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Help! How do I rescue a potted mature Fuchsia that's been frost damaged?

sonia.tadaa23317sonia.tadaa23317 Posts: 13
in Problem solving
I moved into my new home a few months ago and inherited a lovely mature potted fuchsia. But am learning the ropes and didn't know I needed to move it into the greenhouse ( I have an unheated one). It's taken a terrible turn overnight with the frost. Pic attached. It looks a lot worse in the flesh. :(

What can I do to save it? Anything?

And if I can, how do I safely overwinter it..?

Hoping you can help!

Many thanks
Sonia

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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That one does need bringing inside for the winter. In the greenhouse should be ok,  I overwinter mine in there. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @sonia.tadaa23317 Fuchsia Thalia. Needs to be frost free over winter.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It is frosted but hopefully it’s not beyond saving if you rescue it now. 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I would put it in a cool room indoors. When I put one of those in my greenhouse it died in a cold winter. It's only just frosted, I expect it will grow again in the spring.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    They normally lose their leaves in winter, so this frost has hastened the process. Fingers crossed, if you keep it out of the cold for the rest of the winter (RHS says 5-10 degrees C), it should grow again in the spring if the frost hasn't killed the roots already. Some of the twiggy growth might die off, but when it starts growing just prune it down to the new growth (or lower if you like).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Top growth wll now be dead.  Keep to see if the roots have survived.
     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."
  • sonia.tadaa23317sonia.tadaa23317 Posts: 13
    Lyn said:
    That one does need bringing inside for the winter. In the greenhouse should be ok,  I overwinter mine in there. 

    Thank you Lyn!
  • sonia.tadaa23317sonia.tadaa23317 Posts: 13
    GardenerSuze said:
    @sonia.tadaa23317 Fuchsia Thalia. Needs to be frost free over winter.

    As I've discovered!! Feel terrible for it!! :'(
  • sonia.tadaa23317sonia.tadaa23317 Posts: 13
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    I would put it in a cool room indoors. When I put one of those in my greenhouse it died in a cold winter. It's only just frosted, I expect it will grow again in the spring.

    Thanks @Busy-Lizzie , that's a relief to hear! Do you think it will be ok in the garage (warmer but no light) if I bring it out early Spring?
  • sonia.tadaa23317sonia.tadaa23317 Posts: 13
    JennyJ said:
    They normally lose their leaves in winter, so this frost has hastened the process. Fingers crossed, if you keep it out of the cold for the rest of the winter (RHS says 5-10 degrees C), it should grow again in the spring if the frost hasn't killed the roots already. Some of the twiggy growth might die off, but when it starts growing just prune it down to the new growth (or lower if you like).

    @JennyJ !
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