How to root fuchsia with cuttings: tips and tricks

The first records of fuchsia were made three centuries ago. The magnificent appearance of the plant touched and delighted many gardeners.

Fuchsia has not lost its attractiveness and now, and even vice versa, more and more hybrid varieties are appearing. It is preferred for the long process of bud formation, blooms all summer long, is also not demanding and easy to breed. In this article, we will talk about ways to propagate fuchsia, care for it and possible problems. Also watch a helpful video on the topic.

Features of plant breeding

Beginning amateur gardeners are not afraid to breed a beauty on their own. In stores, they get a ready-made flower with at least one long shoot, and as a result, several plants will be obtained. Indeed, there is nothing complicated in plant propagation. Fuchsia is bred in two ways: vegetative or seed.

The seed method is used mainly by breeders. But vegetative propagation is often applicable at home. Moreover, it will take about 6 months to grow a young plant from seeds, but it will bloom only in the second year of life. And you can root the shoot after a month. Also, the cuttings method retains all the characteristic properties of the mother plant.

As a source material, any part of the plant, with the exception of flowers, can easily fit. This may be a leaf of large size, woody cuttings, but they germinate harder and longer. For breeding, it is best to take a young mature shoot.

ATTENTION: A suitable time for the growing process is considered to be spring or autumn, in the summer it is hot enough, the shoots are more difficult to root. In principle, rooting can be done at any time of the year, only with more effort.

Details about what is best to grow fuchsia yourself or to get an adult flower in a store, as well as how best to plant a flower - seeds or cuttings, read in this article.

How to do it right?

Rooting cuttings of fuchsia is easy and simple.. The main thing is to adhere to a specific instruction that will allow you to get a large percentage of seedlings taken in a short time.

The method of grafting involves several stages:

The optimal size of the cuttings is 10-12 cm with an apex and lateral two or three pairs of leaves. The slice is performed with a sharp knife diagonally. Exclusively at the end of fuchsia flowering.
After the operation, the trimmed part should dry for 10-15 minutes.
We treat the slice with a preparation to stimulate root formation. It can be: “Kornevin”, “Zircon”, “Epin”, “Heteroauxin”.
The handle should be placed in a container with the selected medium:
- In a plastic cup with water, after removing the lower leaves. When they come into contact with water, rotting processes can develop, which eventually spread to the entire process. Water needs soft, filtered. The formation of roots on average 2 weeks.
- It can be planted in a boarding palette filled with a substrate (sand, sawdust, vermiculite). Pre-filler must be moistened.
- A peat tablet is also suitable. It should be saturated with hot water, so it swells faster. In a peat tablet, plants immediately begin to actively develop, 99% of the cuttings are safely rooted.
- Plant immediately in a moist, loose earthen mixture. Soil should include most of the sand, vermiculite.
Create a greenhouse effect. Cover the containers with glass, transparent film. Such a greenhouse requires regular ventilation and removal of condensate.
Place the stalk in a sunny place where it is light but not too hot. The air temperature inside the greenhouse should not exceed + 25 ° C.
As necessary, the stalk is moistened, preventing the soil from drying out.
After the emergence of roots, the process requires a transplant. A long delay with this, in the future, can adversely affect the plant.
As containers, plastic small cups or small pots are perfect.
For transplantation, specially prepared soil with a neutral pH is chosen. At the bottom of the pot, drainage is laid. To lower the plant carefully, the roots are very fragile so as not to break. Then fuchsia should be poured with settled warm water.
Do not forget to stick markers on the cups indicating the grade.
The plant is fully rooted when it grows.

Watch the video on the propagation of fuchsia:

Follow-up care

In order for a plant to feel comfortable, it is necessary to adhere to the fundamental rules:

The optimum temperature should be at the level of + 18-24 ° С. At higher temperatures, the flower discards leaves, buds, and begins to dry out.
Fuchsia requires spraying 1-2 times a day. In the cold season, such a procedure is not worth it.
Sunlight is needed for the plant, however, not scorching. It is better for a flower to choose well-lit window sills in the house. During flowering, it is not recommended to move and transfer the pot, otherwise fuchsia may stop flowering. On the street, it grows best in partial shade.
Humidification is moderate as the top layer dries. In the heat of watering to carry out daily.
Be sure to feed the flower with complex fertilizers. During the flowering period, choose preparations with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. Fertilize every week. An exception is the winter period. Street fuchsia can be fed with organic fertilizers.
Every year, in the spring, fuchsia requires transplantation into mineral-rich soil (how to transplant fuchsia can be found here).
If necessary, pick up dried flowers, loosen the soil, spray, remove dust from the leaves, inspect the plant for pests.

Watch a video on caring for fuchsia at home:

Read more about the rules for caring for fuchsia at home, read here, and from this article you will learn about the nuances of growing a flower in the garden.

Possible diseases

Fuchsia is considered not demanding plants. However, flower troubles result from improper care. Especially harmful for the plant is excess moisture, which leads to decay of the root system, disruption in its operation, then the negative process spreads to the foliage. The leaves also begin to dry, rot. In such an environment, gray rot feels great. To combat this phenomenon, special solutions of fungicides, preparations containing copper, as well as 1% Bordeaux liquid are used.

Another disease dangerous for fuchsia is rust. Bottom foliage is covered with yellowish-orange spots. At the first stages of the disease, the lower leaves fall, and subsequently, the upper leaves.

TIP: Rust-affected plants should be treated with Virtan.

No less problems for the plant can be caused by pests: aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. They are placed on the bottom of the leaf, eating plant juice. In this case, the foliage turns yellow, dries, falls off. The most effective way to combat them is with insecticides.

Conclusion

Now, the knowledge gained will make it possible not to be afraid of failures, but to take and breed fuchsias at home. After all, a flower with such beauty looks amazing everywhere: on window sills, terraces, loggias, flower beds.