A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs My hanging Fuchsia looks horrible. =( Why?

I bought a gorgeous hanging basket from my neighbor, they own a huge greenhouse, and it is now wilting terribly. I have been keeping it watered, maybe too much? It has been terribly hot here.. the East Coast heat wave ya know.. could that be it? I have it on my deck.. it gets early morning sun, but then the rest of the day it is totally shady. I have noticed it hasn't been drying out, probably due to the humidity.. so tonight, I didn't water it.. as it was still damp. I am hoping it perks up soon. Other than bringing it in the house to cool off, I don't know what to do. I definitely don't want to lose it.

Any ideas??

Fushias like water but not water logged roots. If it looks real bad you could cut it back some but it'll take a long while to re bloom again.

Well, I think that is the problem.. it was so hot and horrible here, I was over watering, trying to do a good thing. Sheesh.. It is still wilty looking today.. I sure hope it makes it.

Any luck with yours? Mine is doing the same thing!

Well, part of mine died.. but some of it is coming back and actually has blooms on it again.. I took mine out of the pot it was in. The dirt and roots were soaked still.. I just don't understand.. unless they used some kind of water retainer in with the soil.. anyway.. I just let mine sit in a much larger pot, so air could circulate around it. I haven't watered it since I posted this.. I probably should check it.. maybe you could try removing it from the pot.. is it still very wet? Good luck!!

no matter how hard I try I just cannot grow fuchsia. I am thinking it cannot take very much heat or humidity. I think I will one time try to grow it indoors by a window. can't hurt to try I guess.

Ya know though, I have had them for YEARS.. and this is the first year I have ever had any trouble.

Funny - this is the first year I am actually having some success with mine. I got 2 very small pots way back in early May, and have been babying them since then. The one that hangs under my white birch tree and gets dappled morning sun is going the best - it's just coming into its second burst of blooms now - I'm so thrilled that it's still alive at this point!

Took a picture of my successful fuschia plant coming into bloom this morning.
As you can see, it gets morning dappled sunlight, and then shade in the afternoon.

I read an article early in the season about fuschia. They don't do well in sun, they like shade, maybe that is the problem. I wanted a hanging one for my deck but didn't buy it because there would be too much sun. Good luck with your and try to place in a shady spot!

I almost threw mine away because of the same problem. It still was trying to bloom but was for the most part DEAD. I decided if it is trying, then so should I. I sat it down on the concrete beside the porch and forgot about it............it is doing better! I guess sun was my problem then!

yeah, mine are in full shade! under the porch. They do get leggy this time of year so I cut off the bad parts.
Good luck with yours!

You too! I just looked at mine tonight, I need to cut the bad parts out but even with that, it is looking alot better!