© 2009 THE BRITISH FUCHSIA SOCIETY
AIR LAYERING
The photographs show how to air layer. In this case a ring of bark about 3 mm wide was removed. A piece of plastic was secured around the branch below the wound with a piece of horticultural velcro. Next place cuttings compost within the plastic and secure the top encapsulating the compost. I did not use any rooting hormone compound. From the start to rooting was about 10 weeks.
HARDWOOD CUTTINGS
These were extreme in as much that some were as thick as a broom handle. I believe that the variety was WhiteKnights Pearl. It was a large fuchsia that had to be reduced in size and I wondered how large a piece would root. The cuttings were taken in November, trimmed and just pushed into pots of compost, three to a pot. The pots were put under the staging out of direct sunlight. I did not use any rooting hormone compound. They were mainly left to their own devices as I went on holiday for three months. I think the photographs illustrate how successful the project was. I do not know if all fuchsia varieties would be as successful.
When the plants were removed from their pots and split up the roots were gently dunked up and down in water to remove as much compost as possible and then replanted in a half seed tray. This was their home until I was ready to put them into a bonsai dish.
D.J.L.
HOW TO PROPAGATE