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Will a small hanging fuschia grow in a south window???

16 years ago

I just bought a couple fuschias so I potted them up in a hanging basket, I was going to put them outside, but I like the way they look in my south kitchen window. Will it bloom here, is it too much sun?? It can go in a North or east window as well, I guess if outside is better, I will do it, but I would prefer to have it bloom in the house.

Thanks everyone!!

Tracy

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Comments (9)

lucy
16 years ago
It would be better in a slightly less intense place, good light, but not necessarily a southern exposure (or else a little bit away from the window). The problem is not will it grow now (in summer), but what happens in the fall when it needs to get cool and acclimatize to temps around 40 F? It does need the cool (if not freezing) dormancy for at least 6 wks.
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Trace, I know how you feel about keeping Fuschia indoors, but they'd really do best outside in summer. Once fall comes, then place in a south window. And Lucy's right, they need cool temps..Since you're in z2, you'll want to give as much light as possible in winter..some ppl even cut them back in fall..Toni
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I used to never use gravel in the bottom of the pots. Until I started fighting root rot every time we get a week of rain. ProMix holds a lot of water and unless your pot is pretty much root bound, it's going to stay soggy. Even then, plants don't take up enough water when it's cloudy and raining. When you use a couple of inches of gravel, then put the window screen on top of it, you are creating an air pocket under the potting mix. Also, along with the air, the entire bottom surface of the potting mix can drain. I like that, I can flush my pots out a lot faster and better. You can't flush out the area dead center in a pot without elevating the potting mix. Your link is talking about adding gravel to the bottom of a pot - without - covering the gravel with window screen to elevate the potting mix. What you link is talking about is that gravel is denser than the potting mix and will not drain or aerate as well - when it is mixed with the potting mix. Elevating the potting mix above the gravel with window screen is two different things. From your link: "Some have suggested the placement of gravel in the bottom of containers improves drainage. In fact, the gravel decreases the total volume of medium with favorable aeration. The pores at the interface of the container medium and gravel must be saturated before water will move down into the gravel. This means that a layer of medium with near maximum water content is positioned above the gravel rather than on the container bottom. Therefore, the effective height of this container is reduced by the depth of the gravel in the bottom." What I'm talking about is creating a bottomless pot. Because of the window screen, the potting mix is elevated off the bottom of the pot by a couple of inches. There are no pores at the interface of the container medium and gravel, because the gravel and potting mix are not touching and are not mixed together. Make any sense? Corrie
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trace00969
Original Author
16 years ago
ok I put it outside, it should get a few hours of direct sun, and then partial shade the rest of the day, now for the next question...lol. Will it bloom this summer?? When do they normally bloom.......should I feed it bloom buster or regular fettilizer??

Thanks

Tracy
rjm710
16 years ago
Fuchsias are grown as annuals in northern climes, and should bloom for you soon, if kept in a bright spot outside (morning sun is OK, but shade is good for the afternoon). Mine blooms without fertilizer, but a little bloom booster (you don't want to bust your blooms, now do you?) might get them to bloom more fully for you.
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Trace, it's true Fuschia's are annuals, and most ppl discard in fall, but just the same I'd try overwintering it. Just cut back a bit, keep in the brightest light possible, a bit on the cool side..They say to fertilize annuals every 2 wks (in plant books) but I'd only do this if give good light. Trace, where do you live since you're in z2? If u don't mind me asking..Toni
trace00969
Original Author
16 years ago
I live in Edmonton Canada, so we have harsh winters....we get temps of -40 celsius, i dont even know what that is in farenheit. I will just bring it in for the winter and put it back in the window, so far its doing fine outside.

Tracy
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Tracy, F or C, -40 gives me goose bumps thinking about it..LOL..I can't convert either, but I know it's cold..
Canada..Freezing temsp are to be expected there..Were you born there? Even though I was born in IL, I often wonder what I'm doing here..lol..aside from family/friends, what's here?
Then again, though I've never been to Canada, I've heard it's beautiful country..would love to visit, (summer) lol.. Toni
trace00969
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah winters are long and deadly cold here......I have longing for a few years to go somewhere warmer, BC is always an option. Freezing temps are the least of our worries....lol, I did a conversion, -40 celsius is -40 farenheit, and I beleive freezing is 32 f.....right, so that gives you an idea, add the winds and windchill becomes -76Farenheit.......wtf am I doing here....lol??
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Yep, freezing is 32F..Darn, -40 plus wc..geesh..Trace, wanna run away from home, bring out plants/pets and move somewhere warm? LOL..sometimes I feel like it..Everytime I think about moving, summer comes..and I think, oh I can handle it, but summers go by quick..can't believe it's June..what sucks is we had warmer days in May than June..it's cold outside..my heat went on yesterday and today..and still have yet to bring plants out..not to mention all the rain we've had..so the ground is muddy. I have to dig up weeds in gardens before placing plants out..
Why did our parents stay in such cold climates? LOL.
I sometimes lurk on the Fl forum, and drool reading the comments..oh they are lucky, huricanes or not..lol..Toni

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