If 15 years old, this must be a hardy fuchsia :-) I would not have cut the plant back so severely. In my climate, hardy fuchsias hold on their foliage well into the early winter and the plant is still photosynthesizing. Photosynthesis generates roots. However, it is on the verge of its dormant period so the need for those roots now is not as acute. I'd leave it outdoors as long as possible - at least until weather got pretty cold. And should it survive this ordeal, I might think twice about the bonsai plans. Bonsais are typically started from very young and quite small plants - that way they are very malleable and can be trained into desired habits. A 15 Y.O., shrub with a 3" trunk is a bit senior for this process :-)

Judyann, you are so right.......Janet Benz and Smith Lake Princess - both these parents have converted genes. I'm hoping the bud/branch improve in coming years. Girly girl is real pretty and Autumn Wood looks like it would make nice babies. Marg....I really like the rich color of Strutters ball as well. When does your late season start and do you grow VL or just L.......wondering if the season could end before the flowers? I think I'm going to try finding some seed crosses that are dormant lates with earlier reblooms having great bud/branching counts........hopefully from more northern breeders so I get a more accurate idea of real branching/bud count here. I think Stamiles are fabulous, but just not realistic bud count for here. Not a FFO, but one of my sdlg surprises that is showing a pattern Thanks again.

A pic would be helpful. My Rainbow Sorbet went flower-crazy when the weather turned cool, and without the heat to spoil the blooms, they stay on the bush for weeks. There must be 15 roses on that 2.5' plant right now, in November, even after several frosts. They're not red, though, they're hot pink with sunset colors blended in. I also have lots of blooms on my Pink Knockout. Actually, come to think of it, the original red Knockouts are used all the time in mass commercial or park plantings because they require very little care. If the red blooms had a pinkish undertone to them and were single, I bet that's what they were. They come in several colors and flower forms now, and they are all very easy and don't require spraying to control disease. Google Knockout Rose or "Knock out" rose to see pics and find a place to buy them (best to wait until very early spring to plant). Good luck!

thanks all! bc, thank you! gaze all you want :o) these hot temps are killin' me, near 90 today sure doesn't feel like october juanita, i'm not good at remembering the tech info regarding photography, some photos i see provide that and it's helping me...my settings may not be optimum or correct but i figure, right or wrong, it'll help someone else too :o)