will grow in the spring.Some or all of the leaves may have fallen off if the plant has already been through a frost.Cut off any that are left.
Step 5: Older fuchsias can be kept dormant by storing them between 34 and 36 F.
If a plant is put into dormancy, it will not grow and will conserve energy to grow more in the spring.It's best to keep it in a location that is cool, but not freezing, like a porch or a basement with a constant temperature of 34–36 F.This is a good option for plants that already have a root system.The roots and branches of the plant may grow a little if the temperature goes up during this time.If the storage area is going to get cold, bring the plants indoors or move them to another protected location.
Step 6: Younger plants can be kept semi-dormant by storing them between 42–45 F.
It's a good idea to store your plants in a semi-dormant state so they don't get too cold.If you have a warmer cellar or an enclosed porch, you can keep your semi-dormant fuchsias in a greenhouse with a steady temperature of 42–45 F.If you allow your fuchsias to get much warmer than that, they'll start to grow leggy, weak branches.If you have enough space, lay the plants on their side to promote better root growth.
Step 7: The root ball needs to be Misted every 2 weeks to keep it moist.
Plants can die if they get too much or too little water.If the soil is still moist to the touch, mist it lightly every 2 weeks or so.Don't soak the plants, but make sure the earth is damp.If you want to encourage more root growth, you can mix it with your water.Since it's outside of the normal growing season, you should not overfertilize the plant.
Step 8: In the spring, repot your plants.
After the danger of frost has passed, it's a good idea to take care of your plants.Remove the pot, replace the compost, and place the plant back into its container.Pruning the plant will encourage new growth.
Step 9: In the fall, water the plant every 3-4 weeks.
To give your hardy fuchsias the winter care they'll need to make it another year, start preparing as soon as the temperatures start to cool.It's a good idea to cut back on the amount of water you give your plants at the beginning of fall.Too much water will cause your plants to die.
Step 10: The first freeze of the year is two weeks away.
You can find out when the first hard freeze is expected by checking your local news and weather stations.It's a good idea to keep the plants dry about a week before this date, so you don't have to water them all the time.If the first freeze is November 2, you might want to prepare the plants on October 26.You wouldn't want to water them later than October 19 to give the roots time to dry out.If a freeze happens earlier than expected, be sure to keep an eye on the forecast.
Step 11: Remove any branches that are more than 2.5 cm above the leaf joints.
Look for branches that extend beyond the plant's shape.If you want to cut above this joint, you need to locate a leaf pair and use garden shears.It's important that you don't cut the plant back too much when you're preparing it for the winter.During the winter, a lot of the growth that's left will die back, but it will help insulate the plant from the cold.Rub alcohol between the plants and wipe down the blades if you're pruning multiple plants.
Step 12: Remove any leaves that are still left.
Cut off leaves with garden shears or scissors.Cut as close to the branch as possible.The plant needs to conserve energy during the winter.
Step 13: The mulch should be placed around the base of the plants.
If you want to insulate your fuchsia plants from the cold, you should put a generous layer of mulch around the trunk.Grass, bark, and compost can be used as mulch.If you don't know how big the root ball is, you can make a circle from the center of the plant.The mulch should be checked periodically throughout the winter to make sure it isn't disturbed by wind, birds, or small animals.
Step 14: Dead branches should be cut back in the spring.
Once the danger of the last freeze has passed, examine your plant and use your garden shears to cut off dead branches.If it was a very cold winter, you may have to cut the plant almost all the way back, but avoid cutting the main branch shorter than 3 in.Remove the bark if you don't know if the branch is dead.The branch is still alive if it is green.The branch is dead if it's brown.