My husband bought me a bonsai fuchsia for Christmas and I'm having a hard time finding information on how to care for this. I raise lots of outdoor fuchsia's but this is my first bonsai plant. I fell in love with the bonsai fuchsia after I saw them in an exhibit this past summer. I don't have a green house so I'm worried about the plant. I'd appreciate any help you could give me.

Sincerely,

Jill Hewitt.

Dear Jill,

You may be surprised to find out that raising a bonsai fuchsia is quite similar to growing fuchsias in pots and would use the same fundamental techniques for when you prune them etc. Although I haven't kept a fuchsia as a bonsai as yet - several books I referred to seemed to recommend this as an indoor bonsai - although I'm quite sure you wouldn't have much of a problem growing the fuchsia bonsai outside if you grow others in the garden year-round.

To take the information from the books, recommended ambient conditions are indoors in an area of plenty of bright light and a temperature of 48-55 F (9-13 C). They also say to place outside from May to September.

Water plentifully in spring and summer whilst the plant is growing, maintaining constant humidity. Cut down the water in winter and maintain a light humidity.

Use a slow - yielding fertiliser in spring and September/October, using only once in winter.

Try to repot and root prune every year at the beginning of spring - where the soil mix should be around 40% sand, 30% compost, 30% soil (although a standard bonsai mix would probably suffice).

Pruning can be carried out all year by reducing new growth to two or there leaves, and lightly trim when in flower. Wiring is not recommended and pruning is the main way to keep the plant in shape - but is still possible - so if you are going to wire - be careful.

This plant - flowering from June onward and being very easy to propagate is quite an attractive subject for bonsai - although not used too often.

Dan