How to Make Fuschia

Fuchsia is a native flower of South America and a member of the evening primrose family. The plant has a bushy, shrub-like growth. Its dangling flowers have long stamens in contrasting shades that extend well below the short petals. The flowers bloom in a range of colors. Hardy cultivars are tolerant of temperatures as low as 5 degrees F. The less hardy varieties need to be protected during the winter. You can increase the number of fuchsias in the garden with the use of softwood cuttings.

Small pot
Medium-sized pot
Sand
Peat
Perlite
Potting soil
Rooting hormone
Plastic cup
Chopstick
Sharp scissors
Clear plastic bag
Rubber band

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare a small pot for rooting the cuttings by filling either with fine gravel or with equal amounts of peat, perlite and sand. Pour 1 inch of rooting hormone in a plastic cup.
- 2
  Cut 4 to 8 inch sections from softwood stems, measuring from the stem tips. Use a sharp, clean scissors. Softwood is the current year's growth that is supple and succulent with minimal firmness. The best time to take softwood cuttings is between the middle of May to mid-June.
- 3
  Remove all the leaves from the lower half of the cuttings, leaving only a couple of leaves at the top. These will continue to produce a substance that helps with rooting.
- 4
  Make 2 to 3 inch deep planting holes in the rooting medium with a pencil. Dip the base of each cutting in the rooting hormone. Plant immediately in individual planting holes.
- 5
  Firm the rooting medium around the cuttings and water well. Place the entire pot in a large, clear plastic bag. Stick a chopstick in the pot to help hold up the bag. Use a rubber band to close the top.
- 6
  Place in a warm, bright spot out of direct sunlight. Open the bag every few days and water enough to keep the rooting medium moist. Close bag after watering. It generally takes a few weeks for the cuttings to root.
- 7
  Transfer rooted cuttings to separate, medium-sized pots filled with well-draining potting soil.

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