Flowering fuschias in winter - what to do?:(

Hi all
I've got a couple of double fuschia plants which were repotted in June into a Miracle Gro compost, & which then decided to have a growth spurt to the point where they're both now heavily in flower.

While it's wonderful to see at this time of year, I'm concerned about their ability to cope with the frost we're already getting & obviously a lot more on the way. Would it be better to just chop off all the flowers & force them into hibernation or should I just leave them to figure it out themselves?

The photo shows it a few weeks back - flowers are now well out & about 20 odd blooms on the plant in total - the other one's not quite so prolific but similar volume of flowers for all that.

Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Romayne

 

It looks very similar to the one in my back garden, also in full bloom now. It was already growing there when I bought the house nearly 3 years ago, but as at the time I hated fuschias (they've since grown on me, pardon the pun), and it was in the path of my patio project, it met with my pick axe and was removed. A piece of root must have remained, because after a year off, it returned, growing out from under my new patio.

There are loads of similar looking ones in my area, all growing outdoors, and all thriving, so I reckon maybe its a fully hardy one.

 

Ahh now that's interesting - most of my previous ones maybe weren't that hardy as few survived through the winter in containers (as these also are), but they were single flower species, so perhaps the doubles do better. I am debating whether to sacrifice one of them just for interests sake & chop it right back to see how it fares as ultimately I'm doubtful of them both surviving through a tough winter. I have bubblewrapped their pots though in a (possibly vain) hope of helping them cope with the frost up ahead, but at least it's good to know they're not alone in flowering this late on in the year, as I'd feared.

Thanks for your input.

 

Hi Delta and welcome,

Here is a link in which I have used the advice given from another happy Fuchsia grower.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Fuchsia/Fuchsia.htm

There is plenty out there, but I would say that singles rather than doubles are hardier.

Genii is the hardiest of them all IMHO.

 

Hello and welcome Delta your fuchsia certainly looks very heathy.

I would not prune back now untill Spring .

If you can protect your potted fuchsia from frost all the better.

Do you have a garage,shed or greenhouse that you could move for added protection.