@Fairygirlmy fuschias are perennials and my other ones I have had for about 3 years now and they are lovely and bushy but I'm guessing I just got lucky with them! I grew lobelia last year in compost and they were lovely but I have just planted the new lobelia about 3 weeks back this year and they are definately not like last years ones!
It's important to understand your own climate and conditions and make judgements based on that You must live somewhere mild if annual fuchsias behave like perennials, although there are some hardy ones. They're quite different from the usual, blousy ones though.
We've had a lot of queries on the forum this year about small plants, or annuals, not doing well, and it's largely because the weather in April allowed people to think summer had arrived, which it hadn't. It doesn't take much for those little plants to be set back, and then they struggle. Annuals need moving on as and when it's suitable, so planting out into too big a pot, or into unsuitable conditions can adversely affect them
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Also my compost is miracle grow with feed for 4 months, so does that mean that I shouldn't be feeding any of my plants yet? My flowerbeds seem to love the extra food and they did last year aswell they kept on and on for ages after they shouldn't have done and have got twice as big this year!
Crocks (in the gardening sense) are pieces of broken clay pot that you put over the drainage holes to stop them getting blocked. You can use pieces of slate or flat stones instead.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@JennyJ Ok that makes sense thanks, @Fairygirl yes all my fuschias are hardy and they keep going and going except my new ones! I think that's my problem I keep forgetting it's not summer yet. I'm In london so yea pretty mild climate although it has been super hot this last month! I'm not really a fan of overly hot weather! And neither are my plants clearly!
Liquid seaweed fertilizer is organic and sustainable and provides a vast array of nutrients that can help all kinds of plant life. ... Trace elements found in organic seaweed fertilizers include magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron and nitrogen—all of which are beneficial to plants.
Remember, more watering means washing away these nutrients. I stand by using seaweed but it is a personal preference but all I have recommended to think it`s a good thing. You can overfeed and have lots of foliage and no flowers so you have to get balance right for your conditions. I lived in London most of my life and I know the soil can be pretty challenging. I now live in Lancs and although chillier the soil is good but I still use seaweed
Yes - sorry I didn't see your query re crocks, but @JennyJ has helped. Brokem pieces of clay pots are particularly good as they're curved, so they leave a little gap. In the ground, any extra feed dissipates more than it does in a pot, and some feeds are for different things. A slow release food like you've used will be fine for the season, as the plants only use what they need Seaweed is great for foliage plants, as it benefits leafy plants, whereas your Miracle Gro one will be fine for everything in a pot. The excess heat [and drying winds too] means that many plants are struggling more than normal, and a small pot will be affected far more than a big one.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Daffydilly tell me about it I moved to London from norfolk and everything I grew in norfolk was easy to grow the soil is just like compost although I think that was more to do with my old house being on old burial ground lol! And the temperature when hot was hot but still had the sea breeze coming in so I think my plants were less fried by the heat if that makes sense! Everything in a pot that I have tried to grow here especially when the climate is hot is more challenging! There is no air/breeze in london when it's hot it just stays well, hot! I think my plants not growing this year seems like more of a big deal because my neighbours seem to be buying the same plants as me then rubbing it in my face that theres are flourishing better!! Its slightly annoying me now lol! I know how petty that sounds! @Fairygirl are yes the crocks sound like a great idea and I think my small pots I'm going to have to move to a more shady part of the garden along with my fuschias! Also I was wondering with regards to over feeding and under feeding how do I know that my plants in pots are getting enough water and how often should I water! I'm never really too sure as I always think I'm over watering!! 🤔
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You must live somewhere mild if annual fuchsias behave like perennials, although there are some hardy ones. They're quite different from the usual, blousy ones though.
We've had a lot of queries on the forum this year about small plants, or annuals, not doing well, and it's largely because the weather in April allowed people to think summer had arrived, which it hadn't. It doesn't take much for those little plants to be set back, and then they struggle. Annuals need moving on as and when it's suitable, so planting out into too big a pot, or into unsuitable conditions can adversely affect them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Remember, more watering means washing away these nutrients. I stand by using seaweed but it is a personal preference but all I have recommended to think it`s a
good thing. You can overfeed and have lots of foliage and no flowers so you have to
get balance right for your conditions. I lived in London most of my life and I know the
soil can be pretty challenging. I now live in Lancs and although chillier the soil is
good but I still use seaweed
In the ground, any extra feed dissipates more than it does in a pot, and some feeds are for different things. A slow release food like you've used will be fine for the season, as the plants only use what they need
Seaweed is great for foliage plants, as it benefits leafy plants, whereas your Miracle Gro one will be fine for everything in a pot.
The excess heat [and drying winds too] means that many plants are struggling more than normal, and a small pot will be affected far more than a big one.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...