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Overview
Fuchsia 'Mood Indigo' has a neat and compact form, making them ideal for small to medium sized gardens.
Unlike Trailing forms, the Upright form of Mood Indigo is best suited to borders or shrubberies where they can stand erect and provide shape as well as colour.
Being long flowering they will provide delight all through summer and into autumn. They are also a magnet for birds and insects in your garden.
Choose a location that is bright but not too much strong, direct sun which can scorch the foliage and flowers.
Soil: Fuchsia appreciate cool and well drained but moist soils - avoid them becoming waterlogged.
The addition of plenty of organic matter like compost will assist stronger growth and flower production.
A layer of mulch is important to keep the roots cool, especially in warmer climates.
Maintenance: Pinch out new growth (tip pruning) in younger plants to encourage bushiness.
Keep well watered in summer and other periods of hot weather - the hotter the weather the more often they'll need watering.
An application of general purpose fertiliser, either liquid or granular, makes a big difference - around once every three weeks is usually adequate.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage further blooming.
Prune back in winter, cutting it down to 50% of its original height.
Propagate by cuttings in spring or autumn and keep in a humid enclosure until set.
Diseases: Rust can be a problem in hot weather - just remove affected foliage.
Other Species: There are around 110 species in the Fuchsia genus
Comments: Named after the 16th century German botanist, Leonhart Fuchs.
The fruits are edible and make good jams too.
Author: Bob Saunders.