This flower runs into trouble every summer; a few tips help you save it

Fuchsia has a unique flower shape, blooming in strings that hang on the green leaves, especially beautiful. But growers who have kept fuchsia know that in summer it very easily drops flowers and buds, and if you are not careful, it is done for. What can be done about this?

Don't worry, today I will teach you a few tips; once you learn them, you won't fear fuchsia having problems in summer.

The flowering period of fuchsia is from May to September, but it blooms most vigorously in May and June. After late July, during the high-temperature season, although cooling measures such as shading, ventilation, leaf spraying and watering the ground are taken, the flowers still do not easily flourish. If the temperature exceeds 32°C, plant growth is inhibited, the leaves gradually wilt and yellow, and the flowers drop, entering a dormant state. For fuchsia, a flower takes about 3 weeks from formation to opening, and about 1 week from opening to dropping.

In order to make fuchsia branches and leaves robust, prolong the flowering period, and prevent early dropping, water and fertilizer management should be strengthened in early spring from March to April. Generally, apply an organic nutrient solution once a week, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:500. Before fertilizing, the potting soil should be on the dry side; after fertilizing, spray water once with a fine watering can, so that the fertilizer solution does not stick to the leaves and cause burns or rot.

In order to promote new shoot growth and continuously form new flowers, fertilizer can still be applied in May and June, once every 10 days, but the fertilizer solution should be dilute. It is best to use an organic nutrient solution with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:800. In July and August, because the weather is hot, fertilization should be stopped.

In order to make fuchsia branch more and evenly, develop vigorously, and bloom abundantly, pinching can be done 2 times in March, generally once every half month. The last pinching is in early April. In early May, flower buds appear again, but at this time the temperature rises, and if there is strong direct sunlight, flowers and buds will also drop, so a reed curtain should be placed over the top of the fuchsia pot.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., do a good job of shading. From mid-June to August, during the high-temperature period, full-day shading is needed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., covering early and lifting late, and direct sunlight must be strictly avoided.

During the flowering season, pay attention to moderate dryness and wetness when watering. Continuous dryness or wetness will both cause flowers and buds to drop, and may even kill the plant. Keep the potting soil constantly moist. If the potting soil is dry and whitish, it needs watering; water thoroughly, and it is best to water at around 8 a.m.

Ventilation must be good. Doors and windows need to be opened, water should be sprinkled on the ground several times a day, and spraying should be done several more times, which can humidify the air and lower the temperature. Only when the environment is cool can it bloom abundantly and avoid dropping flowers and buds.