QuestionHere in McMinnville Oregon we are zone 7-8. I would like to accent my shade garden with various fuschias. The shade is from a grove of douglas firs in the back yard. Besides a neutral mulch what else do I need to do to make the fuschia happy? I keep the lawn happy with prilled lime every 6 months.
AnswerDappled sunlight, moderate temperatures, and H2O make Fuchsias grow.
The secret of success with Fuchsias is their roots.
Fuchsia roots must be kept cool and moist. High temperatures are not to blame when Fuchsias fall apart. It's the overheated roots that fizzle.
Keeping up with the heavy moisture and nutrition demands of this plant can be a full time job. They must be soaked in mid-summer and heavily fed. The high moisture needs set up another potential problem: overwatering. Soil must drain perfectly and no potted Fuchsia should ever be left standing in a bowl of water. Give these rich, fortified loam, high in humus and manure, with perfect drainage.
Hanging Fuchsias make dazzling porch plants. But their tendency of hot summer air to cook the roots make these flowers seem finicky. When the thermometer reaches 90 degrees F, it抯 time to take the pots down and put them indoors or on the ground, under one of your trees, in shade, to keep roots cool.
Sale of "Hardy Fuchsias" are booming in Oregon right now. Some are hardy to below 40 degrees F. A winter mulch will raise the odds of survival for many of these.
Plant them 4 to 6 inches deep. After the first frost, cover with a few shovels of mulch a half of foot deep to protect the crown and aid in insulation.
Since Fuchsias bloom in new wood, it's important to remember to prune back half the plant every season. And remember to fertilize.
For more information, check out "The Art of Growing Fuschias" by Pamela Hantgin of the American Fuchsia Society from A.C. Burke (http://www.acburke.com/A_C__Burke___Company_Fuschias_2.html). Any questions or clarifications in the meantime, please ask. I think your Fuchsias will be beautiful under that tree.
