Propagation
Sow fresh seed during spring and maintain a temperature of 19ş to 24ş C. (66ş to 77ş F).

Take soft tip or semi-hardwood cuttings during late summer to early winter and apply bottom heat.

Culture
Tip prune to encourage new growth during early spring and after flowering cut back to a node. Older plants may be cut back hard using a pruning saw to overcome legginess. The flowers appear on the new growth.

Problems associated with Fuchsias
Loss of leaves may result from a hot dry environment or inadequate light, also allowing the soil to dry out. Too much or to little watering will also cause flower buds to drop or produce poor flowering. Excessive heat during winter also produces poor flowering.


Botanic information
Leaf: The leaves are elliptical to ovate with an entire to slightly serrated margin. They are arranged in whorls of 3 to 4 or decussate and have a slightly succulent texture. The colour is mid to dark green and some cultivars may have red markings.
Flower: The flower shape is campanulate to tubulate with a long slender pedicle. They have large colourful petals and prominent exserted stamens and are available in single or double blooms in a wide colour range. The flowers are arranged in a terminal cluster. Single flowers have 4 petals, semi-doubles have 5 to 7 petals and doubles have 8 to 10 petals.
Fruit: The small berries produce many seeds. Under cultivation the fruit may not be allowed to develop and the plant is usually reproduced vegetatively. Careful as the fruit may stain clothing.