Fuchsias are usually propagated via head cuttings. This method not only promises numerous and, above all, pure offspring, but it also works without any major problems. Some fuchsias - especially the hybrids - also develop root runners that are simply separated and replanted. Propagation by sowing, on the other hand, is somewhat more complicated (but not impossible!).
How can I propagate fuchsias?
Fuchsias can be propagated by cuttings in summer and autumn or by sowing. Cut shoots 5-10 cm long, remove lower leaves and plant in a sand-peat mixture. When sowing, use fresh seeds and sow them in sowing soil, cover them thinly and keep the substrate moist.
Propagation of fuchsia cuttings
Especially with hybrids and crosses, you can only achieve pure offspring through vegetative cutting propagation. Fuchsias root quite quickly and reliably as long as the soil is pleasantly warm. Temperatures between 18 and 20 °C are optimal. To achieve this, heated cultivation trays (€53.00 on Amazon) are often used in garden centers. Both soft head cuttings and woody autumn cuttings can be used for propagation.
Summer cuttings
The optimal month for propagating fuchsias is July.
- Cut off shoots that are about 5 to 10 centimeters long.
- Remove all but about four of the lower leaves.
- Plant the cuttings in a sand-peat mixture (1:1 ratio)
- either directly into the cold frame
- or place the cultivation containers in a protected place.
- Protect the cuttings from direct sun.
- Keep the growing medium moist and warm.
The rooted cuttings (recognizable by the new young leaves) are potted before winter in a substrate made of garden and standard soil (ratio 1:3) and placed in an indoor greenhouse. From May you can plant them in the garden; The shoots are shortened slightly so that the plants branch out better. The first real flowering often occurs in midsummer.
Autumn cuttings
If you want to propagate your fuchsias in autumn using woody cuttings, do not use head cuttings, but so-called crack cuttings - i.e. H. There is still a piece of bark on the cutting. This contains a particularly high amount of growth hormones and thus facilitates rooting in a completely natural way. Otherwise, proceed in exactly the same way as when propagating using soft cuttings. By the way, fuchsia cuttings can also be rooted in a glass of water before being planted afterwards.
Propagate fuchsias by sowing
Propagate fuchsias by sowing them is a bit complicated. However, this is not due to the type of sowing itself, but simply because the seeds only remain germinable for a very short time. For this reason, it's actually pointless to buy fuchsia seeds - they usually won't germinate anyway. However, you can sow fresh, self-harvested seeds immediately after harvest.
- Carefully remove the seeds from the ripe berries.
- Carefully remove the pulp
- and let the seeds dry on absorbent paper.
- Sowing seeds in sowing soil
- and cover thinly with soil.
- Fuchsias are dark germinators!
- Cover the seed container with foil or similar and keep the substrate moist.
- Temperature should be between 16 and 20 °C.
Germination usually occurs after three to four weeks.
Tip
It is occasionally advised to divide fuchsias. In principle, division is possible, but should only be done in exceptional cases (for example if the plants have become very large). Over the years, fuchsias develop a very deep and branched root system that can be damaged by division. This in turn affects the further growth of the plant.
