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Genius
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Hello Kath 
The fuschia I have in a pot outside was bought as being a hardy variety. I can't put my hand on the label just at present and don't remember its name. Does this mean that I just leave it to its own maschinations? Or do I need to prune it to persuade it to produce flowers later this year.
Thanks.
Penny.
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
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SENSEI?
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I'm sure that Kath will tell you to prune it Penny. Show her a photo. on here. The box of shortcuts on the left has a place for image. Put the URL in between the two sets of brackets I think.
My name is Don and I'm a bonsaiholic. Now, where are those tablets?
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Genius
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| Hi Penny, Well as you are not sure of the variety, I would err on the side of caution . As you say it is outside and in a pot I would not cut it back yet, just in case we should get a really cold spell (you know how crazy our weather is atm). All those old stems from last year are now protecting the 'crown' of the fuchsia from frost damage, leave them how they are, however unsightly. When you see 'new growth' either from under the soil or sprouting from those old stems, that will be be the time to cut everything hard back ie 4 inches above soil level, and that will also be the time to re-pot. By saying re-pot that does not automatically mean into a bigger pot, it means teasing out some of the old soil around the roots of the plant, cutting off any thick old tap roots, and trimming other existing roots back by one third, then add new soil/compost, adding 3 mm grit (if you can get it) or horticultural grit which is slightly larger, but that does not matter. Don't feed until at least 6 weeks after doing this.
Kath
UK - Zone 8
"Patience is a virtue"
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Genius
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Thanks, stymie & Kath.
There is only the dying remains of last years growth present now, so I wait eagerly for new shoots. Thanks for the advice about "repotting". When it flowers, I'll post it's photos.
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
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Genius
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Kath, I've just looked at the only fuschia I have (in a pot) and it looks like dead pieces of stick! Is this normal and will it shoot again? I thought that hardy fuschias didn't die right back, otherwise how do you manage to grow bonsai with them?
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
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Genius
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| The ones outside, be they in the garden or in pots, all look like dead sticks at this time of the year Penny, that is until the sap rises and you get new growth on that old wood. When all risk of frost has gone you can cut all that old wood hard back, of course you wouldn't do this if you were growing or intending to grow a fuchsia hedge, then it would be just a light trim. In respect of growing fuchsia bonsai, they have to have 8c/45f warmth during the winter, to keep them 'in the green' as we say ie you don't let them 'die down' like the ones outside, you prune them back in late Autumn and by giving them a bit of warmth they begin to shoot more or less immediately, that's how you keep them going
Kath
UK - Zone 8
"Patience is a virtue"
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Genius
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