When Fuchsia Cuttings Start Blooming

Choosing a Cutting Plant

• The most essential step in propagating fuchsias from cuttings is to ensure that you choose a healthy plant from which to take the cuttings. Any problems that the parent plant has will be reflected in the new plant that blooms from the cuttings. Therefore, carefully inspect the plant from which you want to take cuttings to look for evidence of insect infestation, mold problems and disease. If you find any hints of these issues, do not use the plant, since you are only setting yourself up for more trouble later.

Taking Cuttings

• The best time to take cuttings from the fuchsia is in early spring, before bloom time. This will give the cut plant time to recover from the cutting, and with proper care, you may get blooms from your cutting in the same year. Cut off a 4 to 6 inch piece of a healthy stem of the fuchsia. Make sure the stem features at least one healthy set of leaves, showing good potential for new growth. Use a sharp knife or a pair of sharp scissors or shears to make the cutting. You must use a sharp tool, or you can cause serious tearing to the tissue of the plant, opening the way for insects and disease.

Rooting Cuttings

• Fill a 3 to 4 inch planting pot with well-draining compost or potting soil, preferably a mix that includes vermiculite or peat moss to facilitate drainage. Water the soil until it is completely moist. If there are any leaves on the bottom 2 inches of the cutting, trim them off. Then plant the cutting with the bottom 1 to 1 ½ inches in the soil; no leaves should be touching the soil. Firm up the soil around the base of the cutting to ensure it stands straight.

Encouraging Blooms

• Cover the cutting with a plastic bag to keep in humidity and moisture; this will encourage root production. Store the cutting in an area that receives a few hours of indirect sunlight every day. Avoid direct sunlight for now, since the sun can burn young blooms. Fuchsia prefer near room temperature conditions. The fuchsia cutting will begin to take root within two weeks. After four weeks, pinch back the top 3 to 4 inches of the cutting to encourage bushiness. Depending on the climate in your area and the speed with which the cutting grows, you may see blooms later in the spring. If not, you will certainly see them next spring.