Fuchsia stems are not hardy in our latitudes. What to do? Throwing it away and buying a new fuchsia next year would be a waste of money. The better option is to overwinter indoors. Simple modifications in care and pruning set the course. The right winter quarters can be found quickly. This is how you overwinter a fuchsia stem in an exemplary manner.
How do I properly overwinter a fuchsia stem?
In order to successfully overwinter a fuchsia stem, care should be reduced from September onwards, the root ball should be protected from waterlogging and pruning should be carried out. Suitable winter quarters are dark, frost-free rooms (3-5°C) or bright, temperate areas (up to 10°C) without direct sunlight.
Set care to winter mode
The best conditions for overwintering fuchsia are reduced growth and a moist root ball, beyond the threat of waterlogging. Two important changes in care prepare your fuchsia stem for the coming winter in late summer:
- Do not fertilize fuchsias in pots from the beginning of September
- Watering more sparingly from mid-October
With nutrient reserves up to the limit and wet feet, a fuchsia stem should not move into winter quarters.
Cut the fuchsia stems before putting them away
Pruning before clearing away is the optimal prevention against diseases and pests. The airier the crown, the better the ornamental tree will cope with the tricky winter period. Fungal infections, spider mites and aphids have fewer areas to attack when branching and foliage are reduced to what is absolutely necessary. A cut in three stages has proven to be successful:
- Thinning out: cut off dried, dead, bent branches at the base
- Cleaning out: remove wilted flowers, dried and diseased leaves
- Cutting: cut back all shoots by a third or half
If you plan to spend the winter in a bright area, the pruning care is finished. If you have planned a dark winter location for your fuchsias, the shoots will be completely stripped of their leaves.
Overwinter fuchsia stems dark/frost-free or light/tempered
Fuchsias demonstrate good-natured flexibility when selecting suitable rooms for overwintering. The deciduous ornamental trees tolerate dark and light conditions equally. The only requirement is that the temperatures match the lighting conditions. The following options are available:
Overwinter fuchsia stems dark and frost-free
Darkness doesn't bother a fuchsia if the room is cool and frost-free. A windowless room with temperatures between 3° and 5° Celsius houses fuchsia stems and other deciduous flowers during the cold season. Cellars, garages or pantries are just as suitable as a shady attic.
Fuchsia stems overwinter brightly and temperately
Is a bright winter garden, a light-flooded greenhouse or a glazed terrace available for fuchsias? Then the thermometer can climb to 10° Celsius. Shading is mandatory, as direct sunlight torpedoes efforts to ensure safe wintering.
Regular ventilation and watering in dry conditions are a gardening requirement in every winter quarter, regardless of the light and temperature conditions.
Tip
From the end of February there is a lot of activity in the winter quarters of fuchsia stems. A second topiary trims the annual shoots to two pairs of leaves so that the crown sprouts compactly. Then repot the balcony plants in fresh substrate. In conjunction with moving to a bright location with 15° to 16° Celsius, the fuchsia stem is perfectly prepared for a season full of flowers.
