[wyandotty]

This year I have bought some beautiful fuchsias and they look lovely in their hanging baskets but I would like to keep them for next year.

I have been reading how to take cuttings but that is March/April, can someone tell me how to either keep these plants for next year or can I take cuttings now.  As far as I am aware, they are not hardy so do I need to take them out of their hanging baskets and bring them in the house for the winter or can I take cuttings off them now?

[mumofstig]

You can either pot them up, prune them a bit and bring them in doors, or take some cuttings.

I usually just cut off a shoot below a leaf joint, pick off any flowers and some of the bottom leaves and put them in a bottle of water. Keep out of direct sunlight and they will root in the water.
It can take a good few weeks and they sometimes look a bit manky, but most usually root. The ones that drop their leaves are the ones to throw away cos they aren't going to root

[hamstergbert]

A few years ago the Mother-in-Law emerged from the fuehrerbunker and stuck some twigs into a recently cleared patch outside my hedge to dissuade the local felines from litterboxing it.  The twigs were woody prunings from a tough-as-old-boots fuchsia in my garden, and had lain in a pile for a day or two between cutting and being recycled as MiL's equivalent of punji sticks.

They all rooted in a few weeks.  At this time of year.

Incidentally, a very experienced nurseryman once told me that the secret to robust cuttings is to take large ones and clear most of the lower leaves off them.

[catllar]

I'm all for taking large ones, hamstergerbert!

[hamstergbert]

oooh, Matron!

[fatcat1955]

Try cutting across the middle of the leaves with scissors. This does not damage the cutting as much as tearing them off. For best results dip them in rooting powder and pot in a good compost with some grit added. Place a clear plastic bag over the pot and secure it with a rubber band. When you see new leaves forming take off the plastic bag. Depending on the type of fuchsia you may need to overwinter under cover.

[wyandotty]

Thanks for your replies but one more question, can I take cuttings now?

[mumofstig]

I have some rooting in water as we 'speak'.

I broke a branch off, clumsy me!, so thought that I might as well root it

[hazie3]

hey mumofstig - liked your method andi'mgoing to give it a go. i've only got a concrete yard and so i love the pretties that can go in baskets.ta

[garddwr]

I have some rooting in water as we 'speak'.

I broke a branch off, clumsy me!, so thought that I might as well root it

Your method is great So easy and they have a good few roots growing, Do I pot them up in some compost now ?

Many thanks
Garddwr

[mumofstig]

wait till the roots are quite big and then just pot up as normal.........if it was a long cutting (ie a broken branch like mine ) then a deep pot will help and it will root on all the buried bit once potted up

It may look a bit sorry for itself for a while but just keep it dampish till the roots adjust to soil rather than water...........then away it goes So easy..........

I do loads every year to keep in the greenhouse in case the ones in the soil don't make it through the winter...........they usually do, so it means I end up giving them away to friends

[Piccolo]

If you decide to overwinter your original plants in pots keep a close eye on them at the beginning of the season as vine weevil grubs can be in the soil, if necessary wash all the old soil off and pot them back up in new soil.

[JaK]

I've got a good fushia cutting that is flowering now, i'm going to have to keep it outside (no green house, not even a cold frame) will I need to cover it in fleece to help protect it?

[JaK]

I've got a good fushia cutting that is flowering now, i'm going to have to keep it outside (no green house, not even a cold frame) will I need to cover it in fleece to help protect it?

During the winter months I mean

[mumofstig]

depends if it was sold as a hardy fuchsia or not?
If not hardy then leave it in the most protected place in your garden, fleece it if you have some spare