Hummingbird Herald. Next Meeting. President s Message. Crescent City Fuchsia Society. February 20, 2013 Root Pruning, Soil Mixes and Group Q&A s

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1 Editor: Karen Fleming February 2013 Volume 13 Issue 2 Hummingbird Herald Crescent City Fuchsia Society Next Meeting President s Message February 20, 2013 Root Pruning, Soil Mixes and Group Q&A s My fellow fuchsia members, This month s program helps us to prepare our plants to begin their yearly journey to lookin good! Be sure to come to the meeting armed with your questions. The March 20th meeting will deal with Project Plants - Pinching, Potting Up and Training Fuchsias. April 6th is the Spring Sale and on April 17th we will Review Spring Sale, Container Planting. Adam Inside this Issue Fourteen Favorites (continued from page 3) 'Swingtime' (United States, 1950). Many scarlet, milky white, and cherry red flowers on vigorous plants. Hanging plant. 'Thalia' (Germany, 1905). Long, slender, light orange-red flowers. Bushy shrub. Fairly tender. President s Message 1 Club Notes 2 Fourteen Favorites 3 'Tom Thumb' (France, 1850). Carmine and mauve-violet flowers. Bushy and hardy. Joseph F. Williamson is a former editor at Sunset Magazine, and a principal author of Sunset's Western Garden Book (Sunset Publishing Corp., 2001; $37) Heirloom Fuchsia 4 How to Grow a Fuchsia Bonsai 5

2 CLUB NOTES The following is a list of members whose dues are due. Name Date Due Jo Redland 10/31/2012 Catherine Noble 12/31/2012 Christine Walters 12/31/2012 Bernie Hiser 1/31/2013 Vicki Walworth 1/31/2013 Virginia Walworth 1/31/2013 Mark & Delfie Danner 2/28/13 Malcolm Davenport 2/28/13 Norberto Elicker 2/18/13 Karen Fleming 2/18/13 Dues are: Single $24.00 (AFS $19; CCFS $5) Couple $30.00 (AFS member $19; AFS associate member $3; CCFS $8 [saving $1 per member]) How to Grow Fuchsia Bonsai (continued from page 4) Pinching I prefer to pinch my fuchsia bonsai after every set of leaves instead of the normal two sets so that the internodes are shorter and the leaves and branches are smaller. The foliage is more compact and I can do more selective pruning of leaves and branches if necessary. Some cultivars take longer (eight to ten weeks) to bloom when confined in bonsai pots than the usual six to eight weeks after pinching has stopped. Make sure you have adequate light to control their growth as the branches can really grow wild during this longer period without pinching. Pest and Insect Control Good air circulation in a clean environment is the key to the prevention and control of an attack by aphids, white flies and other insects. More care and attention are needed when fuchsia bonsai are grown indoors in winter due to a lack of air flow and ventilation. A small fan can be used to remedy this situation. A healthy environment can be maintained without the use of chemical sprays by a natural means of pest and disease prevention. Potting and Repotting A sterilized potting mix should be used for fuchsia bonsai and Sunshine Mix #1 is my favourite choice. Repotting with fresh mix and root-prune should be done every two years. Fuchsias Suitable for Bonsai Some fuchsia cultivars, such as Cardinal, So Big and Texas Longhorn are not suitable for bonsai as they have long leaf internodes, rapid growth and stiff branches. Their large heavy blooms and big leaves will cover up the bonsai forms. The following are a few of my favourites: Abbe Farges, Amy Lye, Buttons and Bows, Countess of Aberdeen, Dimples, Display, Eleanor Leytham, Forget Me Not, Isis, Papoose, Lottie Hobby, Tom Thumb and Pink Rain Board of Directors Officers: President Vice-President Adam Dahlberg Mark Danner Secretary Treasurer Andrea Dahlberg Barbara Helsel Directors: Mary Anne Buckles Beverly Overstreet Mariallyce Sanger Page 2 Hummingbird Herald

3 FOURTEEN FAVORITES by Joseph F. Williamson Among the hundreds of fuchsia varieties sold in the United States, 14 are so good and so readily adaptable that they are sold, bought, displayed, and enjoyed everywhere that fuchsias can possibly be grown: the Pacific Coast; the Great Lakes regions; the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas north; and in New England. These varieties do not enjoy hot, steamy nights, but they tolerate them better than other varieties do. Flowers are single, semi-double, and double. The single flowers have four petals, the semi-double flowers five to eight petals, and double flowers more than eight. To give you an idea of how long fuchsias have been popular and how many countries grow them, I've included the country and year of introduction for each variety. The kinds of fuchsia described here are all varieties of F. hybrida. Flowers of F. magellanica are always red and purple it's in plant size and growth habit that many named varieties differ. 'Autumnale' (Europe, 1880). Red and reddish violet flowers. Variegated yellow-and-green leaves turn to copper red. Hanging plant or shrub. Remarkably heat-tolerant. 'Billy Green' (Britain, 1966). Single salmon pink flowers. Vigorous shrub. 'Cascade' (United States, 1937). Single red and white flowers. Hanging-basket type. 'Checkerboard' (United States, 1948). Many single red-and-white flowers. Vigorous bush type. Remarkably heat-tolerant. 'Display' (Britain, 1881). Single flowers in violet and shades of pink. Bush type. Notably hardy. 'Dollar Princess' (France, 1912). Small, profuse double flowers are cherry red and rich violet. Bush type. Notably hardy. Remarkably heat-tolerant. 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt' (Germany, 1905). Long, tubular orange-red flowers. Dark bronze red-green leaves. Bush type. 'Hidcote Beauty' (Britain, 1949). Many single medium-sized flowers in cream and pale salmon pink. Bush type. Remarkably heat-tolerant. 'Lena' (Britain, 1862). Many semi-double flowers in coral pink and deep pink. Vigorous bush type. Hardy. 'Marinka' (France, 1902). The most popular fuchsia of all, with many medium-sized single red flowers. Hanging plant. 'Mary' (Germany, 1894). Bright scarlet single flowers. Dark green leaves with reddish purple veins. Bush form. (continued on page 1) Volume 13, Issue 2 Page 3

4 Heirloom Fuchsia Beacon Beacon' is a hardy bush-type shrub with green leaves and pendant, showy, single, dangling, darkpink and mauve flowers that bloom from summer into early autumn. Single, red/purple. Tube deep rose. Sepals deep rose, lighter at tips. Corolla bright carmine shaded violet, marked rose at base. It has average water needs; water regularly and do not overwater. Photo courtesy of.fuchsiamagic.com This old-fashioned upright winter hardy bush is listed by the Northwest Fuchsia Society as being one of those that may be able to survive colder winters than the zones listed here for it, and perhaps without the need for extra protection. Partial shade to full sun; plant in sheltered area south, west or east; hardiness H4. W. Bull, 1871, GB How to Grow Fuchsia Bonsai (continued from page 5) Pots and Containers Choosing a suitable bonsai pot depends mainly on the style and size of the plant. The container should enhance the beauty of the plant by blending into the whole composition. A dark solid colour in green, blue, brown or black usually works better than light or cloud colours which detract. A miniature upright such as Iris looks good in a small, shallow, rectangular pot but a trailing fuchsia like Cascade looks better in a tall round or square container so that the blooms, which hang down on the side, do not interfere with the artistic form of the trunk. A sense of balance must be maintained in choosing the size of container to conform with the shape and size of the plant. Plastic bonsai pots can be used for training fuchsias but for shows and competitions, glazed ceramic pots look better for presentation. Use nylon or wire mesh to cover drain holes to prevent them from clogging. Watering Because the small amount of potting soil dries out easily, fuchsia bonsai should be protected from wind and direct afternoon sun and the soil should be covered with moss or stones to prevent evaporation. Fuchsia bonsai should be (continued on page 6) Page 4 Hummingbird Herald

5 HOW TO GROW FUCHSIA BONSAI by David Choo British Columbia Fuchsia & Begonia Society What is a Bonsai? A bonsai is a tree grown in a container on a miniature scale to resemble a full-grown tree However, simply growing a tree in a pot does not make it a bonsai. The art of shaping the tree in its container must together form a pleasing composition. Bonsai as a Hobby Bonsai is a fascinating hobby and a very restful pastime. Simply looking at a few attractive bonsai after a busy day of work can restore your inner calm and tranquility. An Art Form Bonsai is an art form which possesses all the essential aesthetic elements of composition, balance, perspective, depth, texture and colour. A good knowledge of horticultural principles is necessary for successful bonsai growing but a keen eye for beauty is far more important than a green thumb. Bonsai Styles Bonsai originated in China in the year 400n B.C. under the Tang dynasty. Buddhist monks and diplomats gradually spread the art to Japan around the tenth century. Zen Buddhists and shoguns during the tenth and eleventh centuries developed a distinctly Japanese style, which differs from the Chinese in its emphasis on the thickness of the trunk, exposure of the roots and other characteristics. Bonsai is now practiced and enjoyed by millions of people all over the world and many different styles have been developed over the years but only a few of them are suitable for fuchsia bonsai. These include informal upright, windswept, exposed roots, cascade and semi-cascade. Shaping fuchsia Bonsai There are three ways of shaping a fuchsia bonsai. The first is to grow a young tree from a cutting which can be shaped into whichever form you like. The second is to select an old tree that has a potential bonsai form, drastically prune its branches and roots and plant it in a bonsai pot. The third is to air-layer a branch or even the trunk of an old tree. The last two methods will produce instant bonsai and are preferred by people who do not have the patience to wait many years to see the fruits of their labour. The first method, however, gives you total control over the shape and form of your fuchsia bonsai. Unlike traditional evergreen bonsai such as pines, fuchsia branches and trunks are too brittle to be wired once they have hardened. Why Fuchsia Bonsai Almost any plant can be miniaturized for use as a bonsai. What makes a tree small is a combination of branch and root pruning and confinement in a small container to restrict its growth. Leaf pruning, too, has the dwarfing effect on a bonsai plant. Pruning the big leaves of a fuchsia plant reduces its ability to manufacture food through photosynthesis and will subsequently produce smaller leaves. It is generally better to select a fuchsia that has small leaves, short leaf internodes, small flowers and most important of all, vigorous growth. (continued on page 4) Volume 13, Issue 2 Page 5

6 How to Grow Fuchsia Bonsai (continued from page 4) watered daily, preferably twice daily during the hot summer months. Frequent misting also helps to promote leaf growth. Rain water (if it s not acid rain) is better than chlorinated tap water. If you have to use tap water, let it stand in a container overnight. Fertilizing Contrary to popular belief, bonsai growers are not cruel people who deprive their plants of food and water to make them small! Like other plants, bonsai need all the essential nutrients to keep them healthy and vigorous to ward off diseases. After every severe root pruning, a fuchsia should be given a weak transplanter solution (half the recommended dilution) to promote root growth and to help the plan to recover from shock. Two weeks later, the plant can be fed a half-strength solution of every two weeks, alternating with a half-strength solution of fish emulsion. Once the fuchsia bonsai has regained its vigor, switch to a fertilizer with a low nitrogen content because nitrogen promotes rapid growth which defeats the purpose of miniaturizing he plant. Fortnightly feeding with a high potash fertilizer such as at half-strength should begin shortly before flower buds appear. It is best to feed in the morning after watering the night before. (continued on page 2) Crescent City Fuchsia Society ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED P.O. Box 432 Crescent City, CA Crescent City Fuchsia Society ccfuchsia.net We make beautiful fuchsias happen.