Propagation
Sow fresh seed during spring and maintain a temperature of 18º to 21º C. (64º to 75º F).

Soft tip cuttings of non-flowering shoots during late spring and semi hardwood cuttings taken during late summer. Apply bottom heat.

Botanic information
Leaf: The dark green leaves are ovate-oblong and is glabrous or slightly pubescent. The leaf underside and the short petiole is tinged red and the apex is acuminate.

Flower: The pendant tubulate flowers have a red calyx and purple-blue petals with exserted red filaments and style. They are arranged in the leaf axils towards the end of the branch on a long pedicle during summer.

Fruit: The small oblong pendant berry is red-purple. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively.

Problems associated with Fuchsias
The 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.

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.