Overwintering fucshias

[ally866]

Hi all and apologies if this has already been covered!

I have a few large fuschias which I would like to overwinter and am not sure if and when they should be pruned. Do I need to leave them full size or should they be cut back now for new growth next year?

Many thanks in advance

[BrideXIII]

would be interested to know too.
i have not had much luck with fushias in the past, but the several i bought this year are still flowering despite the frosts.

my cuttings failed, so i have left the plants in situ, and am thus far just praying

[FionaH]

Like you Bride I took loads of cuttings, only two have survived. My big one are still flowering though. I was just going to leave them and pray

[srodders]

I lost all mine this year to fuschia gall mite (I say lost - they were all infested so I cut them down!)
But, when I overwintered them I always waited until AFTER the cold snaps before pruning them. Then you know which shoots have survived and then can cut back accordingly. Some say that all of lasts years growth protects against the cold a bit as well. (a bit like not dead-heading hydrangeas until spring time)

[nick the grief]

if I was you I'd leave them as they are and then next year once they start to come into bud, cut them back to that.
but dry
To overwinter them keep them frost free but on the dry side.

[lynda66]

i've just left mine ...... it's just starting to get brown leaves now, it's in a big tub with a climbing rose, which i also have left cos that still has all it's leaves ..... have never been much good at working out pruning lol

[Two_Sheds]

FUCHSIAS (named after Dr Fuch)

In early September, reduce watering to let the older wood mature. By the end of the month, the plants should be kept almost dry. Stand them in the greenhouse and remove any remaining leaves.
Then stop watering.
Don't prune until the spring, when new shoots will begin to grow from the base and all the older wood can be removed.