Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Fuchsias are not flowering :(

Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
in Problem solving
About 6 of them are planted in a plastic barrel, 60cmX60cmX60cm. In between there're are tailing lobelia which is doing well mingling with the fuchsia leaves.

The barrel has got drainage holes, with the first few inches at the base filled with upside down turf, then the rest topped with bought compost and garden topsoil. They get fed about once a week when I feed the tomatoes with Tomorite. 

They did suffer somewhat from the 'big scorch', but seems to have revived themselves. I've not pinched out the growing tips for about 6 weeks now, previously I pinched them out about 2 or 3 times.

They do look to have a problem as the growing tips are rather yellow.

There's no sign of flower buds :) - where have I gone wrong? Can I rectify this? They were a gift so I've got no idea of the variety, though they did arrive as plugins last March.


Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    There are too many in there, also feeding before they start flowering has encouraged green growth. You could thin them out,  each one will grow bigger and will flower,  just later in the year.
    i have one plant to a 14” tub. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think it's probably just a matter of time. My mature fuchsia plants in the ground are flowering now but they only start in July from a hard cut back in April, so I would expect baby plugs to be slower than that because they need to grow their roots as well as top growth.
    Is the container raised off the ground? If not it might be worth checking that the drainage is OK.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I think 6 plants in a 2’ pot is too many.
    the trouble with plugs is that they’re so tiny you can’t imagine them growing into big plants. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Thank you @Lyn and @JennyJ, I've been accused many times of packing plants too close together ;) . I didn't realise that I should have waited until flower buds appear before feeding - so that's something very useful I've learnt. 

    The barrel is on (what was) grass. It was placed there to prep the ground for making a flower bed next year, so it's probably not drained very well, although the soil has felt quite dry most of the time. I'll try and 'roll' it round onto pavers and place raisers under the barrel. But before I do I'll remove 3 of the plants if I can, planting them into other pots. 

    Thanks again  :)
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Try putting them in a shadier spot. 
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Thanks @Chris-P-Bacon, they are in sunniest spot in the garden, that's a good point!
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Very wise removing the three Jenny,  they like to be kept damp and most like some shade but will tolerate sun if you can keep them damp and not in black pots that absorb heat. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

Sign In or Register to comment.