Lady in black Fuchsia

[jackarmy]

Hi all

Managed to get a couple of these at a knockdown price from the local b and q and are about 2 1/2 feet tall.
Im pondering whether to put them in the ground but think iwill probably move them to bigger pots.

Question is, whatever i decide, do i replant them now or wait untill the spring, their a touch pot bound but not to bad atm.

[veggiechicken]

I'd do it now to give them chance to put out new roots when they're bored during the winter.
No idea really, but that's what I'd do

[jackarmy]

Ok VC thanks, alo it says on the tag to "cut back hard" in the winter, what exactly is "hard" any ideas ?

[Aberdeenplotter]

there are a number of videos on pruning them on the Tube

[jackarmy]

Nice one AP, cheers

[DannyK]

What size pots are they in?

I agree that potting up and overwintering probably best bet now.

Don't bother to cut back yet as still shoud be growing. Our half hardy ones survive the winter in the garage unpruned. We leave door open in milder weather to give them light. Others in green house which is kept at 4/5 deg.

When you do plant out put rootball 2-3 nches down.

With the planted out ones we always leave top growth on as it gives some frost protection. Unless it's very mild the frost will kill top growth off and it can be trimmed in spring. All plants are heavily mulched now.

If the top growth survives all well and good.

Usually all the larger flowered one get knocked back. Only small flowered ones like magellanica have stems that survive. Have one which reached 10ft with 3inch trunk. My Lottie Hobby still full of flowers despite frost.

[Martin H]

I never cut down a planted-out Fuchsia until April when it's started growing and the coldest nights are behind us. Then I can cut to where the strong shoots are emerging. If the winter was mild, there will be growth from the stems, otherwise there will be shoots coming up from the base.

If I had one in a pot I'd treat it the same.

[DannyK]

Looking at Google I see this, like Lady Boothby, is passed off as a climbing plant. Utter humbuggery. Fuchias have no means of climbing; you've got to tie them in.

Even the sellers can't agree. "With a little support they will rapidly climb up ..." says one. " It climbs effortlessly..." another! An honest fuchsia specialist puts the word climbing in inverted commas.