Beat Heat and Grow Fuchsias Inland Too
Question: Can fuchsias be grown successfully in inland areas?
J.C., Santa Ana
Answer: Although fuchsias prefer the cooler, often foggy conditions that coastal areas provide, many varieties will also grow well in hot, inland areas, if you modify conditions to meet their needs.
Orange County consists of three primary zones: Zone 24 near the immediate coast, which is prime fuchsia growing area, and zones 22 and 23, which are inland. (Santa Ana falls in zone 23.) Both latter zones tend to get very hot and dry during the warm months, which makes fuchsia growing challenging.
For best results in these areas, consider the following:
* Select an area in your yard that is sheltered from the wind and has only morning sun, or all day dappled shade. Generally, the whiter or lighter the blooms, the less sun and heat the fuchsia can tolerate.
* Use 1 to 3 inches of mulch.
* Water at regular intervals so the fuchsias don’t dry out, but avoid over-watering, as this can lead to root rot.
* Proper pruning is important for flower production. Fuchsias bloom only on new wood. In frost-free coastal areas such as zone 24, fuchsias can be cut back in November, but for zones 22 and 23, February is the month of choice to cut them back once new green growth appears.
* To make your plants grow thick and compact, pinch back new growth regularly through mid-March. (As soon as each sprout produces three pairs of leaflets, pinch out the top pair.) This not only encourages more blooms, but will also help your plant survive the summer heat to come.
* Feed fuchsias once a month with a complete fertilizer such as an 18-18-6.
* Overhead sprinkling is helpful to increase humidity (especially on hot, windy days) and deter pests.
* Heat-resistant varieties to consider are ‘California,’ ‘Carnival,’ ‘Checkerboard,’ ‘Papoose,’ ‘Display,’ ‘Swingtime’ and ‘Bonanza.’
* Gardeners living on the inland outskirts of Orange County in zones 18 and 19 may have luck growing fuchsias by treating winter as their bloom period and summer as their resting period. This means allowing the plants to bloom from January through spring. Once temperatures rise, cut plants back by half.
Continue a regular watering schedule; pinch new growth to force the plants to bush out and allow them to bloom in early fall. A variety of fuchsias will bloom at this time, despite the decreased number of daylight hours.
Some to consider are ‘Bicentennial,’ ‘Dark Eyes,’ ‘Dollar Princess,’ ‘Fluffy Ruffles,’ ‘Hula Girl,’ ‘Miss California’ and ‘Voodoo.’
In mild weather, avoid overhead watering, since this may encourage rust infections.
Be sure to look out for pests that may attack fuchsias. If you have plants that have succumbed to verticillium wilt, do not plant fuchsias in the same area or soil. During warm weather, be on the lookout for fuchsia gall mite, whiteflies and mealybugs. For controls of these pests, consult your local California Certified Nursery Professional.
Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners @yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are generally returned within two to three days.
Fuchsia Society
* The Orange County chapter of the Fuchsia Society meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Women’s Civic Club, 9501 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove.
Fuchsia Society
* The Orange County chapter of the Fuchsia Society meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Women’s Civic Club, 9501 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove.
