Shedding fuchsia

Mark A

Hi all!

My fuchsia (species unknown - it’s a cutting given to us as a gift!), is shedding nearly all its leaves...is there an issue?! If so, what can I do?!

Borderline

How big is this plant? A cutting sounds extremely small and if under stress, the leaves will fall off, considering cuttings need more energy making roots than supporting stems and leaves at the top.

How do you water it? Is it possible it could be over-watered? The soil and stems are very delicate and can suffer from rotting and mould. The soil must be free draining on young cuttings, so if the soil has formed a crust, use a pin or similar to pierce holes down into the soil so water can be distributed evenly.

Lyn

It must be outside as well, and not in a black pot.

Mark A

Mark A

This is its current condition... 😢

MrsGarden

Lyn said:

It must be outside as well, and not in a black pot.

Not in  a Black pot?  May i ask you to explain? Is it to do with heat? Never thought or heard of this before.

Lyn

Yes Mrs G, fuchsias like their roots cool and black attracts the heat.

With  the above fuchsia, it should have been cut to the ground in the Spring, and every Spring,  it would then have grown nice new leaves and lots of flowers. 

If you want to keep it, cut it right back next March, or you can do it now but you probably won’t get any flowers on it this year.

Borderline

Good advice from Lyn. When you mentioned grown from a cutting, I was imagining a small plant, but after seeing your photos, far from young. Your plant is very tired and needs a hard prune next spring to encourage new shoots. Leaves can drop when the plant is in extreme heat like now and the soil is dried out. Fuchsias do better in partial sun or part of the day without sun. 

Dovefromabove

Maybe some Fish, Blood and Bone as well when you cut it back. 

Mark A

Thanks everyone, really helpful advice!! 👍

ZeroZero1

I had a hanging basket of fuschia in my greenhouse, despite watering it's lost all it's leaves and looks near dead. I pruned hard and took some cuttings, but no show yet. Maybe it's too hot and I should move it out the greenhouse.