The correct way to propagating fuchsias

There are numerous techniques that can be employed to propagate fuchsia. They can be propagated from seed, from cuttings, through training, through offshoots and through grafting.

Seed propagation

This is better known as generative propagation because the genes of different parents have been combined. Seedlings from cultured fuchsia normally produce offspring that are not similar to the parents.

Propagating from cuttings

This is known as vegetative propagation. The young that are produced are exact replicas of the parent plant.

Training

This involves training a long, thin, trailing lateral to root in the ground. This method can only be carried out successfully during the fuchsia's main growing period.

Propagating through offshoots

These offshoots- also known as stolon develop underground in humus-rich soil and are later removed from the mother plant.

Propagating equipment

  • Fuchsias can be propagated in different kinds of soil or compost and in water.

  • Suitable soils and composts

  • Ready mixed propagating and bedding compost

Home made soil compost mix consisting of moistened moss peat and washed, coarse sand in a 2:1 ratio

  • Pertile

  • Sand

  • Fine hortag

Other Accessories

1. A glass jar turned upside down or a transparent polythene bag with holes can be used to protect the fuchsia against evaporation.

2. rooting powders

3. Containers: clay or plastic pots. They have to have a diameter less than 7cm.

4. floor heating equipment

To prevent the plant from rotting when rooting, keep the water at a very low level.

Propagating using cuttings

You have to select a strong and healthy parent if ever the offspring are going to grow well and survive. Soft cuttings can be taken from a parent that has budless shots.

Take a sharp knife and cut off a shoot tip which has two sets of leaves and one that is just developing, right underneath the axil. Large leaves can be halved to reduce the area of leaf surface exposed to evaporation. Do not touch the cut edge as this results in an infection.

The end of the stem is then dipped into rooting powder and inserted into the compost. Gently press down the soil and irrigate with a soft spray. Cover the soil with a layer of Hortag to prevent evaporation