February is the time to revive fuchsias

With the return of the daylight, the Alaska gardener starts to see glimmers of hope. One is the appearance of leaf buds and even leaves on stored fuchsias. It is finally time to bring them out of dormancy. The lengthening of days will do the job, though some supplemental light until April 1 ensures the job gets done properly.

If you don't have any fuchsia plants stored, now is the time to get some starts, which you should be able to do by visiting local nurseries. Fuchsia starts -- a single stem cutting from a mother plant, rooted and ready to go -- are one of the biggest horticultural bargains around.

Given proper care, what is today a three inch cutting in a two-inch pot will produce dozens of leaves and grow 12 to 18 inches in the next month, making it basket size. You will probably pay only a buck or three a pop for plants that will cost $24 or so in two months.

Why would you want to grow fuchsias? These plants have long been the backbone plant for hanging baskets. They grow better here than anywhere else in the world. And, best of all, our nurseries supply us with a dazzling number of varieties, more than I have ever seen anywhere. In short, with no experience at all, you can easily grow world-class fuchsia plants.

Growing fuchsias "on" from cutting size is easy and fun, because the results are usually so spectacular. As noted, your plants will need the best light you can give them, and this time of year some supplemental lighting helps. Once you bring your plants out from the dark, soak them for a few minutes in lukewarm water. Thereafter, the soil should be just slightly moist at all times.

Fuchsia do best grown cool, around 55 to 65 degrees. Too warm and the new growth becomes spindly. Instead of fertilizer, consider putting a handful or two of compost on the surface of the soil.

Fuchsias are among those plants that are symmetrical; they have mirrored sets of leaves. If you pinch the growth off right above one of these mirrored sets of leaves, the plant will then develop two branches at the cut. After these grow three or four sets of leaves, pinching again will result in four branches (two at each cut). Three or four pinchings will result in a bushy plant. Do not pinch after the middle of April as it takes a branch six more weeks to flower.

Now is also the time to make a "standard," which is a tall, tree form. You will need to stake the fuchsia "trunk" and pinch off all side branches as they develop. Do not pinch the growing tip. Keep pinching and staking until the plant is as tall as you want and then start working on the top by pinching it back so it will branch. The process will take the better part of a season, but now is the time to start.

When you buy starts, make sure you get the kind you want. Some fuchsia are not hanging plants and some are. Each has its purpose, of course, depending on how you plan to use it. You don't want to find out that you have been training an upright type when you wanted a hanging type, however.

It is too early to bring out the tuberous begonias. Stick to one big plant at a time. This week it is the fuchsias' turn.

Jeff Lowenfels is a member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame. You can reach him at teamingwithmicrobes.com or by calling 274-5297 during "The Garden Party" radio show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays on KBYR AM-700.