Fuschia Standard/Mophead

My horticultural triumph last year was this:



and this:

I first saw a Fuschia grown as a standard in a Fuschia society exhibition. I had recently fallen in love with the flower. I felt that the standard was the best way to grow the plant so that the hanging flowers could be viewed at their best. I checked on the net for photos and directions to grow them. Directions I got plenty and used them but there were so few photos.

So here is my contribution.

There was one tip the specialist at my garden center told me which I had not read before: Add some vermiculite to the soil because it helps the soil to hold more water and Fuschia will love it.

But the sad part was that I did not protect them in winter and the extra snow fall this year killed them. This year I have started a new one from a tiny, one inch plant and I will not grow it too tall so that it will be easy to handle and I can bring it in during cold spells.