What types of fuchsia (lantern flower, upside-down golden bell) are there and how are they grown?

Fuchsia is also known as lantern flower, hanging bell begonia, and so on. The lantern flower is very popular because of its bright colors and unique shape. So, what types of fuchsia are there? What growing methods are there for fuchsia?

1. What types of fuchsia are there?

1. Coral red fuchsia: a clumping dwarf variety, with dark leaves and large, rounded flowers; the calyx is crimson red and the corolla is violet.

2. Ball-shaped short-tubed fuchsia: the branches are hairless and drooping, the leaf veins are red, and the pedicels are long with crimson red sepals; the petals are bright blue-violet and about 1/2 the length of the calyx lobes.

3. Variable-color short-tubed fuchsia: a clumping dwarf variety, with branches that are dark purplish red. The leaves are small, arranged in whorls of 3, and ovate-lanceolate. The flowers are small and numerous; the calyx is red, and the tube is slender and short; the petals have blunt tips and are shorter than the calyx lobes.

4. Reitz short-tubed fuchsia: the branches are slender and drooping. The leaves are very small. The flowers are long and drooping; the calyx tube is bright red and the petals are violet.

5. White-calyx fuchsia: a cultivated hybrid. The calyx tube is white and relatively long, the lobes are recurved, and the petals are red.

6. Long-tubed fuchsia: the plant height is 1-2 m, sparsely covered with soft hairs, and the lower part has tuberous stems. The branches are somewhat succulent and reddish, and the leaves are relatively long, 10-20 cm long and 5-12 cm wide. The calyx tube is long and tubular, with a slender base, bright vermilion, and 5-7.5 cm long. The petals are short, 1 cm long, and deep crimson.

7. Three-leaved fuchsia: a low clumping shrub, 20-50 cm tall, with leaves usually in whorls of 3; the upper leaf surface is green, the underside is bright red-brown, and the veins are densely covered with down. The flowers are vermilion, 4 cm long, with a long calyx tube that widens above, and the petals are very short.

2. What growing methods are there for fuchsia?

1. Propagation methods

Cuttage propagation is the main method. Except in the hot summer, it can be done throughout the year, and spring cuttings root fastest.

In spring, from March to May, and in autumn, from August to September. Choose vigorously growing branches, each section with 2-3 stem nodes, keep the upper pair of leaves, cut diagonally at the base near the node, immerse everything in a 0.1 potassium permanganate solution for 30 seconds, then stand it upright with the leaves exposed and continue soaking the base for 30 minutes. After taking it out, brush it clean with clear water, then keep it in clear water for 24-48 hours before inserting the cutting, with a density such that the leaves do not cover one another.

After the cuttings root, transplant them as early as possible. Generally, the roots should not exceed 2 cm in length. First plant the cuttings in plain soil (made of 50% garden soil plus 50% river sand) in small pots to promote root growth. Plain soil is less irritating to new tender roots and helps survival. After planting, water thoroughly twice, arrange them closely in a shallow basin, and place them in semi-shade for care.

2. Field management

Light

It likes a semi-shady environment, but light requirements differ by season. In winter, early spring, and late autumn, full sun is needed; in early summer and early autumn, half-day sun is needed; in the extreme heat of midsummer, shade is appropriate.

Temperature

The growing temperature for fuchsia is 10-28°C. In summer, the temperature must not exceed 30°C; at 35°C, large numbers wither and die, so cooling work should be done well in summer. In winter, sufficient sunlight is required, and the cultivation temperature must not be lower than 5°C, otherwise frost damage will be caused and insulation measures must be taken..

Humidity

Spray water on the leaves several times a day and sprinkle water on the ground to lower the temperature and increase air humidity.

Fertilizing

Because fuchsia grows quickly and blooms many times, during the growing period it is necessary to apply thin fertilizer frequently, about once every ten days with dilute cake fertilizer or compound fertilizer. Before fertilizing, the pot soil should be on the dry side; after fertilizing, spray water once with a fine nozzle to avoid fertilizer water sticking to the leaf surface and causing rot.

3. Pest and disease control

Fusarium wilt and rust often occur. Spray 20% carboxin emulsifiable concentrate at 400 times dilution to control rust, and apply 10% acetic acid solution (antimicrobial agent 401) at 1000 times dilution into the soil to control fusarium wilt.

When ventilation is poor, aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies also occur, and they can be killed by spraying 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.