Fuchsias are much-loved for their hanging, bell-shaped, bi-coloured flowers that look like colourful, dancing skirts. The flowers last all summer long and there are thousands of varieties available, in shades of white, candy pink, magenta, purple and red. Some varieties have golden or variegated foliage, or purple or red-tinged leaves, too.
Fuchsias are shrubs that hail mostly from Central and South America, where they’re pollinated by hummingbirds. They were first discovered growing in the Caribbean in the 1700s by a French botanist, Charles Plumier. He chose to name the plant after a German botanist from the century before, Leonard Fuchs.
The outer set of petals are actually sepals, which protect the flower petals beneath. These are often purple (to attract the aforementioned hummingbirds) but breeding has created a huge range of colour combinations. Both the flowers and the small purple berries that follow them are edible. The flowers can be crystallized and used to decorate cakes and desserts, while the fruits of some varieties have a citrussy, peppery taste and can be used to make jam.
Depending on the variety, fuchsias are extremely versatile and can be grown as standalone shrubs, climbers, informal hedges or standards, as well as bedding plants in pots and hanging baskets for patio displays.
Fuschias are stunning, colorful flowers that can add vibrancy and charm to any garden. With their whimsical, dangling blossoms in shades of pink, purple, red, white or orange, it’s easy to see why fuschias are so popular. However, many gardeners struggle to keep fuschias blooming strong all season long. The flowers seem to peter out, leaving you with a faded, lackluster plant. Don’t despair! With some simple tricks, you can have your fuschias bursting with blooms from spring through fall.
Why Fuschias Stop Blooming
Fuschias bloom on new growth. This means that once a stem finishes flowering, it likely won’t bloom again. Therefore, to keep the blossoms coming, you need to encourage continual new growth. Without pruning and pinching back spent blooms, a fuschia will get lanky and produce less and less flowers.
Additionally, fuschias need partial sunlight and cooler temperatures to thrive. Too much hot sun will stress the plant, causing it to stop blooming. Insufficient watering or nutrient deficiencies can also inhibit flowering. Finally, pests like whiteflies may attack the leaves, further impeding the plant’s ability to bloom.
5 Tips to Get Abundant, Non-Stop Blooms
Follow these simple techniques to keep your fuschias flowering happily all season long:
1. Prune and Pinch
Pruning and pinching back is crucial to stimulate new growth and more blooms on fuschias. Here’s what to do:
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Pinch off spent flower heads by snipping right below the flower base This removes the developing seed pod
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Prune leggy stems back to a healthy leaf node New shoots will emerge from that point
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Pinch and prune every 1-2 weeks through spring and summer. Be diligent with pruning to continually prompt fresh growth
2. Provide the Right Growing Conditions
Fuschias require:
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Morning sun + afternoon shade. Too much hot sun will cause flowers to fade.
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Cool temperatures between 60-75°F. Protect from frost.
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Consistently moist, well-draining soil. Let soil partly dry between waterings.
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Shelter from wind, which can damage the brittle stems and blossoms.
Adjust conditions as needed to create an ideal growing environment.
3. Fertilize Regularly
Feed container grown fuschias every 2 weeks and in-ground plants monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during spring through fall. This provides the nutrients needed for continual growth and flowering.
4. Monitor for Pests
Inspect regularly for common fuschia pests like aphids, whiteflies, thrips and mites. These can weaken and damage plants. Control with horticultural soaps, neem oil or other organic treatments. Remove badly infested foliage. Keep plants vigorous to better withstand pest attacks.
5. Overwinter Properly
In cold climates, bring potted fuschias indoors before frost. Prune back by 1/3 to 1/2 before bringing inside. Grow in a sunny window and continue watering and fertilizing (at reduced frequency). Take back outside once night temperatures remain above 55°F. Hardy fuschias in the ground may die back but roots survive winter in zones 8-10. Cut back in late winter before new growth emerges.
Common Problems and Solutions
Here are some other issues you may encounter and how to get your fuschia blooming again:
Leggy growth, few flowers: Prune back hard, increase sunlight. Pinch frequently.
Leaves yellow, plant wilts: Check for pests. Increase water. May be overwatered (root rot) or under-watered.
Buds don’t open: Increase sunlight. Pinch off unopened buds, which diverts energy to new growth.
Flowers drop: Can indicate too much sun/heat. Ensure proper watering and fertilizing.
Branch dieback: Prune dead tips back to healthy growth. Disinfect shears between cuts.
Leaf spot, blight: From too much moisture. Space plants for air circulation. Remove affected foliage.
Failure to bloom: Often due to insufficient light. Move to brighter location if possible.
Enjoy Continuous Color All Season
With a little care and attention, you can have fuschias that bloom prolifically months on end, even through summer. Follow these tips to pinch, prune, and properly grow your fuschias. Provide good care and promptly address any issues. You’ll soon enjoy wave after wave of exquisite dangling blossoms!
Why is My Fuchsia Plant Not Blooming?
Fuchsia plants always flower on new growth. Therefore, no fuchsia blooms on a plant is generally an indication that the plant needs to be cut or pinched. Pinching will force your fuchsia plant to grow new branches. Once the plant produces adequate growth in early spring, the end tips are usually pinched to encourage blooming. Your fuchsia plant should be pinched continually through the summer to keep it producing flowers. Pinching your fuchsia is as easy as literally pinching or cutting the end one-quarter to one-half of each branch. If your fuchsia stopped blooming, fuchsias normally begin to flower within about six weeks of this pinching. It is best to avoid issues with a fuchsia plant not blooming by pinching throughout the spring and summer. Without continual clipping at the end of blooming, the old branches simply become leggy-looking, non-blooming nightmares. In other words, the fuchsia wont flower on older branches.
How to Get Fuchsia to Blossom
When there are no fuchsia blooms, you can also try cutting back the branches to the strongest node. Within about a month or so, it should start producing new branches, which will put out a new round of flowers. For best results and continual flowering from spring through fall, you should keep cutting or pinching them back as each branch stops blooming. In addition, plants should be kept in light sun or partial shade with evenly moist, well-draining soil. Feed fuchsias every other week (during blooming and active growth) with a half strength balanced fertilizer. A fuchsia plant with no fuchsia blooms can be a disappointment but one that is easily corrected. Follow this easy advice and you will never again have a fuchsia plant not blooming.
EP161 – How to Stop Fuchsia plants – How to make fuchsias flower more
FAQ
Do fuchsias like Miracle Grow?
“Soluble plant food is fine for fuchsias, however, I recommend Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All-Purpose Plant Food. Only use half of the recommended dose; add it to your watering can and water once per week,” says Popat.
Why are my fuchsia flowers falling off?
Under watering.
Fuchsia needs to be kept moist at all times, and for hanging plants, this may mean watering twice or three times a day. If your plant’s soil isn’t moist to the touch, water it. Under watering can induce an early dormancy in some fuchsias, causing them to slough both blooms and leaves.
How do I keep my fuchsia happy?
Fuchsias are easy to grow as long as you give them some sunshine and well drained soil, in a sheltered spot. For the best results, feed and deadhead them and keep their soil moist. Prune hardy fuchsias back hard in spring. Pinch out the stems of tender fuchsias in spring to encourage more flowers.
How do you keep a fuchsia flowering?
The number one rule to keep fuchsias flowering is to stop them from producing seeds. When flowers are spent, the plant drops them naturally. But it does not drop the seed pod. If you leave a fuchsia plant to drop flowers when it is ready, a seed pod is left on the branch. New flowers on fuchsias grow on new growth.
Why is my fuchsia plant not blooming?
Fuchsia plants always flower on new growth. Therefore, no fuchsia blooms on a plant is generally an indication that the plant needs to be cut or pinched. Pinching will force your fuchsia plant to grow new branches. Once the plant produces adequate growth in early spring, the end tips are usually pinched to encourage blooming.
How long does it take a fuchsia to bloom?
Pinching your fuchsia is as easy as literally pinching or cutting the end one-quarter to one-half of each branch. If your fuchsia stopped blooming, fuchsias normally begin to flower within about six weeks of this pinching. It is best to avoid issues with a fuchsia plant not blooming by pinching throughout the spring and summer.
Do Fuchsia plants drop flowers?
If you leave a fuchsia plant to drop flowers when it is ready, a seed pod is left on the branch. New flowers on fuchsias grow on new growth. Therefore, to get new flowers continually, you need to be trimming back on the old branches to make way for the new.
Do fuchsias bloom in greenhouses?
All too often, garden centers force fuchsias to bloom in greenhouse conditions. When growing fuchsias in pots, from new, it is common to see some gorgeous floral beauty emerge in droves in the spring, then just as the best of summer comes in, the plant’s flowers fade away to nothing and it stops flowering completely.
How long does a fuchsia flower last?
After four to six weeks, new buds will emerge on the new growth and the next burst of flowers will be healthier than before because they were left to grow naturally. Forced blooms are rarely long-lasting. Like all plants, fuchsias need sunlight.