On 5/9/10 1:23 PM, Bob wrote:
Hello,

Are Safari (yellow)Marigolds annuals or perennials ?

Is inside O.K. for them ?

Do they go dormant in the fall until the next spring, or... ?

Same questions for a Fuchsia Plant ?

Thanks,
Bob

Among marigolds, the copper canyon daisy (Tagetes lemmonii) and Mexican
marigold (T. lucida) are perennial. T. lucida is often treated as an
annual. The others -- including the more common French marigold (T.
patula) and signet marigold (T. tenuifolia) are definitely annuals.

Fuchsias are all woody shrubs and thus perennial.

Neither marigolds nor fuchsias do well as house plants. Both are
susceptible to various insects (especially mites). Inside, those pests
can become very abundant (enough to kill their host plants) because
other insects that prey on them do not go indoors. Also, fuchsias in
particular require more humidity than most people tolerate in their
homes; many require summer temperatures cooler than most people find
comfortable or can afford to provide via central air conditioning (which
also tends to dry the air).

If you think of growing fuchsias or perennial marigolds indoors because
your climate is not suitable, you have two choices. Either build a
greenhouse with controllable temperature and humidity, or else focus on
plants that are more suitable to your climate. You don't need a
greenhouse for annual marigolds; they are summer plants that will thrive
any place that does not get frost in the summer. Perennial marigolds
might not want the same growing conditions as fuchsias, which might then
mean you need a partitioned greenhouse with separate climate controls
for each partition.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary