Fuchsia Thalia rescue plan

Pete, what you said about sun fits with my pamphlet (from the British Fuchsia Soc) which says that F triphylla types tend to be more tolerant of sunlight than F magellanica hybrids. It didn't mention any other types.

It also said that early in the year you should use a high nitrogen feed, then from May on you should use a balanced feed. It said that "it is not usually necessary to feed tryphllas with high potash fertiliser and it is possible that doing so may be one of the factors involved in leaf drop".

I have always fed them with high potash, and they don't seem to have suffered. - just died over winter:D

 

Pete - yes that looks like Thalia - more purple tinge to the leaves than Koralee, which has a greener leaf and a redder flower.

This from books on Fuchsias Wisley Handbook,Plantsman Guide and from my experience -

Fuchsias originally are a plant of high mountains in sub tropical areas of South America and New Zealand. Used to high rainfall, but free draining from the slopes. Its main requirments are moderate warmth, moisture, shade and humidity - and if under glass plenty of ventilation.

In the summer the requirments are different from the winter. In summer once started into growth, they need water - but care needs to be taken if in pots not to overwater, as they rot more easily than other plants. Triphyllas are in my experience a bit thirstier than ordinary fuchsias, but not much. Whilst some tolerate lots of sunlight - most prefer slightly shadier conditions with other plants, where the humidity is greater. Triphyllas in particular I find do better with less direct sunlight than the others - growing more luxuriant leaves and flowers in partial shade than in sunnier areas. Magenallica is more tolerant of sunnier sites, but even that does better if it is not in direct sunlight all day - too dry.

In the winter - the hardy types left in the border natually become dormant in the winter, sticks left on to protect the crown until March. Triphyllas and the non hardy types on the other hand need to be made dormant before storing in a frost free place over winter. I have tried keeping them going all year in a heated greenhouse, and they don't do well - it is so very easy to overwater, the low light levels affect the growth - besides the risk of greenhouse pests like whitefly (which love fuchsias) and red spider mite - and certainly don't do as well as inducing dormancy and storing. I quote from Wisley handbook "to induce the plants to become dormant watering is gradually reduced in September and October untill growth stops. If possible during this period the plants should be put outside in the sun during the day to help harden the bark on the shoots. Well ripened shoots are less likely to die back during the winter storage period than are green shoots"

To that I would add, remove all fallen leaves and treat for vine weevil. I learnt from bitter experience that what I thought was a pest free plant overwintering - actually was not. The biggest curse being white fly. Soil should then be kept on the dry side - a little drink about once a fortnight. Move the plants to somewhere cooler, if there are signs of growth during the winter.

In spring with Triphyllas in particular, the increasing light seems to start them into growth. Prune back to two or three buds and increase the watering slightly but carefully - but only after they have started into growth - getting them outside during sunny days. But not overnight until all threat of frost is gone.

Hope that helps a little - I became a bit of fuchsia fanatic about 20 years ago and went down the usual road of accumulating masses of different plants. Much better now :thumb: - and whilst still growing fuchsias limit myself to the hardy types in the border and triphyllas. They are smashing late summer autumn colour - and there is nothing better than seeing a mature magenallica gracillis - dripping with flowers and bees.

 

Fran, many thanks for all that information. That's really useful.

My Koralle is looking really happy now, so I will take some cuttings. I have only ever has one in a pot before, but I fancy planting a small group in a border (though I appreciate they can't stay out overwinter). They really are most spectacular and long flowering.

 

I must admit to preferring Thalia to Koralle - I like the purple veining to the leaf, and the more scarlet blooms. I put both in the border - after taking some cuttings - both now and later on in the autumn. I then lift them about October/November time before the first frost - and put them in pots in the greenhouse over winter. The books say they will only do for a few years - but I find they do well for quite a time. Herewith a couple of pictures showing both plants - singly and together

 

I agree with you Fran, I think the Thalia colour is a better red. Koralle is a bit orange. But I have never seen Thalia offered as a small plug, whereas Koralle is regularly offered in the spring.

 

Two fuchsias I grow are fuchsia boliviana & boliviana alba they are not listed as tryphyllas although they have the same growing characteristics (leaves in threes around the stem) they flower profusely with bunches of waxy red flowers and will grow into trees 25ft tall the fruits are edible.

 

Thalia used to be seen as a plug - but not any more, here tooo. Dunno why. Fortunately I still have one from a couple of years back that acts as a cutting source - and I occasionally see a grown plant.

Lovely pictures and nice flowers Walnut

 

WOW ...beautiful! I have been wondering what the heck was that plant I saw a couple of weeks ago and finally had the answer... a fuchsia triphylla... koralee I guess.... interesting flowers.... the variety of fuchsias is stunning! I am not as good as you at growing them though...

 

Walnut - thats lovely - but why fuchsia boliviana? how does it compare with a triphylla?

Has anyone tried Fuchsia arborescens - I have seen it growing outside in Devon. Is it easy to overwinter ? http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/product/2524/1 I see Secret Seeds sells seed for both boliviana and arborescens.

 

Hi Peter triphylla is usually recognisable because it has a longer tube than the more commonly cultivated type of fuchsia and boliviana has very long tubes.
The name triphylla basically means three leaved. Tri meaning three and phyllon is Greek for leaf, hence this type of fuchsia has leaves in sets of three at each set of nodes instead of only two as found normally on the basic cultivar,they have very large bunches of flowers which develope into edible fruits (not tried them yet) they grow very quickly one I have is 3ft tall and flowering from seed this season,they are supposed to be frost tender but I will try one outside this year.

Hi Wisteria I don't think I have welcomed you so welcome to the forum, some of these fuchsias don't like full sun so if you plant them in semi shade you may have better luck growing them.

 

Thanks Walnut, but what I really meant to ask is what made you grow F. boliviana rather than F. triphylla?

 

Peter sometimes I like going back to the old original varieties you get spoilt for choice with all these hybrids sometimes they end up less attractive than the originals with the fuchsias for example some of these giant varieties are as big as cabbages the stalks can't hold them they start to lose their beauty they look like they struggle to hold on to their flowers,it may be me just being quirky.

 

I like quirky :thumb: And yes I do agree about going back to the species sometimes.

 

So do I. My father grew fuchsia magenallica, which he brought back from Ireland (I hope I got the spelling right). I tried to get it - but could only get the hybridisers variation on a theme and they never were so good - and I constantly forgot to ask for a cutting.

Then one year he decided it was just too big and dug it up - left the root on the concrete path for burning later - I happened to visit a week later - hit the roof and took it home with me to my new house. Planted int in the front garden and 20 years later it is still going strong - rewarding me every year by growing over 4.5 foot tall and a spread of 4 foot, just dripping with flowers. Cuttings taken are now developing in other parts of the garden.

 

My plant that I assume is "thalia" was given to me a very long time ago, in fact at the time I didn't
even know it was a fushcia, so it was a long time back.
It does look very similar to yours Fran.

Your "Boliviana" looks good Walnut, I asume your growing it as a standard.