Has anyone a hassle free way of overwintering fuchsia's and geraniums.
Should I cut off all the foliage? pot them up or what. Last year I lost all
the fuchsia's but did keep most geraniums..(in the spare room with no
heating)

"Jabber" wrote

Has anyone a hassle free way of overwintering fuchsia's and
geraniums.
Should I cut off all the foliage? pot them up or what. Last year I
lost all
the fuchsia's but did keep most geraniums..(in the spare room with
no
heating)

I bring them in sometime around now when the weather starts to be
cold/wet. I cut them back to about 6 inches and repot them into dry
compost. Then I put them in my frost free greenhouse for the winter.

Fuchias may need a dribble of water occasionaly but the geraniums
hardly ever do.

Here are a couple of sites :
http://www2.dicom.se/fuchsias/wintercareeng.html
http://www.hobby-fuchsia.dk/Winter%20Storage.html
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/geraniums.htm

Jenny

On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 14:07:03 +0200, "JennyC" wrote:

I bring them in sometime around now when the weather starts to be
cold/wet. I cut them back to about 6 inches and repot them into dry
compost. Then I put them in my frost free greenhouse for the winter.

I do a similar thing with fuchsias, but having no greenhouse I keep
them in a windowless garage. I have to be careful in Spring, as when
they start to bud the shoots are long and white.
One thing to beware of is the possiblity of vine weevil in the soil.
Hence Jenny's suggestion of repotting is a good one, but a dowsing of
the rootball with some anti-vw stuff (provado, armillatox if you still
have it, or biological control is advisable.

Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 14:07:03 +0200, "JennyC"
wrote:

I bring them in sometime around now when the weather starts to be
cold/wet. I cut them back to about 6 inches and repot them into dry
compost. Then I put them in my frost free greenhouse for the
winter.

I do a similar thing with fuchsias, but having no greenhouse I keep
them in a windowless garage. I have to be careful in Spring, as
when
they start to bud the shoots are long and white.
One thing to beware of is the possiblity of vine weevil in the soil.
Hence Jenny's suggestion of repotting is a good one, but a dowsing
of
the rootball with some anti-vw stuff (provado, armillatox if you
still
have it, or biological control is advisable.
Pam in Bristol

Hi Pam
I repot more with the intention of putting the plants into dryish
soil. I find that if I've left it to late the soil in the pots is
sodden (like today!) and it then tends not to dry out as the plants
are not growing. This way I can also cram them into much smaller pots
so that they take up less room in the GH.

I think I've won the VW battle - for the moment :~)
Jenny

On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 16:09:41 +0200, "JennyC" wrote:

I think I've won the VW battle - for the moment


Hi Jenny
"Famous last words" as they say. I'd never be brave enough to say
that but I have seen hardly any VW this year..........................

Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 16:09:41 +0200, "JennyC"
wrote:

I think I've won the VW battle - for the moment


Hi Jenny
"Famous last words" as they say. I'd never be brave enough to say
that but I have seen hardly any VW this
year..........................

Pam in Bristol

Please note - 'for the moment' :~))
Jenny