Do these small Fuchsia plants have a problem?

There are some very red looking insects that often get mistaken for red spider mites, but true RSM are almost microscopic, they are evident only once you get a total infestation, unless you use a X10 hand lens.
If you had planted them out from under glass I would say its a possibility but unlikely, as you have moved them from another part of the garden I would say highly unlikely.

By late summer in a dry year RSM do get going in the garden, but I'd say its too early to get problems outside just yet.

BTW, red spider mites are not red.

 

Okay, what colour are RSM's then?

 

Yellow, with two black spots on their backs mostly.
In a really webbed situation they do turn a reddish colour in full sunlight, but never red and shiny like the predators who prey on them, which are unlikely unless you introduce them.

There is a slow moving very soft bodied insect that is often mistaken for RSM, but its often seen, not actually on the plants, and is about 5 times bigger, it also leaves a big red smudge if you squash it.

 

Even though they may be difficult to see you can realize they are attacking your plants when you see 100s of tiny white spots mottling the leaves of the infected plants.

As for being easy to wash off I have no experience never having used neem oil on edible products! I assume it is.

 

Many thanks, not seen any such spots. Is it too late by that stage to do anything about it?

 

We used Neem as a drench on some Fuchsias due to a root mealy bug infestation, the greenhouse was smelly for a couple of weeks.
Seems it can be the kind of smell that can be very unpleasant for some.

Generally Neem is used for foliar spraying of flowers and use on the actual fruits /veg is something we would not do, though make your own mind up by reading on the subject. eg -
Is Neem Oil Safe For Vegetables?

 

Thanks very much, that's very helpful.

 

I do not think this product is suitable for application to a plant for any purpose. It is not soap, but a blend of detergents and substances for 'skin care'. The only product likely to be safe, to plants, might be an unperfumed true soap , which can be found in 'ethical' stores as cosmetics. I would not apply neem oil to any plant which may be eaten,
Carex :: Ingredients
Aqua, sodium laureth sulfate, lauramidopropyl betaine, glycerine, laureth-4, parfum, sodium chloride, sodium lactate, cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, polyquaternium-39, citric acid, hexylene glycol, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, tetrasodium EDTA, methyldibromo glutaronitrile, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium benzotriazolyl butylphenol sulfate, buteth-3, tributyl citrate, citronellol, butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, alpha isomethyl ionone, hexyl cinnamal, limonene, CI 42051.

 

No, it's not too late but you need to take action quickly once you notice the speckling.

 

It's great that you've rescued these plants. The discoloration might indeed be due to the sudden change in their environment. If they were used to more shade before, direct hot sun can stress them temporarily. They might need a little time to adapt, so make sure they get adequate water and monitor their progress.

 

Thanks, they're doing well now, even flowering quite actively (although that's likely to change as it cools off this weekend).