You’ll be able to enjoy fuchsias’ dancing blossoms all over again next year if you know how to over winter fuchsias. So, unlike many others, don’t toss your hanging basket and container fuchsias after the growing season.
Instead, put them into a dormant state throughout the colder months to keep them alive over the cold season. It’s simple to accomplish, and your fuchsias will thank you in a deliciously floral way if you do it correctly.
Maximum blossoms next summer, with minimal effort on the gardener’s part – it’s a win-win situation. If you want to keep your fuchsia plants alive over the winter so you may enjoy their flowers again next year, you’ve come to the right spot. In this post, we’ll show you how to over winter fuchsias.
Remember that the purpose of over wintering Fuchsias is to retain them alive instead of viewing blossoming flowers over the winter. During the winter season, they will stop blooming.
They can’t thrive since there isn’t enough sunlight. Your finest bet is to put the Fuchsias plant into a kind of plant hibernation known as dormancy.
If you don’t, they’ll become plagued with bugs and struggle to develop. The plant will appear dead in this state of rest while it is simply enjoying a winter slumber.
Another alternative is to hold them semi-hibernated or semi-dormant, which is only an option for gardeners with access to a greenhouse that is moderately heated with a temperature range of 42-45 °F, which allows the Fuchsias plant to grow slowly over the winter.
A Guide on How to Over winter Fuchsias
While you may be more concerned with the finest winter flowers to plant – or the best winter plants for pots and borders to bring color closer to the house – extending the life of many of your summer and fall plants into the winter is essential.
- The 1st step in winterizing your Fuchsia will be to move them inside the home. Give the fuchsias a break, even if you have a greenhouse or a sunny porch. While the light is dim, fuchsias relish the downtime. During their long winter slumber, they won’t even require light.
- After that, sprinkle the water over the Fuchsia plant to eradicate any bugs hidden in the foliage.
- Choose a location that is cool but not too cold. Ideally, the temperature should be between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (4 and 7 degrees Celsius). It’s fine if it’s a touch cooler. It’s also fine if it’s a little warmer. Even a smidgeon warmer.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a well-lit area. They will not be actively growing. You can also put them in a dark closet, a garage, a shed, a cellar, or beneath the greenhouse bench. Any location is convenient for storing them, as long as it is sufficiently cool and there is no risk of freezing.
- Reduce the amount of water you use. It’s best to water the Fuchsia once every 3-4 weeks to keep it alive yet dormant. Watering the fuchsia plant once every 3-4 weeks is required to keep it alive during the winter. The soil should be damp but not dripping wet.
- Bringing your Fuchsias out of plant hibernation is the final step in the over winter ing procedure. When the previous frost date recorded in your area is approaching, you can remove the Fuchsia from its winter depository site.
- Cut all of the plant’s branches in half. This promotes the Fuchsias plant to expand and blossom more flowers during the summer. Remove all of the plant’s leaves.
- Water sparingly, once a month should suffice, but keep an eye on them and don’t let them entirely dry up.
Note: If you’re unsure what the previous frost date was, it’s usually the most recent date in your area where hard or light frost was documented for 90% of the duration. Historical weather records have been used to track it.
Bringing Over winter Fuchsias back to Life
1. Prune in the Spring
You can bring the plants out when the days grow longer and warmer. Perhaps a month before your normal previous frost date. You’ll have a gorgeous greenhouse sooner or later.
They’ll undoubtedly seem scrambled, a tangle of pale shoots that couldn’t wait no matter how nicely the temperature and water were adjusted. Now is the time to cut back all of the old branches.
Aim for a balanced and shapely figure. Don’t be concerned if you go too far. Even old wood will produce fresh growth in fuchsias.
2. Repot using fresh and well-draining soil
Remove the plant from the pot and discard a large amount of the old compost. Repot with new soil. Select a nice blend that stays uniformly moist while draining effectively.
Because fuchsias don’t like compacted soil, tap the bottom of the pot against the top of the plant bench lightly to settle the mix in. Restart watering regularly.
When the new roots start establishing themselves in the new soil, be careful not to overwater. Empty soil that is too damp will cause old roots to decay rather than send new ones out eagerly.
3. Properly Feed and Pinch Them
In a week or two, start feeding a weak mix regularly. Don’t forget to pinch a couple of times for bushiness. As long as it doesn’t get below freezing, you can put the plants back outside in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
They won’t mind if it’s a little chilly. If a frost is expected, remember to bring them back inside. It would be a pity to waste the poor things after all that effort. That isn’t something any of us have ever done.
>> Related Post: How To Propagate Fuchsia In 4 Easy Steps
Final Remarks
Tender fuchsias require a little more attention and care over the winter unless you reside in a warm temperature zone (10-11 USDA). To over winter fuchsias in colder climates, they must be put into a dormant state during the winter months.
Even those who are new to cultivating fuchsias will be able to master this simple and precise approach. Choose a cool, frost-free location with a minimum temperature of 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit (5-7 degrees Celsius).
Keep the fuchsia plants in the dark or low-light environment for the winter. It works nicely in a garage, shed, cellar, or beneath a greenhouse bench.
After the last frost, tender fuchsias can be planted outside again in the spring. Cut them back, repot them in fresh compost, feed them, and wait for them to blossom again.
Place your Fuchsia in a position away from direct sunlight, with only bright filtered sunlight touching it, after pruning the branches. This is done to gradually re-acclimate your plant to being outside in the sun.
For a plant, abruptly going from a chilly inside shade to warm outdoor sunlight can be surprising and stressful. It also protects the Fuchsia from frost damage.
While wintering fuchsias means you won’t be able to see gorgeous fuchsia flowers all winter, it also means you’ll be able to enjoy your fuchsia year after year.
Now that you know how to over-winter fuchsias with these few simple procedures, you can enjoy both gorgeous plants and money savings now that you know how to winter fuchsia plants.