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Fuchsia problem.

big.stevobig.stevo Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi...I have a serious issue with an old fuchsia in my Dads front garden, I rescued it from my late grandmothers garden back in the 80's when I was a teenager so it rather old now and even though I broke it in two whilst lifting it from her garden, both parts transplanted well and have flourished quite happily until this year, when this half started suffering (the other half is in the other end of the bed and is still flowering quite happily with no sign of disease)...as is evident in the pics, it is in seriously bad way. The leaves are very dry and just crumble when touched of the breeze gets them and have completely disappeared from the very tops of the plant, some of the lower leaves show signs of insect feeding activity...I suspect it may be Fuchsia Gall Mite, but I am not entirely sure and want a second opinion before I attempt a resolution, as I said, it came from my late grandmothers garden so it has sentimental value too and I would hate to lose it....the garden is south facing, so receives full sun if it has any bearing to the issue...all help appreciated.

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I can't see any galls. At a guess, I would say late frost or sun-burn damage.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd cut It right back, give it a good drink, water regularly and hope for the best.😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree, weather and conditions, possibly a number of factors all coming together.
    1. Even the hardy fuchsias would have been knocked back more than usual in that early cold snap last December.
    2. They prefer some shade.
    3. No rain for a month mid-May to mid-June just at the time when they want to really get growing, and hot sun for the last couple of weeks.
    4. Paving on two sides and crowded with plants on the other two will mean it struggling to get whatever moisture there is.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • big.stevobig.stevo Posts: 7
    Thank-you all for your advice...I'm not sure about it being frost or sun-burn, its been in that spot for at least 35 years and its survived heavier, later frosts and dryer, sunnier, hotter summers in its time and as for water, the paving was laid so the bed acted as a soakaway and all surface water runs off the driveway to the bed and in the summer months they get watered both early morning and evening as they're in direct sun and because there are hanging baskets and wall baskets on the house behind them too and they get any run over water from them as well...The lavender has been there for the last 3-4 years and before that it was all fuchsias (different types) and only the two old ones thrived until now. Like I said in my original post, the other half of that plant is in the other end of the bed is in fine health and flowering well. It certainly is a conundrum.
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