Fuchsia - 'pinching out' query

[Hazel at the Hill]

For the Hill Annual Show, we always have a 'grow plant from supplied plantlet - display in 6" pot' category.

This year's plant is a fuchsia, and I selected my little plant from the tray a week ago. I've potted it on into a (slightly) larger pot, and generally tended it carefully - but now I have a query.

In order for it to grow into a beautiful bushy plant with plenty of flowers, I know that it will need pinching out regularly, but my houseplant book it ambiguous as to where to pinch.

Do I pinch out after two pairs leaves as indicated by the yellow pencil:



Or do I pinch out the diddly shoot above the third set?

[WendyC]

I would go below the pencil. No logic really just what I'd do!

[Thelma Sanders]

Yes, both shoots just below pencil level - Good Luck

[Aberdeenplotter]

I agree and I would try to root the bit pinched out

[roitelet]

Would pinch it out there too. I think if my memory is correct that it takes 6 weeks to produce flowers after pinching out so don't pinch it out too near to the show date. When it gets to a good size the pinching is only to keep it a good shape.

[Bigmallly]

Nice looking plant Haze, good luck.............Oh, I'd also nip it where everyone else has said.......................Oh and I'd do what AP suggests.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Brilliant, folks, thank you very much

Special thanks to roitelet with regard to stopping pinching out 6wks before the show - I would not have known that, and would therefore have been likely to roll up mid Aug with a bushy but un-flowery plant!

Also to AP for the rooting tip - just bung 'em in a little pot of compo, or root in water first?

[Thelma Sanders]

I usually root mine in water

[rary]

Hazel it looks as if your plant has been stopped already, basically with fuchsia you want the first stop to be above the third set of leaves and there after every second set of leaves, and give the pot a quarter turn every second or third day to keep it balanced make the last stop about six weeks before the show.
You could try rooting your cuttings in oasis.