Propagating a fuschia

[PeteXXX]

I know I can just take cuttings, but are these seed pods, and will anything grow from them?

Is it the right time of year?

 

[furball]

I think if the pods are soft they are ready.
I've never done this but I believe when you open the pods up you remove as much pulp as possible. Placing the seeds on a paper towel helps dry them. They can be planted straight away or kept dry and sown in the spring.

 

[PeteXXX]

Thanks. I'll give it a try. What's the worst that can happen?!

I'll also take cuttings

 

[PaulSB]

Is it the right time of year?

It's the right time to collect seed but not to sow it. Leave the seeds on a paper towel to dry for a week. Then store in an airtight container and sow in the spring.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Cuttings much easier. I've heard there's a newish (to the UK) fuschia gall mite from France which is devastating. I'm yet to see it in any of my gardens thankfully.

 

[MikeG]

....What's the worst that can happen?!......

You get scratched by the rose just out of the picture, and get tetanus then die in agony. Can I have your bikes?

 

[Dave 123]

@PeteXXX

Have a play with some leaf cuttings.

Get a small glass and fill to the brim.
Cover the top of the glass in cling film or silver foil.
Remove some leaves from plant with the full leaf stem.
Pierce a hole through foil/film.
Place leaf stem through hole and in to water.
Place glass in a light window but out of direct sun.
Keep water topped up.
Within a couple of weeks roots will start to appear, then a shoot will grow.
Once shoot is 1" long, pot it up into multi purpose compost in a 3" pot.

 

[PeteXXX]

You get scratched by the rose just out of the picture, and get tetanus then die in agony. Can I have your bikes?

No..

 

[PeteXXX]

@PeteXXX

Have a play with some leaf cuttings.

Get a small glass and fill to the brim.
Cover the top of the glass in cling film or silver foil.
Remove some leaves from plant with the full leaf stem.
Pierce a hole through foil/film.
Place leaf stem through hole and in to water.
Place glass in a light window but out of direct sun.
Keep water topped up.
Within a couple of weeks roots will start to appear, then a shoot will grow.
Once shoot is 1" long, pot it up into multi purpose compost in a 3" pot.

That sounds like a good thing for the grandkids to 'help' with!

Thanks for the idea.

 

[PK99]

seedlings won't come true to type.

Cuttings will.

iirc, heel cuttings in a jar of water till roots well formed.

 

[Tin Pot]

seedlings won't come true to type.

Cuttings will.

iirc, heel cuttings in a jar of water till roots well formed.

What does that mean? Surely planting the seeds is a good idea - it's what they're for after all.

(I was thinking of planting some berries from a bush to grow a new one)

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Rooting hormone and a compost recipe for cuttings will have the highest yield.

 

[MikeG]

No..

Oh well. No harm asking.

If you change your mind, I can collect. No need for you to fret about transport.

 

[MikeG]

What does that mean? Surely planting the seeds is a good idea - it's what they're for after all.......

It means that human cross-breeding (hybridisation) messes with the plants normal reproductive system, and so the seeds will likely produce "standard" (ie un-altered) versions of one of the original parent shrubs, rather than a copy of the off-spring (your shrub).

 

[Tin Pot]

It means that human cross-breeding (hybridisation) messes with the plants normal reproductive system, and so the seeds will likely produce "standard" (ie un-altered) versions of one of the original parent shrubs, rather than a copy of the off-spring (your shrub).

Oh.