How do I overwinter a fuchsia??

During the winter, fuchsias can be kept two ways - DORMANT. This means that plants are kept in a cool enough (not freezing) environment that inhibits any growth at all and will look much like the one on the right for the duration of the winter. 2 or 3 degrees above freezing will keep these plants dormant.SEMI DORMANT. This is where growers have the benefit of a moderately heated greenhouse and are able to keep plants in growth through the winter. A temperature of 42 - 45 degrees Fahrenheit will keep plants ticking over and growing very slowly through the winter.Whichever method you choose, your plants should receive the same preparation for winter and that is being being pruned back and de-foliated. Pruning means that plants will be shaped and tidied up and can be stored closer together, whilst removing all leaves ensures you get rid of any bugs or diseases. Just when plants being kept DORMANT are prepared, depends entirely on when the first frosts come. In 2010 they came in November in our area with a vengeance with temperatures down to 17 degrees F. (-8 degrees C.) so don’t leave it too late.Ideally you should cut back on the watering a few days before pruning leaving the root ball just moist. Doing this avoids ‘DIE-BACK’. If too much water is present at the roots then it is drawn up in the usual way but appears at each cut as droplets which will rot the end which in turn will die back for about an inch or so. If the cut has been made just above a pair of leaves then any future growth will be lost. Some growers use Copydex to seal each cut, prune well above a pair of leaves, these tips can always be tidied up later pruning and de-leafing which is usually done in that order. To make it easier to see what is going on I have de-leafed first. Each leaf has been cut, (not pulled) from the branches and whilst it may seem an arduous task it is a necessary one as the plant needs to be as clean as possible. The middle picture show the framework built up during the summer whilst the one on the right shows it after roughly one third has been trimmed off including any weak growth. Again cutting back to a good inch or more above a leaf joint (or where the leaves where) this is where the new growth will come from.

If it is in a pot, you can just bring it inside.